Information in this article applies generally to webcams used with a PC that has Windows 10 installed. Before you can use your webcam, install its drivers on your computer.
Depending on the webcam, it came with either a disk containing the drivers or with instructions to find the drivers online. If your computer doesn't have a disk drive, go to the "No Disk" section of this guide. Unless otherwise instructed, insert the disk that came with the webcam before you plug it in. Windows recognizes that you are attempting to install software and starts a wizard to guide you through the process.
If the wizard doesn't start automatically, go to the Windows taskbar and select File Explorer on Windows 10 or My Computer on older versions of Windows. Or, in the Search box, enter This PC. Then, click the disk drive usually E: to install the files on the disk. If the web camera didn't come with a software disk, plug it in and see what happens. Most often, Windows will recognize it as new hardware and can use it. If Windows can't use the webcam, you're guided through the process of searching for drivers either online or on your computer.
As disk drives become less common, webcam manufacturers increasingly provide the latest drivers online. To use Windows Update to look for drivers manually:. Go to the Search box and search for Device Manager.
The Device Manager displays a complete list of devices on the computer. Go to Cameras or Imaging Devices , right-click the webcam, then select Update driver. Walk through the wizard to see if Windows can find the drivers. If nothing happens when you plug in the webcam, and Windows can't find the drivers, read the instruction manual or visit the webcam manufacturer's website to locate driver software for the webcam.
Most webcams connect with a USB cord or something similar. Locate a USB port on the computer. It's usually on the front or the back of the computer and looks like a tiny rectangle with a USB icon. Typically, when you plug in the webcam, Windows automatically opens the installed software. Or, go to the Start menu to open the webcam software.
You don't have to be a professional photographer to take effective webcam videos or photos, but a few tricks of the trade do apply. Use a stack of books or a tripod to align the webcam to shoot video of something other than what's directly in front of the screen. Depending on the style and model of the webcam, it may or may not have an adjustable clip to attach it to the monitor. Clipping your webcam to the monitor is helpful when recording a webcast, making a video diary, or chatting with friends or family.
If the monitor is thin, it might take some creativity to secure it. The built-in clip feature puts desktop webcams a step above standard laptop webcams, given that they tend to be stuck in the same place centered at the top of the monitor. After you connect the webcam and position it as desired, turn it on and see what it can do. To use the software that came with the webcam, go to the Start menu and browse to the webcam program, shown here as Logitech Webcam Software.
Yours will be associated with the brand and model of your webcam. If you don't like the software that came with your webcam, Windows 10 comes with a Camera app that works well with most brands of webcams. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.
If your computer has Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10, you can use the Camera app to test the built-in webcam. To open the Camera app, follow these steps.
You can use the Camera app to record videos and take pictures of yourself or anything in front of the webcam. On a computer running macOS , you can test your webcam using the Photobooth app, located in your Applications folder.
You can use it to take photos or videos using an attached webcam. On a computer running Linux , you can test your webcam using the cheese utility. It is available in most package managers. For example, to install it on Debian , Ubuntu , or Linux Mint , you can install it using apt. If you want to activate the webcam whenever it detects motion, use the motion utility. After you have connected and installed a webcam on your computer, you can use it to show video of yourself on video conferencing services and software.
Popular services and software for videoconferencing include Microsoft Teams , Skype , Webex , and Zoom. When you connect to a conference call using videoconferencing services or software, you can activate the webcam to display live video. The service or software should have a button with what looks like a video camera on it. Examples of the button are shown in the picture.
Click the video camera button to turn on the webcam and activate video sharing. Depending on the videoconferencing service or software, the live video sharing starts immediately or displays a preview of the video, so you can see how it looks. If a preview is displayed first, click the option for "Start Video" or something similar to begin sharing the live video to others on the videoconferencing call.
Using an external webcam with a laptop is possible, but sometimes a bit more clunky if placed on top of the laptop screen. The laptop screen is very thin, causing an external webcam to be less stable when mounted to the top of the screen.
Today, some laptops feature a built-in webcam, eliminating the need for an external webcam. However, the built-in webcam is not easy to see and easy to miss.
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