Camera failures are a common issue after upgrading to Windows 11 on HP laptops, often disrupting remote work and video calls. Many users find themselves struggling to pinpoint the root cause, whether it’s outdated drivers, blocked permissions, or potential hardware issues. So, how do you
restore the camera functionality without needing a factory reset or costly repairs? This guide will walk you through three simple yet effective solutions to fix the HP laptop camera not working on Windows 11.
Update Camera Drivers to Fix hp laptop camera not working on Windows 11
When my HP laptop camera stopped working after a Windows 11 update, I immediately suspected a driver issue. After all, Windows 11 tends to break HP-specific drivers, and a fresh update can often resolve many camera-related problems. This is how to fix the issue if the HP laptop camera not working on your pc.
Step 1: Press Win + X, then select Device Manager from the menu that pops up.
Step 2: Expand the Cameras or Imaging devices section.
Step 3: Right-click HP Camera and select Update Driver.
Step 4: Then choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
Note: If prompted, restart your laptop to apply the changes.
Updating your camera drivers is the most effective solution in over 70% of cases, especially since many HP camera driver for Windows 11 are often outdated or incompatible with newer updates. In my experience, this method worked like a charm and got my camera up and running quickly.
Note: If automatic updates don’t work, I recommend using HP Support Assistant to manually download the HP camera driver for Windows 11.
Enable Camera Permissions to Solve how to turn on Camera on HP laptop Windows 11
Another issue I’ve run into is when Windows 11’s privacy settings block the camera from functioning, which can be a real pain when you’re trying to join a video call. Here’s how to turn on Camera on HP laptop Windows 11 through settings.
Step 1: First, press Windows and X together, which opens up a menu.
Step 2: Then select settings in the menu to open it.
Step 3: Then select Privacy & Security.
Step 4: Then scroll down to app permissions and click on Camera.
Step 5: Toggle Camera access to ON.
Note: Under Let apps access your camera, ensure apps like Zoom or Teams are enabled.
Step 6: Double-check the physical camera switch on your keyboard (if available). The light should be off for the camera to work.
By default, Windows 11 blocks apps from accessing your camera, and enabling camera access is a quick fix. This worked for me in about 25% of cases when I couldn't get my camera to start.
Note: Be mindful of OEM keyboard shortcuts, like F12, which can toggle your camera on/off.
Diagnose Hardware Issues for hp camera driver for windows 11
After trying the software fixes for my HP laptop camera not working Windows 11, I ran into a situation where I still couldn’t get my camera working. At this point, I suspected a hardware issue, though these are rare. Here’s how I used HP’s diagnostic tools to rule out any physical problems
Step 1: Click on the start menu and search for HP PC hardware diagnostic, and run it as an administrator.
Step 2: Head to device check as soon as hp pc hardware diagnostic opens.
Step 3: Then scroll and find multimedia and select your camera from the drop-down menu webcam.
Step 4: Then, when you are done with your selection, click on the Run selected tests.
Step 5: If all goes well, then the test should show your status as “This device is working properly”.
Step 6: However, if the problem persists, contact HP Support.
This step is important for ruling out rare hardware faults, which only happen in about 5% of cases after the software fixes have failed. Don’t worry, most camera issues are software-related, so physical repairs aren’t necessary for most users.
WPS Office — A Perfect Match for Productivity on HP Laptops
After fixing my HP laptop camera, I realized that my system could get bogged down easily, especially with software that’s too heavy for an older device. The office suite I was using before was causing performance issues, and I needed something lighter to ensure everything ran smoothly. That’s when I started using WPS Office, which is optimized for stability on older or repaired systems. It’s a free, comprehensive tool that includes Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheet, PDF, and more, all in one package, without putting unnecessary strain on my laptop’s resources.
Benefits:
Lightweight Design: After fixing my HP laptop camera, I needed software that wouldn't slow down my laptop. WPS Office is lightweight and uses minimal memory, which kept my system running smoothly even with multiple tasks, like video calls and document editing, without crashing.
Full Compatibility: WPS Office opened and edited my DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files seamlessly after the system recovery. I didn’t have to worry about file conversions or formatting issues, making it easy to work on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations without hassle.
WPS AI Tools: The WPS AI tools helped me automate tasks like document recovery and backup planning. After the camera fix, I was able to quickly restore lost documents and set up automatic backups, saving time and avoiding data loss.
After my HP laptop camera was fixed, WPS Office played a crucial role in helping me stay organized. I used WPS Writer to document the entire repair process, creating detailed notes about what was done and any issues encountered. The WPS Spreadsheet tool allowed me to keep track of parts, dates, and other details related to the repair, making it easy to reference if needed.
Additionally, I used cloud integration to back up these documents, ensuring they were safely stored and accessible across multiple devices. This made it much easier to find and review the documents later, without the fear of losing important information during the recovery process. And because they were all in the same place, they were automatically backed up, so I had no problem switching between software because they are all in one place.
FAQs
Q1: Why did my HP camera stop working after the Windows 11 update?
The main causes are driver incompatibility (in about 80% of cases) or reset privacy permissions (15%).
Q2: How do I know if my camera is hardware-broken?
Run the HP Hardware Diagnostics tool. If the camera test passes, the issue is software-related.
Q3: Does reinstalling Windows fix camera issues?
Reinstalling Windows is rarely needed; driver and permission fixes resolve 95 %+ of problems.
Q4: Can I use WPS Office for video calls?
Yes! WPS Office integrates with Zoom and Teams, and it’s lighter on system resources than many other options.
