A camera and microphone let you make video calls, take photos, record videos, and use voice features. Windows gives you control over which apps can access your camera and microphone so you stay in charge of your privacy.
How Windows shows when your camera or microphone is in use
Camera indicators:
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If your device has a camera light, the light turns on when the camera is active.
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If your device doesn’t have a camera light, Windows shows a notification when the camera turns on or off.
Microphone indicator:
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A microphone icon appears in the notification area of the taskbar when an app is using the microphone.
Camera types on your device
Apps and services may access different camera types, depending on your device:
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Color camera: Takes standard photos and videos.
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Infrared camera: Captures grayscale images using infrared light.
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Depth camera: Detects shapes and distance, such as identifying when someone is in front of the device.
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Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
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Ensure that Camera access, Let apps access your camera, and the individual toggle for the Microsoft Store app you wish to use is turned on. If you do not see the app or website you're looking for in the list, it's likely a desktop app. Desktop apps cannot be individually toggled, but access for those apps can be controlled using Let desktop apps access your camera.
For more info about controlling camera access on your device, see Manage app permissions for your camera in Windows.
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Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
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Ensure that Microphone access, Let apps access your microphone, and the individual toggle for the Microsoft Store app you wish to use is turned on. If you do not see the app or website you're looking for in the list, it's likely a desktop app. Desktop apps cannot be individually toggled, but access for those apps can be controlled using Let desktop apps access your microphone.
You can use your camera and microphone for websites in Microsoft Edge. However, even when your camera and microphone are enabled for Microsoft Edge, you will still need to give individual websites permission before they can use your camera and microphone. Here's how:
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Go to a website that wants to use your microphone and/or camera.
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If a dialog box appears asking if you want to give the website permission to use your camera or microphone, select Allow. To block access, select Block, or close the dialog box.
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Open Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more and then select Settings.
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Select Privacy, search, and services on the left side, and then select Site Permissions > All sites.
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Select the website and select Block from the dropdown Camera or Microphone.
Note: Some websites might not work if you choose to block them from accessing your camera or microphone. For example, you might not be able to join a video conference.​​​​​​​
Exceptions to the camera and microphone privacy settings
If you turn on Windows Hello, it will use your camera to sign you in even if the setting that allows apps to access your camera is turned off. If Windows Hello is turned off, it can't access your camera. (Windows Hello, part of Windows 10 and later, is a new way to sign in to your devices, apps, online services, and networks.)
Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, an additional setting is available on camera and microphone settings pages that provides limited control over desktop apps that access your camera and microphone using supported methods. This setting is called Let desktop apps access your camera or Let desktop apps access your microphone in Windows 11. Here you will find the list of desktop apps that Windows has detected which have interacted with the camera or microphone. Turning the setting on or off will impact all apps listed under this setting.
Notes:Â
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You can select any of the apps listed to get details about the specific file on your device that accessed the camera or microphone.
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If you use an app or Windows feature that uses your camera or microphone indirectly through a Windows component, you will see the Windows component listed instead. For example, if you interact with Cortana using your microphone you would see "Speech Runtime Executable."
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If you turn off the Allow desktop apps to access your camera or Allow desktop apps to access your microphone settings in Windows 10, or the Let desktop apps access your camera or Let desktop apps access your microphone settings in Windows 11, you can impact some Windows features from using your camera or microphone, such as Cortana or Windows dictation.
Desktop apps may not always appear in the list of apps available on the Camera and Microphone settings pages or might still be able to access your camera or microphone even when these settings are turned off. Find out why
Support for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
A camera and microphone let you make video calls, take photos, record videos, and use voice features. Windows gives you control over which apps can access your camera and microphone so you stay in charge of your privacy.
How Windows shows when your camera or microphone is in use
Camera indicators:
-
If your device has a camera light, the light turns on when the camera is active.
-
If your device doesn’t have a camera light, Windows shows a notification when the camera turns on or off.
Microphone indicator:
-
A microphone icon appears in the notification area of the taskbar when an app is using the microphone.
Camera types on your device
Apps and services may access different camera types, depending on your device:
-
Color camera: Takes standard photos and videos.
-
Infrared camera: Captures grayscale images using infrared light.
-
Depth camera: Detects shapes and distance, such as identifying when someone is in front of the device.
-
Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Camera.
-
Ensure that Camera access for this device, Allow apps to access your camera, and the individual toggle for the Microsoft Store app you wish to use is turned on. If you do not see the app or website you're looking for in the list, it's likely a desktop app. Desktop apps cannot be individually toggled, but access for those apps can be controlled using Allow desktop apps to access your camera.
-
Select Start > Settings > Privacy > Microphone.
-
Ensure that Microphone access for this device, Allow apps to access your microphone, and the individual toggle for the Microsoft Store app you wish to use is turned on. If you do not see the app or website you're looking for in the list, it's likely a desktop app. Desktop apps cannot be individually toggled, but access for those apps can be controlled using Allow desktop apps to access your microphone.
You can use your camera and microphone for websites in Microsoft Edge. However, even when your camera and microphone are enabled for Microsoft Edge, you will still need to give individual websites permission before they can use your camera and microphone. Here's how:
-
Go to a website that wants to use your microphone and/or camera.
-
If a dialog box appears asking if you want to give the website permission to use your camera or microphone, select Allow. To block access, select Block, or close the dialog box.
-
Open Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more and then select Settings.
-
Select Privacy, search, and services on the left side, and then select Site Permissions > All sites.
-
Select the website and select Block from the dropdown Camera or Microphone.
Note:Â Some websites might not work if you choose to block them from accessing your camera or microphone. For example, you might not be able to join a video conference.
Exceptions to the camera and microphone privacy settings
If you turn on Windows Hello, it will use your camera to sign you in even if the setting that allows apps to access your camera is turned off. If Windows Hello is turned off, it can't access your camera. (Windows Hello, part of Windows 10 and later, is a new way to sign in to your devices, apps, online services, and networks.)
Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, an additional setting is available on camera and microphone settings pages that provides limited control over desktop apps that access your camera and microphone using supported methods. This setting is called Allow desktop apps to access your camera or Allow desktop apps to access your microphone in Windows 10. Here you will find the list of desktop apps that Windows has detected which have interacted with the camera or microphone. Turning the setting on or off will impact all apps listed under this setting.
Notes:Â
-
You can select any of the apps listed to get details about the specific file on your device that accessed the camera or microphone.
-
If you use an app or Windows feature that uses your camera or microphone indirectly through a Windows component, you will see the Windows component listed instead. For example, if you interact with Cortana using your microphone you would see "Speech Runtime Executable."
-
If you turn off the Allow desktop apps to access your camera or Allow desktop apps to access your microphone settings in Windows 10, you can impact some Windows features from using your camera or microphone, such as Cortana or Windows dictation.
Desktop apps may not always appear in the list of apps available on the Camera and Microphone settings pages or might still be able to access your camera or microphone even when these settings are turned off. Find out why.
