Issues with Elgato Cam Link on Windows 11
Issues with Elgato Cam Link on Windows 11
Hello. I’m experiencing a problem with my Elgato Cam Link 4K (external) on Windows 11. The issue started after I upgraded my PC, and now whenever I restart the system, the feed disappears when I launch OBS or the Windows Camera app. Even the Elgato Capture Utility recognizes Cam Link, but it doesn’t display anything. The only solution that works is disconnecting it from the USB port and reconnecting it, allowing me to control the camera freely without interruptions. However, this happens again once I shut down the PC. It’s frustrating because I need a seamless setup for streaming without worrying about hardware glitches.
More details:
The device connects via a USB 3 port (10Gbps) and uses a Sony Alpha ZV-e10 ii through a Silkland Micro HDMI to HDMI 2.1 cable at 8K@60Hz. When the feed appears, it looks great. I’ve tested other USB ports but the same issue persists—camera disappears after shutdown. OBS canvas settings seem normal.
I usually turn the camera on after Windows loads, yet I’ve kept it on during shutdowns and reboots without success. Windows still detects Cam Link even when no feed is visible, and all my Elgato software (Capture Utility, Camera Hub, Control Center, Wave Link) is up to date. OBS recognizes the audio stream even if the video feed isn’t present. Elgato 4K Utility identifies the camera when powered on, showing a 1080p50 feed.
My Windows Power Plan is set to High Performance, and I’ve configured USB inputs in Device Manager not to power off the device for battery savings. In BIOS, I changed settings like enabling all USB ports, XHCI Hand_off, disabling ErP readiness, and turning on USB Standby Power at S4/S5.
I reverted to an older Windows version to see if it helped, but the problem returned after updating to the latest version (as of 28/3/2025). I also tried a new Camlink with a HDMI 2.0 to micro HDMI cable, as previous builds had inconsistent display behavior.
This is really inconvenient since the camera works perfectly after unplugging, suggesting there’s a hidden setting I can’t locate. Any advice or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
I powered off using Windows. I believe the problem might have been related to the firmware or the device, as it appears to have improved after replacing the Cam Link with a new one.