Doesn't work in Skype Windows 7. We solve the problem - the camera doesn't work in Skype. Is the driver installed, is there a driver conflict?

Skype is the most popular program for communicating with friends over the Internet. Its most important function is the ability to make video calls. This is very convenient, because you can see any interlocutor without even leaving home.

But what to do if you start communicating, but the interlocutor does not see you. Let's look at what problems there are with the camera and where it turns on in the Skype program.

Why the camera doesn't work on Skype

Skype settings

First of all, let's check whether it works directly in the program itself. Let's go to Skype. Opening “Tools – Settings – Video Settings”. If we see our display on the right side of the window, then everything is working.

Perhaps you have a parameter set under the video “don’t automatically share your screen with anyone”. Then, with every video call, you need to turn on the video during the conversation. Or simply change the value to show the video to users from your contacts.

Equipment check

The most common cause of camera malfunction is desktop computers is the carelessness of the users themselves. Check if your device is plugged into an outlet. (Laptop owners should skip this point.)

Checking drivers and camera functionality

Let's go to "Control Panel - Hardware and Sound - Device Manager". Find your device in the list. If it is marked with a yellow exclamation mark, then the problem lies in the drivers or the camera itself.

Download the driver for your camera from the official website of the manufacturer. Click right click to the device in the task manager and click "Update drivers". Or you can first delete them and then install the downloaded ones.

After this, be sure to reboot the computer.

If after these steps the camera still does not function, then most likely the problem is caused by a malfunction of the device itself or you did not install the drivers correctly.

Using the camera with other applications

It is not uncommon for a computer to have several programs that work with the camera. If one of them is active and uses the camera, then Skype will not be able to use it until the program is closed.

Some programs can run in the tray (icons in the lower right corner), so the user does not see it, and it blocks access for Skype.

Low internet speed

And this is perhaps the most common problem, the fact is that if one of the interlocutors low speed Internet connection, you will not be able to establish a video call. Check your Internet settings. For normal operation You will need video from 128 Kbps. If your parameters match, contact another person with a normal Internet connection and evaluate the quality of the connection.

In most cases the problem goes away. If you have completed all the steps, but the camera does not work in Skype and other programs, take the camera to service center for further diagnosis.

One of the most popular and in demand programs all over the world is Skype. The application, which allows for high-quality voice and reliable video communication over the Internet, enjoys the well-deserved trust of millions of users. However, any program has its own weak sides. The most common problem associated with Skype program– the application does not see the camera.

Common reasons

A modern laptop has a built-in camera, which is enough to transmit video.

There are many reasons why Skype does not find this equipment, here are the main ones:

  1. driver problems;
  2. the camera is occupied by another program;
  3. not updated application;
  4. malfunction of the device itself.

Let's try to understand the solution to the most common of them in detail.

Webcam driver

The first thing to do when you discover such an obstacle is to check whether the drivers are installed on the camera. If yes, then was it done correctly? To do this, you need to open the device manager.

You can perform this action in several ways:

  • for Windows 7. “Start” - two right-clicks on the “My Computer” position - select the “Properties” line;
  • for Windows 7, 8, you can simultaneously press the Win+R keys and type devmgmt.msc, then Enter;
  • in Windows XP, just click “My Computer” and launch the camera.

Open the task manager and find the “Image processing devices” item. Here is information about the webcam.

Photo: “Image Processing Devices”

Open the properties of this element and see if exclamation point or a red cross. If everything is in order, then the equipment status should indicate “The device is working normally.” So the reason is not in the drivers.

Diagnostics

If everything is fine with the drivers, then you need to check the functionality of the camera. It should be turned on. There is a key with a camera icon on your laptop keyboard, or you can use the instructions for your equipment. If the user sees himself in the image, then everything is in order with the technology. It works, but Skype gives the error “...did not find a webcam...”. What to do? We proceed as follows.

Video: Camera doesn't work

Settings

To set up the video, you need to run on Skype laptop. To do this, you need to log in to the application by entering your username and password.

After starting the program, you should follow the instructions below:


If all actions are completed correctly, the user's image will appear on the right. If there is no image, you should check all the settings again. In the same position you can configure parameters such as "Show my video", "Automatic screen display". Sometimes there are completely strange errors. It seems that the camera settings were done correctly, and everything is in order with the drivers.

The application developers themselves do not seem to know the reasons for this problem. It can appear at any time and can disappear unexpectedly. Users found a way out of this situation on their own: it is enough to install another one, in most cases previous version programs. Find out how to do this below.

Removing problematic Skype

If there is a need to completely remove the program from your laptop, you should follow the instructions below: first, shut down the application. To do this, open the program, click on the “Skype” icon and select “exit” from the list presented. We proceed further depending on the operating system installed on the laptop:


It is impossible to completely delete your account in the application. If you stop using it, then three days after the last access to the network, it is in automatic mode will be erased from user searches. Subsequently, as soon as the user logs back into the network, it will be automatically updated.

Downloading a new one

Download and install the program on your laptop to implement voice communication, video calls, messaging and file sharing is very easy. The application is in free access on the Internet on specialized resources.

Downloading does not require any registration or transfer of money. This application is free. Just click on the download link and follow the instructions.

Installing a web camera

If the application does not find the camera after all the attempts made, then there is nothing left but to replace it. You can buy a new one external camera with a microphone and connect it to your laptop via USB port. After all steps are completed, you should launch the application. The application should automatically find a new camera. If this does not happen, then you should go to the program settings and select the “camera - debug” option.

Disabling program updates

The device was functioning correctly, but suddenly stopped working after a scheduled update. Such situations occur at every step. The problem may arise due to driver incompatibility. What to do if the application does not see the camera on the laptop after the update.

You need to disable them:


Skype does not see the webcam on a laptop

Other common problems that hinder correct operation with the application, it should be noted:


All problems can be solved. The main thing is the right approach and a little patience.

Checking the camera to see if it is being used by another program

In some cases, upon startup, the user may receive a message with the following content: the video broadcast cannot be started. Close all other programs that may be using the video device.

Important to remember. The camera can only transmit images to one program at a time. If you don't follow this rule, there will either be no image or the message noted above will appear.

The solution to this problem is that before starting, you need to close all applications that intercept the video stream. If the user does not understand which program is interfering with the correct operation of the application, then you can simply restart the laptop.

Is this camera in the settings?

To select a video device, you need to go to the program settings:


The connected device requires only one driver to operate. If multiple drivers are installed, a conflict may occur.

In this case, the user needs to remove all incompatible drivers:

  • Find "Device Manager". By the way, you can do this as follows: in the search field, enter the text: device manager, the computer will automatically select the desired position;
  • then double-click on “Image Processing Devices”. Thus, the list of camera drivers is revealed;
  • if there is not one, but several positions in the list, then right-click to delete any driver. If a request for deletion appears, confirm the action;
  • you need to remove all drivers. The Imaging Devices section should disappear;
  • Then select “Action” and perform “Update hardware configuration”.

Video: Installation and configuration

Windows version is not supported by the camera

Some Windows operating systems do not support Skype. For example, Windows XP SR2.

If this version is installed on the laptop, then there are three options:

  • delete this version applications and download the older one;
  • do not use the application for making video calls;
  • update your operating system to version SR3.

Computer settings are "outdated"

Users whose equipment operates on the basis of Pentium processor III. These computer devices belong to the obsolete category. That's why Skype doesn't work for them.

The solution is to try installing more old version applications and disable automatic update. If you think carefully, consider different reasons, analyze the situation, then any problem can be solved independently. Accidentally pressing the wrong keys, reinstalling the operating system, shutting down BIOS system– some options that cause difficulties with this application.

Now you know the answer to the question of what to do if Skype does not see the camera on your laptop. Select the problem that has arisen, and by following our article, you can easily and quickly fix it. Good communication with friends and partners!

Skype is a program designed for communication, and video calls, one of the wonderful functions of this messenger, imply uninterrupted transmission of video images (after all, you must not only hear, but also see the interlocutor). Video not working on Skype is one of the most common problems, the reasons and solutions for which we will talk about in this article.

Why doesn't video work on Skype? The reasons may be different, but, one way or another, they have one thing in common - something is wrong with the webcam. By the way, this is also true if . It could be incorrect setting in the program itself, problems with drivers, etc. But let's talk about why video calls don't work in Skype in more detail.

You can find out what to do if in our next article.

Causes

Here are a few reasons why video in Skype usually does not work on a laptop or computer:
Often video calling does not work because the settings in Skype itself are incorrect. To find out if this is true:

  • Open the program and open the menu “Tools” - “Settings”.
  • Here select "Video Settings". This is where you can check which camera is used by the program by default (if there are several of them), as well as in general.

Quite often it happens (especially in the case of a computer) that several web cameras are connected to the device at once, and the program uses the inactive one by default. If so, select the desired option from the list and apply it.

In addition, the checkbox next to “Enable Skype Video” must be checked. You can check whether the function is active in the program itself during a call to another user. Check to see if the camera image on the icon is crossed out.

Check, maybe the video does not work in Skype on a laptop simply because the camera is not turned on. On some devices it is activated by pressing special key(or a keyboard shortcut) on the keyboard. While on other laptops this function is turned on automatically.

Video does not work in Skype on Windows 10, 7, 8, as well as in versions for other operating systems, because there was a problem with the drivers - they crashed, were not updated, or were not installed at all. To check this:

  • Open the Start menu and select Device Manager or Devices and Printers (depending on your operating system).
  • Here find “Imaging devices” and look for the name of your camera. See if there is a yellow triangle next to the name. If this is the case, the driver is not active, try reinstalling or updating it. If you haven’t found the name at all, then the driver was not installed initially. Accordingly, download and install it.

If you followed all our advice, but the problem still has not been solved, most likely the problem is in the webcam itself. Take the equipment to a service center for diagnostics. Unfortunately, even the most good device may become unusable, for example, due to an accidental power surge.

23.03.2017

Skype software was developed by the creators of the Windows OS, Microsoft Corporation. Today, the number of Skype users exceeds all reasonable limits. People use this software To communicate with friends and family, they carry out online conferences. It's very difficult to imagine modern life without Skype, since this program still has no worthy analogues.

Skype, being a program, certainly has its unique features and performance problems. Often Skype users apply to technical forum Microsoft or do search queries on the Internet because their webcam suddenly stopped working.

Solving camera problems on Skype

All sorts of problems in Skype related to the webcam can be both technical and systemic in nature. It is because of this that before you begin to deal with the problem of displaying the camera in Skype, you should make sure that the device is working.

To determine the functionality of your video device, you can use third party applications, for example, a program "WebcamMax". In the case of Windows 8-10, the system initially contains an application "Camera", which is also suitable for diagnosing performance.

Once you make sure that your webcam is fully functional, you can begin to solve the problem with displaying the image in Skype. If the camera is broken, it is recommended to contact a specialist to repair the webcam or purchase a new device.

Method 1: Install the latest Skype update

Very often, as indicated by the statistics of questions asked, people encounter the problem of a non-working webcam while using outdated version software. To get rid of the problem, you will need to update your Skype to the latest version.

It is best to uninstall the program, go to the official Skype website and download a new one installation file. After this, the downloaded program should be installed according to the installer's instructions.

If you are using a more or less recent, but still not the latest version, you need to proceed as follows.


If you are using the latest version of Skype, but your webcam still does not work, you should pay attention to other ways to solve this problem.

Method 2: Disable conflicting applications

If you have an application installed on your computer or mobile device that also uses access to the webcam, problems with Skype are quite possible. To do this, you need to find out which application is the conflicting one and stop it from running, including running in the background.

Often Skype problems related to the camera come from the most seemingly simple applications. These include:

  • program programs streaming audio and video;
  • web browser;
  • file sharing applications.

Everything can be resolved quite easily - you just need to stop the software that conflicts with Skype.

To diagnose the system for unnecessary programs, it is recommended to use standard remedy Windows – "Task Manager". Thanks to this software, you can see which processes are running and shut them down.

Let's look at how all this is done using the example program "WebcamMax", which is capable of intercepting images from Skype, thereby interfering with its performance.

First you need to open "Task Manager". There are several ways to do this.

After "Task Manager" open, you need to find out which programs can cause problems.


As soon as everything unnecessary programs will be deleted, you should restart Skype and check the camera’s functionality. We move on to the next steps if the problem cannot be fixed.

Method 3: Check connection quality

This case is only partially able to solve the problem with not working camera, because for the most part bad channel Internet connection completely blocks the ability to make calls on Skype. Skype works on the principle that if your Internet connection is not fast enough, the program automatically disables some features, for example, video calling.

Solving the Internet problem is entirely up to you. To do this, you may need to configure your modem or router yourself, or contact your Internet provider (ISP).

If you use Skype with mobile device, the recommendations are exactly the same - get fast internet, in accordance with Skype requirements.

Method 4: Check the camera through Device Manager

It often happens that the webcam does not work due to incorrect installed drivers or due to manual shutdown of the device. You can check the camera's operating status via "Device Manager", present in every version of Windows OS.


After the device begins to appear normally in the list of equipment, you can check the camera’s functionality in Skype.

Method 5: General Solutions

If you have installed latest version Skype, good internet connection, a working video device and no conflicting programs, but the camera still does not work, comprehensive solutions can help.


If none of the suggested options help you, we recommend contacting your device vendor. It is possible that the camera manufacturer did not intend to use this equipment in Skype.

Method 6: Update adjustment (Windows 8)

In the case of an operating room Windows system 8, The problem with the camera may occur due to latest updates. This situation can be resolved extremely simply, with strict adherence to the above actions.


After these steps, the problem with the webcam in Skype should completely disappear.
If, despite all the steps taken, the camera in Skype still does not work, try replacing it. This is especially true for laptop users and other portable devices, where the default camera leaves much to be desired.

The first thing you should do in case of this problem is to check whether the drivers are installed on the webcam and whether there is a driver conflict. By the way, usually included with a laptop, disk is coming with drivers (or they have already been copied to HDD) - try installing them.

To check if the drivers are installed, go to the device manager. To enter it in Windows 7, 8, 8.1 - press the button combination Win+R and type the command devmgmt.msc, then Enter (you can also access Device Manager through the Control Panel or “My Computer”).

In the device manager, you need to find the “imaging devices” tab and expand it. It must have at least one device - a webcam.

It is important to pay attention to how the device is displayed: there should be no red crosses opposite it, as well as exclamation marks. You can also go to the device properties: if the driver is installed correctly and the webcam is working, the “Device is working normally” message should be on (see screenshot below).

If you don't have the driver or it's not working properly. First, remove old driver, if he is. This is quite simple to do: in the device manager, right-click on the device and select “delete” from the menu. New driver It is best to download from the official website of your laptop manufacturer. By the way, a good option is to use some special. driver update program. For example, I like DriverPack Solutions

How to check the webcam's operation without Skype? It’s very simple: download a small program AMCAP and if the webcam is working, you will see the picture that the camera will take. Now you can move on to Skype settings, at least you can be sure that the problem is not in the drivers... The settings should be something like this:

Other common problems

1) Before talking on Skype, check if any other program is working with the camera. If yes, then close it. If the camera is occupied by another application, then Skype will not receive the image from it!

2) One more common reason Because of which Skype does not see the camera, this is the version of the program. Remove Skype completely from your computer and install the latest version (or vice versa, an older one).

3) Perhaps several webcams were installed on your system (for example, one was built-in, and the second was connected to USB and configured in the store before you purchased a computer). And Skype automatically selects the wrong camera during a conversation...

4) Perhaps your OS is outdated, for example Windows XP SP2 does not allow you to work in Skype in video broadcast mode. There are two solutions: update to SP3 or install a newer OS (for example Windows 7).

5) And lastly... It is possible that your laptop/computer is already so outdated that Skype no longer supports it (for example, a PC based on Intel processors Pentium III).

I wrote the last two reasons as a general case...