Windows – How to use built-in Webcam with Windows 8

webcamwindows 8

I've upgraded my laptop to Windows 8 and almost everything is working great.

The one notable exception is the built-in webcam, while it works perfectly from a number of Windows 7 applications (including Skype), no Metro/Windows 8 application can see it.

What do I need for the Webcam to be available to Windows 8 apps?
I'd like to try out the new Skype app, but without webcam support, that's a non-starter.

I have an HP Probook 6550b, but I suspect the problem isn't specific to this model. After all, drivers are installed and the webcam does work – just not from Metro apps.

Update

I've been running Windows 8 RTM since mid August, this isn't a recent installation. Driver updates for other devices (including video drivers) have come through Windows Update – there were several just prior to retail availability of Windows 8; I was hoping HP would release Windows 8 specific drivers around the same time, but haven't seen anything on the HP website yet.

Best Answer

Found the answer, and posting it here for others to find.

The HP driver being used for my webcam wasn't compatible with Windows 8. But, the generic webcam driver that came "in the box" from Microsoft works just fine.

Here's what I did.

  • Go to the Device Manager (the old school desktop one, from the System control panel).
  • Find the webcam - mine was listed under "Imaging devices"
  • Right-click and choose uninstall from the menu.
  • Make sure to mark the checkbox to delete the driver from the machine, press Ok.
  • The webcam should disappear from the list
  • Refresh the list (F5) and it should appear again, this time using the in-box drivers.

After this, the Camera Metro app worked perfectly, as did the new Windows 8 Skype application.

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