Couldn't Turn On The Camera Windows Hello

Windows Hello is a feature that allows Windows users to sign in to their PC using facial recognition or a fingerprint reader. It’s a convenient way to access your computer quickly and securely. However, users have reported issues with the camera not turning on when trying to use Windows Hello.

Reasons why the camera might not turn on

There could be several reasons why the camera is not turning on when trying to use Windows Hello:

The camera driver is outdated or corrupted.
Windows Hello settings are not configured correctly.
The camera is disabled in Device Manager.
Another application is using the camera.
The camera hardware is faulty.

How to fix the issue

Update the camera driver

The first step to fix the issue is to update the camera driver. Follow the steps below:

Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
Expand the Imaging devices category and right-click on the camera.
Select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for updated driver software and follow the on-screen instructions.

Check Windows Hello settings

If the camera driver is up to date and the issue still persists, check that the Windows Hello settings are configured correctly. Follow the steps below:

Press Windows key + I and select Accounts.
Select Sign-in options from the left pane.
Under Windows Hello, make sure that Face Recognition or Fingerprint is turned on.

Enable the camera in Device Manager

If the camera is disabled in Device Manager, follow the steps below to enable it:

Related Camera

Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
Expand the Imaging devices category and right-click on the camera.
Select Enable device.

Check for other applications using the camera

If another application is using the camera, Windows Hello won't be able to access it. Follow the steps below to check for any other applications using the camera:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Select the Processes tab.
Look for any applications that might be using the camera, such as Skype or Zoom.
Select the application and click on End task.

Contact support

If none of the above steps fix the issue, the camera hardware might be faulty. Contact your device manufacturer's support team for further assistance.

Conclusion

Windows Hello is a convenient feature that allows users to sign in to their PC quickly and securely. However, if the camera is not turning on, it can cause frustration and inconvenience. By following the steps outlined above, you can fix most issues with the camera not turning on when trying to use Windows Hello.