Applies ToWindows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 11

If your PC has a built-in camera or a connected webcam, you can use the Camera app to take photos and videos. To find the Camera app, select Start > Camera

Select any heading below. It'll open to show more info about using your camera or webcam. 

After you open the Camera app, select the left arrow.

You can change some options for your camera in Settings, like showing grid lines to help you compose a photo, or including location info in your photos.

  1. Open the Camera app.

  2. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then select Settings.

  3. Select Options.

  4. Adjust the settings for each option. These might include:

    • Change the photo aspect ratio or video quality.

    • Turn location info on or off.

    • Show or hide grid lines.

    • Turn video stabilization on or off.

    • Turn the microphone on or off.

    • Turn the video lamp on or off.

    • Change what happens when you tap the screen.

If your device has more than one camera, like a front-facing and a rear-facing camera, you can switch cameras before taking a photo or video.

  1. Open the Camera app.

  2. Swipe in from the bottom edge to see the app commands. If you're using a mouse, right-click within the app.

  3. Select Change camera.

If your device has a touchscreen, you can zoom in or out by using two fingers to pinch or stretch the image on your screen.

You can get an effect similar to zooming in if you take a photo and then crop it.

  1. Swipe to the right or select the left arrow to see your recent photos and videos. Keep swiping or clicking the left arrow until you find the photo you want to crop.

  2. Swipe in from the bottom edge to see the app commands. If you're using a mouse, right-click within the app.

  3. Select Crop.

  4. Select Aspect ratio and pick from the preset options or drag the borders where you want them.

  5. Select Apply.

  6. Save the cropped photo. You can update the original photo or save a copy with your changes.

You can get the photos and videos you take with the Camera app to automatically save to OneDrive, where you can get to them from your other devices. You can choose what quality to use when uploading photos too.

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and select Settings > Change PC settings.

  2. Go to OneDrive, and then Camera roll.

  3. Select the settings to use for your photo and video uploads.

If your tablet or camera supports including location info and can connect to the internet or a mobile network when you take the photo, the Camera app can include latitude and longitude info with your photos.

  1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Location.

  2. Make sure that Location services is turned on.

  3. Make sure Let apps access your location is turned on, then choose which apps can access your location. 

  4. Note: If you can't turn on Location services, ask the admin of your computer to turn it on for you.

Turn the camera off for apps

You can choose to turn off the camera for specific apps while allowing other apps to use it, or you can turn the camera off completely.

  1. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Location.

  2. Make sure Let apps access your location is turned off or choose which apps can access your location. 

Disable the camera

  1. Select Start, enter Device Manager, then select it from the results.

  2. Expand Imaging Devices.

  3. Right-click the camera, and then select Disable.

Prevent the camera from being used when your PC is locked

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then select Settings Change PC settings.

  2. Select PC and devices, and then select Lock screen.

  3. Turn off Swipe down on the lock screen to use the camera.

Note: To keep the Camera app from using the camera, turn off the camera completely. Drag the app to the bottom of the screen and hold it there until the app flips over. If you have problems with the Camera app after changing privacy settings, close it and re-open it.

If you’ve connected a camera to your PC and the camera stops working, here are some things you can try to get it working again:

  • Disconnect the camera from your PC, then reconnect it.

  • Close the app. Drag the app to the bottom of the screen and hold it there until the app flips over.

If that doesn't help, there might be a problem with the camera’s drivers. You can install driver updates from your camera's manufacturer, or you can use your PC’s default drivers.

To install updates from the manufacturer: 

  1. Select Start, enter Devices Manager, then select it from the list of results. 

  2. Expand Imaging devices.

  3. Right-click the camera that's having problems, and select Update Driver Software.

  4. Select Search automatically for updated driver software, and then follow the on-screen instructions. This might include restarting your PC.

To install your PC's default drivers: 

  1. Select Start, enter Devices Manager, then select it from the list of results. 

  2. Expand Imaging devices.

  3. Right-click the camera that's having problems, and select Update Driver Software.

  4. Select Browse my computer for driver software.

  5. Select Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.

  6. Select USB Video Device, select Next, and then follow the on-screen instructions. This might include restarting your PC.

Troubleshooting installation errors with drivers and hardware in Windows 10

If the suggestions here don't solve your problem, check the Music, photos, and video community page or the Devices & drivers community page in the Windows forum for solutions that other people have found for specific problems with hardware or error messages.

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