Fix camera after Windows 10 update

If your camera (built-in webcam or external) stopped working after a Windows 10 update, it is often due to driver issues, privacy/settings changes, or incompatibilities introduced by the update. Below are the most effective steps to restore camera functionality.

Option 1: Replace the Device Driver 

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the menu. You can also press Win + X and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand the appropriate category (for camera issues, expand Cameras).
3. Right-click your camera (or the device you want to update).
4. Uninstall the Current Driver
   1. Select Uninstall device.
   2. If available, check Delete the driver software for this device.
   3. Click Uninstall to confirm.
   4. Wait for the device to disappear from the list.
5. Install a New Driver
   Option A: Let Windows Install the Driver Automatically

   1. In Device Manager, click Action → Scan for hardware changes.
   2. Windows will detect the device and install a fresh default driver.

   Option B: Install the Driver Manually

   1. In Device Manager, right-click the device → select Update driver → choose Browse my computer for drivers → select the folder containing the downloaded driver.
6. Restart Your Computer to ensure the new driver is fully applied.

The camera should function correctly when using the generic device driver.

Option 2: Update or Repair the Camera Driver

1. Download the latest driver from the official website or you can use 3rd party driver tools like Driver Easy.
2. Install it and restart your PC.