Are several webcams failing to function on a Windows 10 or 11 desktop computer?
Are several webcams failing to function on a Windows 10 or 11 desktop computer?
Hi everyone,
I've been having an issue with my webcam on my main pc. My webcam is a
Logitech C920 HD Pro
. I've never had an issue like this before and it seems to have come out of nowhere. I noticed it a few weeks ago when there was no video when I turned on my camera in Discord. The camera showed up in the dropdown for "Camera" in the settings, just gives no image and the blue light on the camera doesn't turn on. After that, I opened the Logitech G Hub app and selected my webcam. It said "Camera preview is not avaiable. Your camera is either disconnected or in use by another application." I made sure nothing else could have been using it by checking task manager and the camera permission settings. I then tried opening the Windows Camera app to see if that worked and it gave me two different error messages.
The first message:
Can't start your camera
If you're sure the camera is connected and installed properly, try checking for updated drivers.
If you need it, here's the error code:
0xA00F429E <PageOpenFailed> (0x80070003)
The second message:
We can't find your camera
Check to be sure it's connected and installed properly, that it isn't being blocked by antivirus software, and that your camera drivers are up to date. If there's a physical switch or button for the camera on your PC, make sure it's turned on.
If you need it, here's the error code:
0xA00F4289 <ActiveCameraUnplugged> (0x80070003)
I have a secondary pc I use for sim racing so I tested it on that pc and it works fine. I also have another Logitech webcam I use on the sim pc, so I tried it on my main pc and it has the same issue. Just to be sure it wasn't a Logitech issue, I borrowed a friend's Elgato Facecam MK2 webcam. It also didn't work on my main pc. I've searched online for anything that might fix it, as well as had my friend, who works in IT, try some things but nothing has worked.
I've uninstalled and reinstalled Logitech drivers and the Windows Camera app itself. I've tried multiple usb ports, front and back. I don't have any third-party antivirus software, just use Windows Defender. I've gone through all the permission settings and firewall. I didn't make any changes to settings since it was working last, about a month or so ago since I used it.
The last thing I tried was updating my pc to Windows 11 hoping that would fix it. It did not. I'm now fully up to date with Windows updates. The Windows camera app and Logitech G Hub don't give me the error messages anymore, just do nothing (Camera app) or load forever (G Hub) when I select my camera. I'll link my pc specs below. I appreciate you taking the time to read this and hopefully we can find a solution because I'm at a loss.
PC Spec List:
https://pcpartpicker.com/user/nickystixx45/saved/r63rMp
Edit 1: All cameras I tried show up in device manager.
Windows always recognized the cameras. I also attempted to remove the driver and check for hardware updates.
I needed to go out for an appointment, but I'll attempt this once I'm back home soon.
Also verify the privacy options to confirm the camera and microphone are enabled, along with other related controls. Check if any apps have access set correctly. Try launching a separate app that uses the camera and perform a sound test; also verify the camera appears in the preview. I did a Windows sound check in settings but it displayed 0%. When using a video editing or capture app, audio and microphone functions worked fine. After adjusting camera privacy settings and selecting webcam in Windows, video functionality resumed properly due to tighter system configurations. Hope this resolves the issue. Cheers.
I just arrived home and checked your suggestions. All my camera privacy options are enabled. The webcam appears as a microphone and functions properly in Discord, though no video is captured. It still shows up as a video source in Discord but no image is sent. Windows clearly detects it and it works as a mic, but not as a camera yet.
Where exactly was the Camera connected before? Did it function properly in that port earlier? Have any system updates been released or installed since you realized the camera wasn't working? At my workplace, the front ports on our Dells devices don't support USB cameras or microphones; they must be connected to the back of the case.
I connected it using a rear motherboard port initially, but after it stopped working, I tested various ports—both front and back. For these trials, the device was placed in a rear port. There have been no updates I'm aware of since the failure, except for automatic Windows updates that didn't need a restart.