Microsoft has taken steps to resolve a known issue that was causing built-in cameras on ARM-based Windows devices, including Surface Pro X laptops, to stop working. Users have reported experiencing camera malfunctions since May 23.
Camera stopped working today May 23rd 2023
by u/Motor-Roll-1788 in surfaceprox
Microsoft, Upon acknowledging the bug, Redmond clarified that USB-connected cameras were not affected, even when used with Windows devices impacted by this known issue.
To address the problem, Microsoft has released an updated camera driver, which will be available through Windows Update in the upcoming weeks. Users can manually check for updates to determine if the updated drivers are ready for their devices, as mentioned on the Windows health release dashboard.
In cases where the updated camera drivers are not installed or offered through manual Windows Update checks, Microsoft advises users to reach out to their Windows device manufacturer (OEM) as the drivers may not be available for affected devices.
Microsoft has specified that the affected systems include those operating on Windows 10 22H2 or Windows 11 21H2/22H2 and utilizing Qualcomm 8cx Gen 1, Qualcomm 8cx Gen 2, Microsoft SQ1, and Microsoft SQ2 processors.
Workaround available
Before the update was released, Microsoft provided a temporary solution that can still be used until the updates are out.
- Select the >Start button and type cmd, then right-click or long-press on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Copy and paste the following command and run the command by pressing Enter: eg add “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Qualcomm\Camera” /v EnableQCOMFD /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
- Restart any app which uses the camera, or restart your Windows device.
- The integrated camera should now function as expected.
However, Microsoft warns that this workaround may disable some camera features or lower the image quality. For example, the workaround may remove the ability to use the camera for facial recognition or video calls. Additionally, the image quality may be lower than usual.
