How to Fix Camera Issues After Windows Update on Windows 10 and 11

It’s a common problem that many users face after installing a Windows update. The good news is that there are several solutions available to help you get your camera working again. We’ll cover everything from rolling back the camera driver to uninstalling the recent update and even reinstalling the camera driver.

Roll Back the Camera Driver

If your camera stopped working after an update, try these steps:

1. Open Device Manager 2. Right-click (or press and hold) on your camera, then select Properties 3. Select the Driver tab, select Roll Back Driver, and then choose Yes 4. After the roll back is complete, restart your device, and then try opening the Camera app again

If rolling back didn’t work or isn’t available, continue to the next steps.

Uninstall Your Camera Driver and Scan for Hardware Changes

1. In Device Manager, right-click (or press and hold) on your camera, and then select Properties 2. Select the Driver tab, then select Uninstall Device 3. Select the check box for Delete the driver software for this device, then select OK 4. In Device Manager, on the Action menu, select Scan for hardware changes 5. Wait for it to scan and reinstall updated drivers, restart your PC, and then try opening the Camera app again

Check Your Hardware Drivers

If you’re using an external camera, try using it with a different USB port on your device first. If that doesn’t work, or your camera is built-in on your device, try this:

1. In Search on the taskbar, type device manager, then select Device Manager 2. Expand the Imaging devices, Cameras, or Sound, video, and game controllers branch 3. Right-click your camera and select Properties 4. Select the Driver tab and note the driver version 5. Select Update Driver and choose Search automatically for drivers 6. If Windows doesn’t find a new driver, select Browse my computer for drivers 7. Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer 8. Select the driver you noted earlier and select Next to install it

Update the Camera Driver Using Device Manager

To update the driver to fix camera problems on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings 2. Click on Update & security 3. Click the View optional updates option 4. Under the “Driver updates” section, select the newer driver update for the webcam 5. Click the Download and install button

Once you complete the steps, the driver’s new update will download and install automatically, resolving the problem.

Remove Quality Update of Windows 10

If the problem appeared after installing a system update, you could remove the update to get the camera working quickly.

1. Open Settings 2. Click on Update & Security 3. Click on Windows Update 4. Click on View update history 5. Click the Uninstall updates option 6. Click the Installed On column header to show the updates in chronological order 7. Select the most recent update and click the Uninstall button 8. Click the Yes button

After you complete the steps, the update causing the issue will be removed from the computer, resolving the webcam issue.

Rollback Previous Version of Windows 10

If the camera stopped responding after installing the latest version of Windows 10, you could remove the feature update to resolve the issue, and when you know that the problem has a permanent fix, you can upgrade again.

1. Open Settings 2. Click on Update & Security 3. Click on Recovery 4. Under the “Go back to a previous version of Windows 10” section, click the Get started button 5. Check any of the reasons from the list 6. Click the Next button 7. Click the No, thanks button 8. Click the Next button 9. Click the Next button again 10. Click the Go back to earlier build button

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will roll back to the previous version when the webcam worked correctly.

How to Rollback Camera Driver Using Device Manager

Sometimes hardware manufacturers will roll out driver updates that may still contain compatibility issues. If the camera was working before a recent driver update, restoring the previous version can resolve the problem.

1. Open Start 2. Search for Device Manager, and click the top result to open the app 3. Expand the Imaging devices, Cameras, or Sound, video, and game controllers branch 4. Right-click the camera and select the Properties option 5. Click on the Driver tab 6. Click the Roll Back Driver button 7. Select one of the reasons from the list 8. Click the Yes button 9. Click the Yes button again 10. Restart your computer

After you complete the steps, the older driver will be restored, allowing the camera to work again.
These instructions will also prevent Windows Update from downloading the same camera again. However, when a new driver becomes available, it will download and install automatically.
Although Windows 10 can automatically configure most cameras, it does not mean they will continue operating with issues indefinitely.