What to do when your Dell laptop camera is not working

It’s happening again—your Dell® laptop webcam has jammed for the thousandth time, bringing your work or meeting to a frustrating stop. So what now? 

Fret not. At Asurion, we are always ready to help you with all your tech needs, whether that’s repairing BIOS on your Dell laptop or simply updating its drivers. Here’s our guide to getting your Dell laptop camera working again. 

Common causes of Dell laptop camera issues

Is your Dell laptop webcam not working when you need it most? Chances are, one of these culprits is to blame.

Outdated or corrupted drivers

Your laptop’s operating system relies on drivers to communicate with the camera hardware. If they’re corrupted or outdated, the hardware is bound to malfunction at some point. 

Camera privacy settings blocking access

Camera settings are another potential reason behind your Dell laptop camera not working. If the settings are misconfigured, certain apps may not be able to access the camera as they’re blocked at the source. This can happen if you’ve adjusted the privacy settings without realizing it.

Camera disabled in Device Manager or BIOS

Your laptop’s camera may be disabled in the Device Manager or BIOS settings. If that's the case, the system might not even recognize that the camera is installed, making it appear that there’s a deeper hardware issue. 

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How to troubleshoot a Dell laptop camera

Most, if not all, of these fixes are simple enough to execute on your own.

Run Dell SupportAssist

Like any other brand, Dell laptops come with a built-in diagnostic tool to help you pick out and resolve hardware and software hiccups. Dell's is called SupportAssist. 

To access it, simply:

• Search for SupportAssist in the Windows Start menu.
• Run the tool. It’ll automatically check for outdated drivers and other system issues.
• Should it surface any outdated drivers, the tool will offer to update them right away. Let it.

Test the webcam in different apps

It’s possible that your Dell laptop’s camera is perfectly functional, but a specific program or program is causing the issue. Open different apps, such as Skype and Zoom, and test if the camera is working well in all of them. 

If the camera works in one app but not another, the issue is likely with that particular application's settings. In that case, check the Dell laptop webcam privacy settings and permissions to make sure it has unrestricted access to your camera.

Fix the “We Can’t Find Your Camera” error

If you see the “We Can’t Find Your Camera” error when attempting to launch, say, Zoom, that’s definitely a detection issue. In simpler terms, Windows can't find your webcam.

Ready to fix this error? After opening Device Manager:

• Expand the Imaging Devices section.
• If your camera isn’t listed or shows an error, right-click on the device. Then, select Uninstall device.
• Next, restart your laptop. Windows should automatically reinstall the necessary drivers for your camera.

Is the camera still not working? Don’t panic. Manually downloading and installing the latest drivers from the Dell support website should do the trick.

Check physical connections for external cameras

If you’re using an external camera instead of the built-in one, make sure the physical connection is firmly in place.

Start by checking for loose cables or ports. If you’re using a USB camera, try plugging it into a different port to rule out a faulty connection. You might also want to test the external camera on another computer to make sure the camera itself isn’t malfunctioning.

Update BIOS for better hardware detection

Is your Dell camera still not working? It may be time to try more advanced solutions. No, a BIOS update won’t require you to sit through a coding class. If you’ve backed up your files, just do this next:

• In the Start menu, search for SupportAssist. Open it.
• Select Update software from the Home tab.
• To check for BIOS updates, click Start. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Alternatively, you can visit Dell’s Support page for additional ways to update BIOS. Once you’re there, perform the following:

• Carefully enter your laptop’s model or service tag. 
• Next, download the latest BIOS update for your laptop.
• On the website, you’ll see instructions for installing the update. Follow these until updates are complete.

FAQ

How do I enable my camera on a Dell laptop?

Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera, then ensure that camera access is enabled for apps.

How do I update my Dell laptop camera driver?

1. Open Device Manager and expand Imaging devices or Cameras.
2. Right-click your camera and select Update driver.
3. Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the prompts.

Why is my Dell laptop camera not being detected?

Your camera may be disabled in Device Manager, the BIOS, or privacy settings. Check Device Manager and enable the camera if it’s disabled.

How do I reset my Dell laptop camera?

1. Open Device Manager, right-click your camera, and select Uninstall device.
2. Restart your laptop to reinstall the driver automatically.

What should I do if my Dell laptop camera is blurry?

Clean the camera lens with a microfiber cloth, adjust lighting conditions, and check camera settings for resolution adjustments.

Why is my Dell laptop camera not working on Zoom?

Ensure Zoom has camera permissions in Settings > Privacy & security > Camera. Also, check Zoom’s settings to make sure the correct camera is selected.

If your Dell laptop camera still isn’t working after trying these solutions, there may be a hardware issue that requires professional repair.