Common PC and device terms All about computer memory All about device screens and displays All about graphics processing units (GPUs) All about neural processing units (NPUs) All about processors (CPUs) All about SSD, HDD, and storage types Add a hardware device to a Windows device Safely remove hardware in Windows Check if a Windows 11 device supports Bluetooth Low Energy Audio Connect to a Bluetooth network in Windows How to find Bluetooth settings in Windows Pair a Bluetooth device in Windows Send and receive files over Bluetooth in Windows Supported Bluetooth profiles Turn Bluetooth on or off in Windows What Bluetooth version is on a Windows device Manage app permissions for a camera in Windows Windows Studio Effects Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers Microsoft Basic Display Adapter in Windows Get to know the touch keyboard Windows keyboard tips and tricks Change mouse settings Use a pen with Windows Add or install a printer in Windows How to download and install the latest printer drivers Install and use a scanner in Windows Set a default printer in Windows Share a printer as a network printer View a printer's print queue in Windows 32-bit and 64-bit Windows Frequently asked questions Find out how many cores a processor on a Windows device has Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ Enable and disable the touch keyboard in Windows Enable and disable the virtual touchpad in Windows Enable and disable a touchscreen in Windows Fix touchpad problems in Windows Touch gestures for Windows What to try if a touchscreen doesn't work in Windows To use a camera with apps in Windows, permissions need to be turned on in the privacy settings for Camera . You can control access at the device level and for individual apps. Turn on camera access Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera . Open Camera settings Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera . Open Camera settings

Turn the Camera access to On . This setting lets individual users on the device choose if they want apps to be able to access the camera. Note If the Camera access setting can't be changed, an administrator on the device needs to change the setting. Turn the Camera access to On . This setting lets individual users on the device choose if they want apps to be able to access the camera. If the Camera access setting can't be changed, an administrator on the device needs to change the setting. To allow Microsoft Store apps to access the camera: Turn Let apps access your camera to On . Under Let apps access your camera , turn camera access On or Off for each listed app. Note If an app isn't in the list, it might not be a Microsoft Store app. Instead, it might be a desktop app. To allow Microsoft Store apps to access the camera: Turn Let apps access your camera to On . Turn Let apps access your camera to On . Under Let apps access your camera , turn camera access On or Off for each listed app. Note If an app isn't in the list, it might not be a Microsoft Store app. Instead, it might be a desktop app. Under Let apps access your camera , turn camera access On or Off for each listed app. If an app isn't in the list, it might not be a Microsoft Store app. Instead, it might be a desktop app. To enable the camera for all Desktop apps, turn Let desktop apps access your camera to On . Note Camera privacy settings for desktop apps can't be changed at an individual desktop app level. Desktop apps include apps installed from the internet, a USB drive, or apps installed by an IT administrator. Internet browsers, like Microsoft Edge, and video conferencing apps, like Microsoft Teams, are desktop apps that need this setting turned on. To enable the camera for all Desktop apps, turn Let desktop apps access your camera to On . Camera privacy settings for desktop apps can't be changed at an individual desktop app level. Desktop apps include apps installed from the internet, a USB drive, or apps installed by an IT administrator. Internet browsers, like Microsoft Edge, and video conferencing apps, like Microsoft Teams, are desktop apps that need this setting turned on. Exceptions to camera privacy settings If Windows Hello is used to sign into a Windows device, the Windows device signs you in even if the Camera access setting is turned off. If Windows Hello is turned off, the Windows device doesn't access the camera. Some apps take photos or videos with the Camera app. The app doesn't appear in the list. The camera access settings for the Camera app determines if the app has access to the camera. The Camera app doesn't capture and send any images to the app that opened it unless you explicitly select the capture button in the Camera app. Desktop apps might not appear in the list of apps available on the Camera settings page. They might still be able to access the camera or microphone even when these settings are turned off. For more information, see Windows desktop apps and privacy . Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025 After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11. To use a camera with apps in Windows, permissions need to be turned on in the privacy settings for Camera . You can control access at the device level and for individual apps. Turn on camera access Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Camera . Open Camera settings Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Camera . Open Camera settings In the Camera window: Under Allow access to the camera on this device , select the Change button. Make sure Camera access for this device is turned On . This setting lets individual users on the device choose if they want apps to be able to access the camera. Note If the Camera access setting can't be changed, an administrator on the device needs to change the setting. Make sure Allow apps to access your camera is switched On . This setting allows apps from the Microsoft Store to access the camera. It doesn't set which specific apps can access the camera. Once apps are given access to the camera, access can be granted for each individual app. Under Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera, scroll through the list of apps to find the desired app, and then switch On camera access for the app. To turn off camera access for an individual app, switch the app to Off . If an app isn't in the list, it might not be a Microsoft Store app. Instead, it might be a desktop app. To enable the camera for all desktop apps, make sure Allow desktop apps to access your camera is switched On . Desktop apps are usually apps that weren't installed through the Microsoft Store. They might include apps installed from the internet, a USB drive, or apps installed by an IT administrator. Internet browsers, like Microsoft Edge, and video conferencing apps, like Microsoft Teams, are desktop apps that need this setting turned on. Important Camera privacy settings for desktop apps can't be changed at an individual desktop app level. In the Camera window: Under Allow access to the camera on this device , select the Change button. Under Allow access to the camera on this device , select the Change button. Make sure Camera access for this device is turned On . This setting lets individual users on the device choose if they want apps to be able to access the camera. Note If the Camera access setting can't be changed, an administrator on the device needs to change the setting. Make sure Camera access for this device is turned On . This setting lets individual users on the device choose if they want apps to be able to access the camera. If the Camera access setting can't be changed, an administrator on the device needs to change the setting. Make sure Allow apps to access your camera is switched On . This setting allows apps from the Microsoft Store to access the camera. It doesn't set which specific apps can access the camera. Make sure Allow apps to access your camera is switched On . This setting allows apps from the Microsoft Store to access the camera. It doesn't set which specific apps can access the camera. Once apps are given access to the camera, access can be granted for each individual app. Under Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera, scroll through the list of apps to find the desired app, and then switch On camera access for the app. To turn off camera access for an individual app, switch the app to Off . Once apps are given access to the camera, access can be granted for each individual app. Under Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera, scroll through the list of apps to find the desired app, and then switch On camera access for the app. To turn off camera access for an individual app, switch the app to Off . If an app isn't in the list, it might not be a Microsoft Store app. Instead, it might be a desktop app. To enable the camera for all desktop apps, make sure Allow desktop apps to access your camera is switched On . Desktop apps are usually apps that weren't installed through the Microsoft Store. They might include apps installed from the internet, a USB drive, or apps installed by an IT administrator. Internet browsers, like Microsoft Edge, and video conferencing apps, like Microsoft Teams, are desktop apps that need this setting turned on. Important Camera privacy settings for desktop apps can't be changed at an individual desktop app level. If an app isn't in the list, it might not be a Microsoft Store app. Instead, it might be a desktop app. To enable the camera for all desktop apps, make sure Allow desktop apps to access your camera is switched On . Desktop apps are usually apps that weren't installed through the Microsoft Store. They might include apps installed from the internet, a USB drive, or apps installed by an IT administrator. Internet browsers, like Microsoft Edge, and video conferencing apps, like Microsoft Teams, are desktop apps that need this setting turned on. Camera privacy settings for desktop apps can't be changed at an individual desktop app level. Exceptions to camera privacy settings If Windows Hello is used to sign into a Windows device, the Windows device signs you in even if the Camera access setting is turned off. If Windows Hello is turned off, the Windows device doesn't access the camera. Some apps take photos or videos with the Camera app. The app doesn't appear in the list. The camera access settings for the Camera app determines if the app has access to the camera. The Camera app doesn't capture and send any images to the app that opened it unless you explicitly select the capture button in the Camera app. Desktop apps might not appear in the list of apps available on the Camera settings page. They might still be able to access the camera or microphone even when these settings are turned off. For more information, see Windows desktop apps and privacy . Thank you for your feedback!