How to Fix Skype Cam­era Not Work­ing on Win­dows 10

Whether for personal, commercial, or commercial use, Skype is the best visual communication software for mobile and PC. And video calls are impossible without a working camera. If you are unable to make Skype video calls because your webcam is not working or Skype is not detecting your Windows PC camera, we have outlined seven (7) ways to resolve the issue below. Fix Skype Cam­era Not Work­ing on Win­dows 10

If the app does not have access to your device’s camera, Skype video calling may not work. Sometimes this can be due to complications with your PC’s webcam driver. Running an older or unsupported Windows version can prevent the Skype camera (or other app feature) from working, as it should. Either way, at least one of the fixes below should bring your Skype camera back to normal.

Read:- How to Fix Skype Call Problems with Apple Devices

Fix Skype Cam­era Not Work­ing on Win­dows 10

1. Check the Plugged Camera

If you are using an external USB camera, fixing the Skype camera problem is as easy as ensuring that the camera is plugged in properly. You can also unplug the camera and plug it back in. Then you need to confirm if the external camera is functional. If you have another computer, you can use it on this device and check if the camera is working.

If the external camera is working on another computer but is still not working on you, then you need to check that the USB ports are not faulty or covered in debris. Also, if the external camera is powered by a driver/software, make sure the software and firmware/drivers are up to date. Some external webcams need to be manually turned on / off after connecting to a computer. If you have such a camera, then turn it on before using it for your Skype call.

2. Check Camera Access

For laptop users (and desktop computer users with a built-in webcam), you want to make sure that the Skype app is used to use your computer’s camera. Otherwise, you may not be able to make Skype video calls. Here’s how to access Skype to your Windows 10 computer.

Step 1: Launch the Windows Settings menu.

Step 2: Select Privacy.

Step 3: In the Permissions section of the app, tap on the camera.

Step 4: Scroll down to the “ Microsoft Store Application ” section and check if Skype access is enabled in your PC’s webcam. Activate this to allow Skype to access your camera.

3. Update Skype

When was the last Skype app updated? Sometimes you may experience usage problems and errors if you are using an older version of the app. Update Skype from the Microsoft Store and verify that the app now recognizes your camera.

4. Update Windows 10

Skype has its own system requirements for each version of Windows. To enjoy all the features of the application without problems, make sure that you are using the latest version of Windows on your computer. And if you are using Skype on a desktop computer, you want to make sure that it is running at least on DirectX v9.0 (or higher) and has a minimum of 512MB of RAM. It is important to keep your DirectX up-to-date using Skype as well as other video/graphics applications on your computer.

Fortunately, updating the Windows 10 operating system on your desktop will simultaneously update DirectX and some other software required for Skype to work properly. To update your version of Windows 10, follow these steps.

Step 1: Launch the Windows Settings menu.

Step 2: Tap on “Update and Security”.

Step 3: Hit the “ Check for updates ” button to download and install the latest version of Windows 10 on your device.

If your Windows 10 PC is up to date, but the Skype camera is still not working, try the next solution below.

5. Re-Enable Webcam Driver

The Skype camera may not be working because the app failed to recognize your webcam. It could be that your webcam is “ misbehaved ” and not really. You can solve this problem by disabling and re-enabling your webcam. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + X to launch the Windows Quick Access menu.

Step 2: Click on Device Manager.

Step 3: Expand the camera category and right-click on the camera driver.

Step 4: Select Turn Off Device.

Step 5: Tap Yes on the pop-up card to continue.

Step 6: To re-enable the camera driver, right-click on the device.

Step 7: Tap on the Enable Device option and your webcam should start working again.

Now launch the Skype application on your PC and check if the camera is working now. If not, try the next troubleshooting option.

6. Switch to Generic Driver

If re-enabling the default webcam driver does not make your camera work and you still cannot make video calls over Skype, you should upgrade to a generic driver built into the Windows 10 operating system. The webcam driver is outdated, corrupted or damaged. Fix Skype Cam­era Not Work­ing on Win­dows 10

Step 1: Launch your computer’s Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand the Camera Driver section.

Step 3: Right-click on webcam driver and tap on update driver.

Step 4: Next, choose “ Browse my computer ” for driver software.

Step 5: Select “Choose me from the list of available drivers on your computer”.

Step 6: Choose the common webcam driver available for your PC and tap Next.

Step 7: When the update process is complete, press Close to return to Device Manager.

Step 8: Restart your computer, launch Skype, and check if the camera now works with the app.

7. Close other applications

If you have too many apps and programs running, it can slow down your PC and prevent Skype from detecting or activating your device’s camera. Again, this is possible if you are using an older computer with limited memory and an older hard drive. With this in mind, if you have a video calling app or it may be that remote video conferencing and meeting applications are open on your computer, you should close them if Skype Skype Cam­era Not Work­ing.

Use any of the above methods to solve a problem with a Skype app or computer webcam and come back using the app for video calls, meetings, and web conferencing. If nothing works, you can work with a faulty/damaged webcam and you should replace it or buy a new one.