How to enable the webcam on "Windows 7": programs for working with webcam

Modern laptops have built-in webcams. Now it is impossible to find a model for sale that does not have a camera. But, like any other module, this one can also be defective. Or users often just do not know how to turn on the webcam on "Windows 7". We will try to solve this problem once and for all.

How to turn on the webcam on Windows 7 in a laptop?

To begin with, the webcam on the laptop works by default with preinstalled drivers. That is, when you buy a laptop in the store, there already is a Windows 7 (or other version) with drivers for the webcam. If you have reinstalled the OS or some kind of malfunction has occurred, the driver must be installed again. But we'll talk about this later.

The easiest way to include a webcam on Windows 7 is to use Skype. This program is for everyone, and if not, then download it is not difficult. In the "Skype" settings there is a section "Camera settings". Already there, in the settings, you can turn on the camera and see your image. However, if you want to know how to turn on the webcam on Windows 7 without Skype, there are other ways.

Alternatively, you can do this on a dedicated website for testing webcams. Just go to webcammictest.com and click the "Check webcam" button. If it's all right, then it will start, and you can see yourself in the image. In the event of a malfunction or a problem, the message "The webcam is not connected or faulty" will be displayed.

Checking the camera in social networks

The same can be done in the social network "Vkontakte" or "Facebook", for example. There you can create a profile photo using a webcam by clicking on the button "Make a snapshot". After that, a small "Adobe Flash Player Options" pops up and asks for permission to use the camera. You must click "Allow" and "Close". After that, the camera is activated and you can take a picture. It is worth noting that on web sites the camera can only work if the Adobe Flash Player plug-in is installed. If the camera is not all right, for example, no drivers are installed, then you will see the inscription "Web camera not detected."

You can also use special programs that enable and allow you to configure the camera: Active WebCam, RGS-AvaCam, Webcamoid, etc.

Checking the status

If the described ways how to turn on the webcam on "Windows 7" do not help, then you need to check its status. To do this, go to the device manager and check whether the module is present in the system at all. The easiest way to do this is to write to the command line: devmgmt.msc. So immediately the "Device Manager" window opens, and there we need to look for the camera in the list. It will be in the drop-down list under the line "Image processing devices". Uncover this list, and if there is a webcam, it means that everything is in order. But there may be other situations:

1. The webcam is not in the list of equipment at all. This is the worst option, which means that either the device is physically broken, or it is disabled by hardware.
2. There is some unidentified device. It can be a camera (or something else) that the computer simply can not recognize. In 90% of cases this means that there is no software, that is, a driver.
3. The camera is there, but it is marked with a yellow triangle with an exclamation point. This means that the device is recognized and in general works, but there may be problems in operation. It is treated by removing the old driver and installing a new one.

Therefore, before you turn on the webcam on Windows 7, first check its status. If suddenly it turns out that the computer simply does not see it, then it will not turn on at all.

How to turn on the webcam on "Windows 7" on an HP laptop or Asus?

On laptops, special functionality is provided to quickly launch the camera using the Fn buttons. In laptops, these buttons allow you to slightly extend the functionality. For example, you can make the sound quieter or louder, brightness higher or lower. You can also turn off the display and make the computer "sleep." How to turn on the webcam on "Windows 7" on the laptop "Asus" or HP in this way? Just press the Fn button and, without releasing it, click on the camera icon. Depending on the model, this icon can be placed anywhere: at the top or bottom of the keyboard. It may not exist at all. When clicked, the built-in application for the camera with different settings starts. In some laptops, the combination of these keys allows you to enable or disable the camera module itself. It all depends on the model.

But even if in this case nothing happened, then the case is difficult for you. At a minimum, you need to try to install the driver.

Driver Installation for Camera

If all the described ways how to turn on the webcam on "Windows 7", you tried, but still did not work, it means that you need to install the driver.

On the information label of your laptop the model is indicated. Find this sticker and determine the model. This is important, because depending on the model number in your laptop can be installed one or the other camera.

Did you recognize the model? Now go to the laptop manufacturer's website and click on the "Support" section. All manufacturers on their site allow you to download drivers to users. In the "Support" section, you need to select "Download software" and then specify the model of your laptop. In this case, a complete list of drivers for all devices that are used specifically in your model will be displayed. You are interested in a driver for the camera, which can be called Camera driver or something else. After downloading the driver (or application for the camera), install it, restart the computer and check again with one of the suggested methods.

If the problem really was the lack or incorrect operation of the driver, then reinstalling it should solve the problem. But if this did not help, then the last option remains with the module itself malfunctioning. In this case, you will have to carry the computer to the workshop, because the hardware problem can not be solved by software exactly.

Conclusion

Now you know how to turn on the webcam on "Windows 7" in your computer, and what you need to do in case it does not work. Unfortunately, laptops often break down cameras in hardware, not in software. However, their replacement does not involve any difficulty.