Deactivate webcam in Windows - Here's how

This practical tip shows you how to deactivate your webcam in Windows.

Deactivate webcam in Device Manager

1. Click "Start" or the "Windows icon" and enter "Device Manager" in the search field. Click on the entry.
2. In the "Device Manager" window, look for the entry "Image processing devices". Click on it.
3. Your webcam will appear below the entry. If you use several image processing devices, you should make sure which device is your webcam. Right-click on the entry of your webcam and then on "deactivate".
4. In the pop-up window that follows, confirm the deactivation by clicking "Yes".
5. If you want to reactivate your webcam, click on "activate" in the third point.

Blind the webcam with the help of an adhesive strip

If you want to use the webcam occasionally, you can carefully stick a piece of paper over the lens. So you can not be spied on and if you want to use the webcam, it is quickly ready for use again.

Windows 7 was used for this practical tip.

You can find out how to deactivate the video function in Skype here.