Troubleshoot Camera Problems on Microsoft Surface Pro 9: Step-by-Step Guide
Troubleshooting Camera Problems on Microsoft Surface Pro 9: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you are experiencing issues with the camera on your Microsoft Surface Pro 9, there are several systematic steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you through the process.
Run the Automated Camera Troubleshooter
Begin by utilizing the automated camera troubleshooter available in the Get Help app. This tool can automatically run diagnostics and implement the necessary steps to fix most common camera issues. To access it, open the Get Help app and follow the prompts to run the camera troubleshooter[4][5].
Ensure Camera Access is Enabled
Check your privacy settings to make sure that camera access is allowed for the apps you are using. Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera and ensure that both Camera access and Let apps access your camera are set to On. Also, verify that the specific camera app you are using is listed and has its switch toggled to Enabled[2][5].
Update Windows and Camera Drivers
Ensure your Surface Pro 9 is running the latest version of Windows and that all camera drivers are up to date. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for any available updates. If there are optional updates, select View optional updates to see if there are any updates for your camera. Additionally, use the Surface app to check for any firmware updates by expanding Help & support and selecting Check for updates[4][5].
Restart Your Surface
Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve the issue. If you haven't restarted your device since the camera stopped working, do so now. For a more thorough restart, press and hold the power button until your Surface shuts down, then release it after 20 seconds. This forces a complete shutdown and restart, which can clear the hardware cache[2][5].
Uninstall and Reinstall Camera Drivers
Corrupted or outdated drivers can cause camera issues. To uninstall the camera driver, open Device Manager by searching for it in the taskbar. Expand the Cameras section, right-click on the camera device (e.g., Intel(R) TGL AVStream Camera or Intel(R) AVStream Camera), select Properties, then go to the Driver tab and choose Uninstall Device. Make sure to check the box for Attempt to remove the driver for this device before uninstalling. After uninstalling, go back to Device Manager, select the Action menu, and choose Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the drivers. Restart your Surface after this process[2][4][5].
Uninstall and Reinstall the Camera App
If the issue persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Camera app. Open Windows PowerShell with administrative privileges by pressing Windows + X and selecting Windows PowerShell (Admin). Type the following command to uninstall the Camera app:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Camera | Remove-AppxPackage
Then, to reinstall the app, use:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.Windows.Camera | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
Restart your Surface after the installation is complete[1].
Check for Duplicate or Outdated Drivers
In Device Manager, check if there are duplicate entries for the camera drivers. If you find any duplicates, uninstall the duplicate entries. Additionally, check if there is an option to roll back the driver. Right-click on the camera driver, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and see if the Roll Back Driver option is available. If it is, proceed with rolling back the driver[2].
Disable and Re-enable the Camera
Sometimes, simply disabling and re-enabling the camera can resolve the issue. In Device Manager, find the camera device, right-click on it, and select Disable device. Wait for a few seconds and then enable it again[3].
Check UEFI Settings
Boot your Surface in UEFI settings to ensure the camera is enabled at the firmware level. Go to Start > Settings > System > Recovery, select Restart Now next to Advanced startup, then navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings. In the UEFI settings, check if the Devices category is available and ensure the camera options are turned on. If they are off, toggle them off and then back on after a few seconds before exiting and restarting your Surface[2].
Terminate Background Programs
Some background programs might be using the camera, preventing other apps from accessing it. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab, and end any tasks that might be using the camera[1].
Reconfigure Windows Defender Firewall
Ensure that the camera app is allowed through Windows Defender Firewall. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type control, and press Enter to open the Control Panel. Go to System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall, then select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. Find the camera app in the list, uncheck the boxes beside it under the Private and Public columns, and then click OK to save the changes[1].
By following these steps, you should be able to identify and potentially fix the issues causing your Microsoft Surface Pro 9 camera to malfunction. If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may need to consider more advanced troubleshooting or seek support from Microsoft.