Windows Windows 11 How-To

How to Update Camera Driver on Windows 11

Update your Camera driver either from the Settings, Device Manager, or initiate a force reinstall by uninstalling the driver from your PC.

Update your Camera driver either from the Settings, Device Manager, or initiate a force reinstall by uninstalling the driver from your PC.

by Parth Sawhney

Device drivers are crucial software components that enable your computer’s operating system to communicate effectively with hardware devices like cameras. Keeping these drivers updated ensures optimal performance and compatibility.

Update Camera Driver via Settings App

One of the simplest ways to update your camera driver is through the Settings app, where Windows provides optional driver updates.

Open the Settings app by clicking on the Start Menu and selecting the Settings tile from the ‘Pinned apps’ section or by typing Settings in the search bar.
In the Settings window, click on the ‘Windows Update’ tab located on the left sidebar.
On the right pane, select the ‘Advanced options’ tile to proceed.
Scroll down to the ‘Additional options’ section and click on ‘Optional updates’.
Expand the ‘Driver updates’ section. If a camera driver update is available, check the box next to it and click on ‘Download & install’ to update the driver.

Once the installation is complete, your camera driver will be updated. If no update is listed, you can try the next method.

Update Camera Driver via Device Manager

If the Settings app doesn’t offer an update, you can manually update the driver using Device Manager.

Open the Start Menu and search for Device Manager. Click on the ‘Device Manager’ app from the search results.
In the Device Manager window, locate the ‘Camera’ category and double-click to expand it. Then, double-click on your camera device to open its properties.
In the properties window, navigate to the ‘Driver’ tab and click on ‘Update Driver’. A new window will appear.
Choose ‘Search automatically for drivers’. Windows will search for the latest driver software and install it if available.

Reinstall Camera Driver

If updating doesn’t resolve the issue, you can reinstall the camera driver to ensure it’s properly configured.

Open Device Manager by searching for it in the Start Menu.
Expand the ‘Cameras’ category, right-click on your camera device, and select ‘Uninstall device’. A confirmation prompt will appear.
Confirm the uninstallation by clicking ‘Uninstall’ in the prompt.
Restart your computer to allow Windows to detect and reinstall the camera driver automatically. Click on the Start Menu, select the power icon, and choose ‘Restart’.
After restarting, open the Settings app from the Start Menu.
Navigate to the ‘Windows Update’ tab on the left sidebar.
If Windows has detected the missing driver, you will see an update available. Click ‘Download & install’ or ‘Install all’ to proceed.
If no update is visible, go to ‘Advanced options’.
Click on ‘Optional updates’ under the ‘Additional options’ section.
Expand the ‘Driver updates’ section, select the camera driver update by checking the box next to it, and click on ‘Download & install’.

By following these steps, you should have successfully updated or reinstalled your camera driver, ensuring your camera functions correctly on Windows 11.

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