In Windows 11, the Camera settings page helps you manage the cameras connected to your device. On this page, you can:
If you have administrator access, you can also disable and enable cameras.
Note: The Camera settings page isn't available in Windows 10, but some camera manufacturers may offer utilities to modify camera settings. Consult your camera manufacturer for more info.
Open the Camera settings page
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Select Start .
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Type manage cameras in the search bar on the Start menu, and then select Manage cameras from the results. Under Connected cameras, you'll see a list of cameras connected to your device.
Note: Some cameras won't appear in the Camera settings page. These include infrared (IR) cameras used for Windows Hello Face authentication, cameras using DirectShow technology (like many apps provided by DSLR or action camera manufacturers so their devices can be used as webcams), and proprietary cameras that aren't managed by Windows—such as industrial cameras and many networked cameras.
Configure cameras
In Camera settings, you can set default settings for each camera. The settings are stored for each camera and each user account—they don't synchronize between multiple Windows devices.
When an app uses the camera, the camera starts with default settings. However, apps using the camera may apply different settings at any time while using the camera—not every app will use the default settings.
Modify default settings for a camera
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Select Start .
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Type manage cameras in the search bar on the Start menu, and then select Manage cameras from the results.
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Select the camera from the list of connected cameras.
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Windows will start the camera, display a preview, and show controls to adjust various settings.
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Use the controls and adjust the image. You'll see the changes immediately and the changes will be saved as the new default settings.
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Some camera manufacturers include an app that lets you make more configuration changes. For those cameras, a button under the Related settings heading opens the manufacturer's app.
Depending on the camera’s capabilities and version of Windows 11, some or all the following controls may be available:
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Basic camera controls (Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, and/or Sharpness)
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Rotation—external cameras can be rotated to adjust for different mounting
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Video HDR—uses HDR capture techniques to ensure bright and dark parts of the image all appear natural and detailed
Windows Studio effects
Windows Studio effects are a collection of features designed to present yourself in the best light. Windows Studio effects are enabled by machine learning algorithms, and will require a NPU (neural processing unit). Here's explanation of what they are:
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Background effects—effects such as background blur
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Eye contact—an effect to compensate for eyes looking at the screen instead of the camera
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Automatic framing—an effect to automatically zoom and crop the image as you move around
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Voice focus—an effect that mutes background noises to help your voice sound crisp and clear
To access these settings, select Start > Bluetooth & devices > Camera and select your front-facing camera. Then, turn on the settings you'd like to use.
Note: On some devices, turning on camera effects may have a significant impact on performance and battery life. These include Rotation, Background Blur, Background Effects, Eye Contact, Auto Framing and Video HDR.
Disable and enable cameras
If you have administrator access, you can disable and enable cameras for everyone who uses the device you're using.
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Select Start .
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Type manage cameras into the search bar in the Start menu, and then select Manage cameras from the results.
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Under Connected cameras, select the camera you want.
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Select Disable. On some devices, disabling a camera will disable multiple cameras on your PC. If this is going to happen, Windows shows a warning after you select Disable. Some cameras might require you to reboot your device to disable the camera.
Note: To disable cameras, your account will need to have administrator access.
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Select Start .
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Type manage cameras into the search bar in the Start menu, and then select Manage cameras from the results.
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Under Disabled cameras, select the camera you want to enable, then select Enable.
Note: To enable cameras, your account will need to have administrator access.
