Camera Missing or not Showing in Device Manager
Under specific circumstances, Windows users may notice that their camera is not working suddenly. Going to Device Manager to check its status might not help much, as the camera has vanished mysteriously and is no longer listed there!
While this may sound like a serious issue, there are a couple of simple solutions that could easily resolve it. Start by reinstalling the camera's drivers. Go to the official website of the device's manufacturer and look there or try to get Windows to search and install the appropriate drivers automatically.
Scan for Hardware Changes
- Type device manager in the search field on the taskbar. Open the top result.
- Open the 'Action' menu and select 'Scan for hardware changes.' Alternatively, look for the dedicated 'Scan for hardware changes' button and click on it.
Run the Hardware Troubleshooter
- Type troubleshoot in the search field on the taskbar. Open the top result.
- Locate the 'Additional troubleshooters' option and click on it.
- Find the 'Hardware and Devices' troubleshooter, select it, and click on the 'Run the troubleshooter' button.