How to Install Webcam Drivers
When you buy a web camera, all the associated webcam drivers should be on the installation disk that came with your webcam. And whatever operating system you are using – Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 – your installation disk should contain the related drivers. You need to install webcam drivers for the webcam to work properly.
Your webcam most likely will have a USB connection cord. You must first install the webcam drivers, before plugging in your new webcam. Insert the installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. The setup screen should automatically appear. If your operating system did not pick up the auto run feature, you may load the setup yourself. You can follow these simple steps to get to your webcam drivers setup.
• Click Start.
• Click Run.
• Click Browse.
• Choose your CD-ROM drive from the drop down box.
• Highlight the SETUP.EXE or INSTALL.EXE.
• Click Open.
Tip: If there is no setup.exe or install.exe, try opening the autorun,inf file with notepad to see which executable should be used.
You should now have the setup screen showing. The steps are simple and the on screen prompts will walk you through loading your webcam drivers. Once all your webcam drivers have been loaded successfully, you will be prompted to restart your system. After you have rebooted and are back into Windows, you will be asked to plug in your webcam. All your webcam drivers should be loaded and your webcam working properly!
Webcam Drivers for Wrong Windows Version
In case you do not have the right driver for your Windows version, for example you have no Windows 7 driver for your webcam, you can always try using a driver for a previous Windows version. Windows Vista drivers often work as is in Windows 7, but even Windows XP webcam drivers can sometimes be used in Vista or even Windows 7. Likewise, Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 can very often be used in Windows 10. If running the installer does not work the first time, try running the installer as an adminstrator or run it in XP compatibility mode (both by right-clicking the installer file).
Missing Webcam Drivers Installation Disk?
If you have purchased a webcam without an installation disk (or lost the disk), you will need to find the necessary webcam drivers yourself. You can go to the manufacturer’s web site and usually find the webcam drivers. If the manufacturer does not have the webcam drivers you are looking for, search the net. You can search with the major search engines to locate the webcam driver’s specific to your operating system. It is also possible to seek out forums or blog posts that may relate to your webcam (links to your webcam drivers may be found here).
The same is true if you have a netbook without a CD/DVD drive. It would be possible to use a USB stick to transfer the webcam driver files, but the common solution in that case is also to simply download the drivers from the manufacturer’s website through the Internet.
Why You Need to Update Your Webcam Drivers
True, the required drivers are on the installation disk of your webcam when you bought it but guess what? These drivers may not be the latest drivers at all.
You see, that installation disk was compiled when the webcam was produced. Now, consider warehouse time, delivery time to stores, time on the shelf, and others, and many months – even years – may have passed. Since then, the webcam maker may have released several updated versions of the driver already.
In addition, if you install new software or change to a new operating system, the webcam drivers may need updates to suit these changes.
You can find updated webcam drivers on the manufacturer’s site. You can also find the webcam drivers online via forums and driver-related blogs. You can also use a third-party tool such as DriverFinder, which can scan your PC for webcam drivers and check if you need updated ones.
Once your webcam is working again, have some fun with your instant messenger friends and record each others webcam chat with EatCam.
If you want to make your own movies with your webcam, have a look at our article on recording video with your webcam.
Installed the webcam drivers, but the webcam is still not working? Check out our article on troubleshooting webcam problems.
@Alexander – No, normally the webcam installation program will install or uninstall depending on whether the software is installed already. Did you try to browse to the CD driver and execute the setup.exe or install.exe?
If the disc cannot be read, try inserting it in a different computer of you can and copy the drivers to a USB stick if possible.
I got a webcam and every time i put in the installation disk it doesn’t read it, Can you only install webcams once or something?
@gaby – Does the webcam show up in the device manager without errors? If you got the CD with the webcam, the drivers should really be on there. What happens if you insert the CD and run the setup.exe program (or maybe the auo-play runs the CD already)?
@Jule – The error message means that the program does not recognize the webcam. Does this always happen or only if you use the video capture first? Try using a different program to take snapshots with your webcam to make sure it is not the software.
I have a dell laptop with built in camera, the video works but the snapshot doesn’t when I open dell web central an error message comes up ‘to plug in supported camera’….I can’t it’s built in. Do you have any advice? Thank you
and i installed the CD which camed with the webcam but even that it does’t works.I understood that the driver of the webcam should be on this CD…
i know that….but is another problem:i cant find the video capture device for my webcam Rotech with Night vision….I installed Vista because it works whith that.Now i need this driver…
@gabi -Don’t install things too quickly unless you know it is matching your PC hardware and Windows version. Otherwise you might end up with a situation where even troubleshooting because nearly impossible.
If you video capture device is missing, first identify the webcam (assuming you are referring to a webcam), find the driver for it and install only that. Once the webcam appears in the device manager without problems, then install additional software for video capturing (could be SplitCam, or Debut Video Capture, etc.).
I will try to explain:i installed the cd which he camed whith the web cam,but when i try to use the webcam appears me a message:”You have no video capture device”and I click ok ,so is not working.I searched to the Internet “download free video capture driver” and I downloaded WinAVI Video Capture 2.0,Video Capture Driver Split Cam 3.2.1, PC_CAMERA_DRIVE_E and driverupdater_nd but none of these programs could be installed.When I try to open them it says:”Invalid win32 application” or “The system cannot find the path specified” or simlpy is not opening without a error message and i can’t install any.
Thanks for your response.
@gaby – What video capture device are you supposed to have and what have you downloaded and installed from the internet? Is it the file type, what is the file extension?
it’s me again.Today i noticed that i don’t have video capture device.I tried to install the video capture device on the internet and this device is saved in my computer but i can’t open it.Why?Please give me a response fast.Thanks for your time…
hi.
i recently buyed a web cam whith a instalation cd,i installed it,but my web cam does’t work.I had opened device manager and on the USB 2.0 apears a yellow sign.i checked the device status and and it showes this message:”This device is not configured correctly. (Code 1)
To reinstall the drivers for this device, click Reinstall Driver.” and when i click Reinstall Driver it starts to search someting,but when the instalation begins this message appers:”Please insert the Compact Disc labeled ‘Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 CD’into your CD-ROM drive(D:) and then click OK.You can also click OK if you want files to be copied from an alternate location,such as a floppy disk or a network server.”I click OK and appears some Needed Files whith a message:”Some files on Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 CD are needed.Insert Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 CD into the drive selected below,and the click OK.”,but I can’t pass of this drive selected,it does’t accept any of my options.Please help me and sorry for the errors of language(i am from romania).
@suriboy – What is your webcam brand and model?
i have a problem with loading my webcam software got a diffirent cam and tried that gives me the same problem “error” fail to install and if i try to burn cd’s i would have the same problem as well dont know if these two problems are related is there anyway i can solve this problem and am using windows xp
@yuwen – Yes you can use an additional webcam. I have done the same on my Acer Extensa laptop by adding a Logitech webcam on a USB port. Works fine.
Just make sure you select the right video inpute source in the program you are using. If it does give a problem, simply disable the internal webcam in the device manager.
@BANI – That’s a Genius webcam, right? Check out the Genius support website.
hello
i have a webcam but i dont have the disk to install it on my computer
its a Look312P WEBCAM
so i have no idea how can i install it on my computer can u pls help me out wid it
thnk u so much
Hi Kyle. Currently im using compaq laptop with built in webcam. My question is can i use another webcam? If its posible to use a new one does it affects my built in webcam?
@Shin – You’ll need to provide a bit more specifics about your problem. If you plug and install the webcam, what happens?
@priscilla – Does the webcam show up in the device manager at all under Other or Unknown devices? If so, than you need to check if you have the correct and latest driver. Are you using a CD or a downloaded driver?
@Andrea – You should check if there is a USB port on it where you can plug the webcam. You can check for the USB port or check the Bios settings.
Also check the version of Windows, because not all (newer) webcams have drivers for older Windows versions.
Kyle, I’m interested in installing a webcam on my grandmother’s computer. Her computer was pieced together and consists of very old hardware. Is there anything I need to know about her machine prior to making the webcam purchase?
hi, i have the same problem . mine is aspire4315. i already install the software many times and uninstall it but still did not work out.it still showed webcam not found..i also restart my laptop after installing but it stil the same. help needed very much…
Hi there Mr. Kyle..
Please hep me.. i dont know what to do now..
lately i’am the one who only formating my computer..
and then, this last month i cant reformat my computer.
That’s mean there is someone who did it..
but its not good.. i cant use my Webcam, then i think its no use now..
then i buy a new webcam its really cant use and i have a instalation..
but it really not work now..
Please responce..
i need your answer…
thanks mr Kyle.. :)
@Karen – What do you see in the Device Manager? Is there an “unkown” device listed?
Its still doesn’t detect my camera after i plug the camera. still saying “waiting for connection.” I’ve been downloading and installing a million times already.
@katelyn – First thing to do is to uninstall the webcam driver software again.
Check the Control Panel and use the Add/Remove programs option to uninstall any webcam program that was installed.
Then use the Device Manager to uninstall the webcam device (should be listed under imaging devices).
Unplug the webcam and then try installing the CD software again.
I’m back, actually the cam stopped working that same day it started working again, but every single time I tried to post here the site would say “Opps, Duplicate post”, I tried posting for almost a week. Anyways…I noticed that HP does an update once a week checking for software and driver, etc. well after the last two the webcam was working and showed up in the Device Manager for about 2 mins and then just suddenly stopped working. I tried updating the drivers but it said they were already up to date. The weekly HP update just came up again, I assume the Cam will show up in the Device Manager and the Cam will probably work for 30 seconds, I was wondering what I could try doing, maybe un-installing the cam, although who knows if the recovery manger will work this time?
hi
i got a webcam the other day an d i put in the disc with it it was all going well but it was taking a while to load so without thinking i put in the webcam with out it fully downloading, so now when im on messenger to do webcam it doesnt work i tried to download the disc again but it wont let me please help!