Webcam Keeps Turning Off and On
Webcams rarely malfunction unless there is a software issue with them. However, sometimes hardware problems may occur, especially if you have played around with the cabling, or damaged your laptop. Most users who encounter webcam issues on Windows report that the webcam keeps turning off and on, rendering it useless. If you are also experiencing such issues, then we have a neat set of troubleshooting steps that could help you fix this:
Table of Contents
Update Windows & Drivers to Fix a Webcam that Keeps Turning Off and On
The first step when troubleshooting such issues is to make sure that all of your software is up-to-date. Head to Start Menu -> Windows Update to see if there are pending Windows Updates. Also, make sure to head to the camera manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers for your model. You will need to restart your system after performing both of these tasks.
Disable Power Saving for the Camera’s USB Port
If you are using an external camera you should use your Windows settings to make sure that the USB port is not entering power saving mode. While this feature works well usually, sometimes it may malfunction, making webcams turn off and on. Go to Start Menu -> Device Manager and expand the tab Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Find the USB hub/port you use, right-click it and go to Properties. Finally, go to Power Management and deselect Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
Turn Off Conflicting Software
If you are one running one or more applications that could use the Web camera, this might lead to unexpected conflicts. We advise you to temporarily quit any other applications and see if this fixes the issue.
