Check for a physical shutter or a camera key (often F8/F10 with a camera icon). Turn on Settings → Privacy & security → Camera access for apps, close other apps using the camera, then reinstall the camera driver in Device Manager.

The short explanation

Most laptops now have a physical privacy shutter or a keyboard shortcut that disconnects the camera, and Windows has camera permission switches for all apps and per app. Any of these can make the camera look broken.

Only one app can use most cameras at a time, so a background video-call app or browser tab can block others. Driver updates and Windows updates occasionally break camera drivers too.

Symptoms

  • Camera app: “We can't find your camera” (0xA00F4244) or a black image.
  • Teams, Zoom or the browser show no camera.
  • Camera light comes on but no picture appears.

Why it happens

  • Privacy shutter, camera key or BIOS setting disabling the camera.
  • Windows camera permissions turned off.
  • Another app already using the camera.
  • Corrupted or incompatible camera driver.

Try these fixes

  1. Check the shutter and keySlide open any lens cover and press the camera on/off key if your keyboard has one.
  2. Allow camera accessSettings → Privacy & security → Camera: turn on Camera access, Let apps access your camera, and the specific app (and Let desktop apps access your camera).
  3. Close other camera appsQuit video-call apps and browser tabs, or restart the PC.
  4. Check camera settingsSettings → Bluetooth & devices → Cameras. Make sure the camera is enabled and see if a preview appears.
  5. Reinstall the driverDevice Manager → Cameras (or Imaging devices) → right-click → Uninstall device → restart. Or install the driver from the laptop maker.
  6. Check BIOSSome business laptops can disable the camera in BIOS/UEFI settings.
Check it's fixed: The Windows Camera app shows a live image and video-call apps can select the camera.

Avoiding it in future

Keep camera drivers from the laptop maker, and close video apps when not in use.