Laptop: webcam no longer works - what to do?

If the webcam on your laptop stops working, there can be several reasons. We'll show you how to solve the problem.

Laptop webcam has stopped working. Possible causes

• Shortcut: In many cases the webcam is only blocked by. On most computers you can reactivate them with a key combination. To do this, hold down the "Fn" key at the bottom left and the appropriate "F" key in the top row at the same time.
• Activate: In many programs you have to activate the webcam before using it. In Google Chrome, for example, a bar appears at the top with the "Allow" button.
• Change: If the webcam does not work in an application, change the program. In Windows 8, for example, you can use the camera app.
• Software: Under certain circumstances, the webcam is currently being used by other programs.

Activate and update laptop webcam

1. Press the "Windows" and "R" keys simultaneously so that the "Execute" command opens.
2. Enter "devmgmt.msc" here and confirm with "OK". Then the Device Manager opens.
3. You will now find your webcam in the "Image processing devices" category.
4. Right click on the webcam and select "Enable" if available.
5. Use the "Update driver software" option to update the webcam driver to the latest version.
6. If that doesn't help either, right-click "Uninstall" and then "Install" the webcam again.

We will show you how to control your own webcam remotely in the next practical tip.