17 Ways to Fix Camera Freezing in Windows 11 Like a Pro!

Imagine you are in the middle of a serious video conference with your colleague. Suddenly, the camera of your Windows device freezes out and stops working, marring the entire communication. Though you could afford to bear with the once-in-blue-moon freezing of the camera app, the repeated occurrence of this issue will not only derail your communication but also threaten to damage the camera – irreparably. That’s the reason why I thought it would be apt to share some of the best tips and tricks to fix the Windows 11 camera freezing – having myself borne the brunt of the issue. Keep reading to…

Best Tips & Tricks to Fix Camera Freezing in Windows 11

So, what has broken the camera on your Windows device? From the corrupted drivers to the software glitches to hardware conflicts, there are a number of reasons why this issue crops up on PC. Have a look at these well-known villains who tend to trigger the camera freezing problem on Windows 11:

• Outdated drivers
• App permissions
• Hardware conflict
• Background apps
• Antivirus interference
• Corrupt system files
• Incompatible updates
• USB connection issues
• Power settings
• Camera privacy settings

In this guide, I’m going to take on each one of these roadblocks one by one to get rid of the problem and restore the full functionality of the camera.

1. Check Camera Connection

Bear in mind that loose connections or faulty cables can interrupt the camera’s function.

• Therefore, ensure the camera is securely connected to the USB port.
• If you are you are using an external camera, try a different USB port.
• Test the camera on another device to confirm it’s working.

2. Restart Your PC

Never ever underestimate the power of a simple restart as it’s blessed with the incredible ability to resolve temporary glitches affecting the camera.

• To get it done, click on the Start menu > select the Power icon > choose Restart.

3. Close Background Apps Using the Camera

It’s worth pointing out that the multiple apps accessing the camera can cause conflicts and freezing.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Under the Processes tab, check for camera-related apps.
• Right-click on the app and select End task.

4. Allow Camera Access in Privacy Settings

Ensure that Windows has not blocked the camera access for privacy protection.

• Go to Settings on your PC > Privacy & security > Camera.
• Now, ensure Camera access is turned on.
• Enable Allow apps to access your camera and then reboot your device.

5. Disable Antivirus Temporarily

Did you recently install an antivirus program on your Windows device? If your answer is yes, try turning it off as there is a decent chance that it might be interfering with your device camera.

• Simply, open your antivirus software > disable real-time protection temporarily and reboot your Windows device.
• Once your PC has restarted, check if the camera works, then re-enable the antivirus.

6. End Camera Processes Using Task Manager

Stuck processes might be at variance with the camera app, preventing it from functioning properly. Therefore, take a close look at all the processes and get rid of the unnecessary as well as the suspicious ones.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Look for Camera or Webcam processes.
• Right-click and select End task.

7. Reset the Camera App

Misconfigured app settings can interfere with the camera’s operation.

• Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
• Find the Camera app and hit the triple-dot icon right next to it.
• Choose Advanced options in the menu and select Reset.

8. Check for Windows Updates

Is your PC running the outdated version of Windows? The out-of-date Windows version might be playing the spoilsport for the camera app.

• Head over to the Settings app > Windows Update.
• Click on Check for updates > Now, install any available updates and restart the computer.

9. Update Camera Driver

Note that the outdated drivers may be incompatible with the latest Windows updates.

• Right-click on Start and select Device Manager.
• Expand the Cameras section.
• Right-click on your camera and select Update driver.
• Choose Search automatically for drivers.

10. Roll Back Camera Driver

Keep in mind that the recent driver update might be causing compatibility issues. Hence, try rolling back the camera driver.

• To get it done, open Device Manager.
• Expand Cameras and right-click on your camera.
• Select Properties and navigate to the Driver tab.
• Click on Roll Back Driver (if available).

11. Reinstall Camera Driver

Corrupt drivers are also equally responsible for the camera freezing issue.

• Open Device Manager on your PC > right-click on your camera and select Uninstall device.
• Now, restart your PC to allow Windows to reinstall the driver automatically.

12. Run the Camera Troubleshooter

Windows can automatically detect and fix camera-related issues.

• Navigate to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

• Find the Camera and click on Run.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to detect the threats and resolve them.

13. Disable Conflicting Camera Drivers

Multiple drivers can create conflicts, causing freezing issues.

• On your computer, fire up the Device Manager.
• Expand Cameras and disable any secondary or conflicting drivers.
• Right-click and select Disable device.

14. Adjust Power Management Settings

Power-saving settings might have turned off the camera to save the battery.

• Launch the Device Manager > right-click on the camera and select Properties.
• Head over to the Power Management tab.
• Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

15. Perform a Clean Boot

Some malicious third-party startup programs might be in direct conflict with the camera. But fret not! The clean boot will let you spot the culprit that is making your camera to ill-function.

• To get going, press Win + R > type msconfig > Hit Enter.
• Go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services.
• Click Disable All.

• Navigate to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
• Disable all startup items > restart the computer and test the camera.

16. Re-register the Camera App Using PowerShell

No luck as yet? There is no need to lose sleep over it as re-registering the camera app often works wonders in fixing corruption or configuration issues.

• To begin with, search for PowerShell on your PC and select Run as administrator.
• Enter the following command:Get-AppxPackage *camera* | Remove-AppxPackage Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsCamera | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
• Once you have run the command, restart your PC.

17. Check Hardware Compatibility

Some older cameras may not be fully compatible with Windows 11.

• So, visit the manufacturer’s website for the compatibility details and check if a firmware update is available for your camera.

Wrapping up…

And that concludes this extensive guide about fixing the Windows 11 camera unresponsiveness. I hope you have managed to restore the full functionality of the camera with the help of the suggested tips. If there is any noteworthy tip missing from the guide, be sure to mention it via the comments section below.