Slow or frozen applications when using the built-in camera in Windows 11

If you use Windows 11 and notice that the Applications become slow, crash, or freeze completely when the built-in camera is activated.You're not the only one this happens to. From video calls that freeze for half a minute to apps that don't even detect the camera, this bug can turn any online meeting into a real ordeal.

In many cases the origin is not a single problem, but a mixture of drivers, privacy permissions, security services, software conflicts, or even firmware failures and hardwareThe good news is that there's quite a bit you can do at home before giving up on your computer or starting to replace parts unnecessarily. Let's take a thorough and calm look at everything you should check when the built-in camera in Windows 11 crashes or is terribly slow.

Most common causes of slow or frozen applications when using the camera in Windows 11

When an app freezes when the camera is turned on, it's not always clear what's happening underneath, but there's usually a pattern: Something in the system is not managing access to the video device properly.This could be due to incorrectly configured permissions, an incompatible driver, interfering antivirus software, or background programs already using the camera without your knowledge.

One of the most typical reasons is that the Windows 11 privacy settings block camera accessIf the system or a recent update has changed how these permissions are managed, some apps may try to use the camera without having actual permission, resulting in crashes, slow performance, or the image not being displayed.

It is also very common to have problems with the camera controller or with the integration between the driver and the systemA driver that is too new, too old, or corrupted can cause anything from micro-cuts to total system freezes for several seconds when an application tries to initialize the camera.

In other cases, the root of the problem lies in the Windows security services or the built-in antivirusJust as the SmartScreen feature can noticeably slow down video playback, continuous monitoring of processes accessing video hardware can introduce noticeable delays and cause certain apps to stutter or freeze when the camera is turned on.

Finally, the possibility of conflicts with background applications that are already using the cameraor even more complex scenarios: bugs specific to some apps (like Microsoft Teams), incompatibilities with motherboard firmware or camera module, or integration problems so deep that even changing the motherboard does not solve the problem.

Check the physical condition and connection of the camera

Although it may seem silly, before getting involved with more advanced things it's a good idea to make sure that the The camera, whether integrated or external, is physically operational and properly connectedIt's the kind of detail that gets overlooked and then turns out to be the culprit.

If you use a external USB camera, check that the Make sure the cable is firmly plugged into the port. and that there are no visible gaps. A loose connection can cause the system to intermittently "see" the camera, resulting in crashes in apps that try to access it when it disconnects intermittently.

It is also recommended to test the camera in another USB port or even on another computerIf you have that option. If changing the port or device improves the behavior or stops the freezing, it's very likely that the problem lies with the specific connector or the device itself.

En portable with integrated camera, some brands include a physical switch, a mechanical cap, or a combination of Function keys (Fn + Fx) to turn the camera on and off. If that button is in the locked position or the camera key is disabled, Windows may detect it erratically or completely block access, resulting in crashes when an application tries to initialize a device that the hardware is blocking.

Physically inspect the equipment —screen borders, function keys and possible privacy switches— can save you a lot of time fiddling with software settings that weren't actually the main problem.

Check the camera in Device Manager

One of the first software checks you should do is to check if Windows 11 is correctly detecting the camera in the Device administratorIf the system doesn't even see it or it appears with a warning mark, it's normal for applications to misbehave or freeze when trying to use it.

To do this, open the Device Manager from the Start menu (You can search directly for “Device Manager” or use Windows + X and select it from the list.) Once inside, expand the “Cameras” or “Imaging Devices” categories, depending on how your system displays them.

If you see your camera in the list, right-click on it and check if the option appears. “Enable device” or “Disable device”If the visible option is "Disable device," it means the camera is already active. If it says "Enable device," select it to activate it and try using it again in your application.

From the same context menu you can choose "Update driver" to automatically search the internet for a newer driver. Windows will attempt to locate and install the most suitable version, which sometimes resolves crashes caused by outdated or corrupted drivers.

If you continue to have problems after updating, you can also resort to the option of “Revert driver” in the Driver tab of the camera propertiesThis allows you to revert to a previous driver version, which, on many systems, is more stable than the latest installed update.

Properly configure camera privacy and permissions in Windows 11

Windows 11's privacy options are becoming increasingly strict, which is good, but it also comes with a consequence: If camera permissions are misconfigured, apps may crash or fail to display an image. even if the hardware is perfect.

To review these permissions, press Windows + I to open Settings Go to the "Privacy and security" section. Then, look for "Camera." The first thing you should check is the "Allow camera access on this device" setting. If access is disabled, tap "Change" and enable "Camera access for this device."

In addition to enabling the device, it's important that you check the option "Allow applications to access the camera"If it is disabled, no UWP app (including many from the Microsoft Store) will be able to use the camera, resulting in initialization errors, unexpected crashes, and strange behavior when an app tries to start the camera without permission.

Further down you'll find the section "Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera." Here you'll see a list of all your installed Store apps. Only activate the camera for the ones you're actually going to use (Teams, windows camera, video call apps, etc.) to avoid conflicts and unnecessary access.

Very important: if you use browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or desktop video calling applications like Teams or ZoomMany of these apps don't appear in the App Store's list because they are technically "desktop applications." In these cases, make sure the "Allow desktop applications to access the camera" option is enabled, otherwise the system might block their access and cause crashes or errors when launching the camera.

Interference from antivirus and Windows security (SmartScreen)

The security built into Windows 11 is quite comprehensive, but sometimes it gets a little too zealous and It interferes with the performance of applications that access video and camera.This has been seen quite clearly in video playback issues, where the SmartScreen feature can cause a video to take up to 30 seconds to start or play in slow motion.

In the case of the camera, similar behavior can occur. adding delays to the start of the video stream or causing brief freezes While the system analyzes and validates what's running, if you notice that the camera freezes for a few seconds every time you turn it on, it's worth checking these options.

To do this, open the application of Windows Security from Settings > Privacy and Security and click on “Windows Security”. In the window that opens, use the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and go to “Application and browser control”.

Within this section you will see the "Reputation-based protection settings" section. There you can temporarily disable the main sliders for this feature to check if, by doing so, videos and camera-using applications stop experiencing delays and freezes.

It is important that you understand that This deactivation should be done temporarily, only for testing purposes.If you notice improved performance when turning on the camera or starting video calls, you'll know there's an interaction between reputation-based security and your applications; once you've finished testing, it's a good idea to reactivate the protections to avoid leaving your device more exposed than necessary.

Specific problems with Microsoft Teams and other video calling apps

One of the most desperate situations occurs when Only one specific application freezes when using the camerawhile the rest work perfectly. A much-discussed case is that of Microsoft Teams on Windows 11: when starting the camera and share screen or presentation, some users experience total freezes of 30 seconds or more.

In professional equipment, cases have been documented in which, with Windows 11 Pro 24H2 fully updated, drivers a day, BIOS recent, RAM tests, SSD and correct CPU And with no apparent hardware problems, the device only freezes when using Teams, while Zoom, Google Meet and other video calling applications work normally.

Various solutions have been attempted: Perform a clean install of Windows 11, update all drivers (graphics, chipset, network), test with and without a docking station, and disable hardware acceleration in Teams. (even after touching the registry when the option no longer appears in the interface), disabling background apps and startup programs... and still the freezes when activating the camera in Teams persist.

In some of these extreme cases, the laptop manufacturer has gone so far as to Replace motherboard and screen module with integrated cameraescalating the issue through all support levels. Despite replacing the hardware, the problem persists, suggesting a more firmware-related issue, software integration problems, or bugs specific to the Windows 11 + Microsoft Teams + certain hardware.

This type of situation illustrates that, even if you review all the classic steps, It could be a very specific compatibility issue. which is not entirely within your control to fix. Even so, following the other recommendations in this article will help you rule out common causes before concluding that it's a very specific application problem.

Update, roll back, and reinstall camera drivers

Drivers are a key component between the hardware and the operating system. When an app freezes while using the camera, one of the first things to try is... Modify the drivers: update them, revert them, or reinstall them.

From Device Manager, locate your camera within “Cameras” or “Imaging devices” and Right-click and select “Update driver”Select the automatic online search so Windows can try to find the latest compatible version. Sometimes, a newer driver fixes the exact crashes you're experiencing.

If you suspect the problem started after a recent update, open the camera properties, go to the "Driver" tab, and see if the option is available. “Reverse controller”This will allow you to revert to the previous version, which on many devices is more stable with certain video conferencing apps.

When neither of those things works, it's a good idea to go directly to the support page of your laptop or camera manufacturerYou can find your computer's exact model using the msinfo32 command (Windows + R, type “msinfo32” and press Enter). Once you have the model, go to the official website and look for the section on downloads Download the latest camera driver available for your version of Windows.

After downloading and installing that driver —preferably after uninstalling the current one from Device Manager—, Restart your computer and try the camera again in several applications.If the fault originated from a corrupt or incorrect driver, the situation will usually improve significantly.

Using the camera troubleshooter in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes a number of assistants that, while they don't work miracles, can help you detect and correct basic camera-related errorsThey are worth running when you notice that applications are crashing or not displaying an image.

To access them, press Windows + I to open Settings and go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshootersLook for the "Camera" entry and tap "Run" to open the help experience specific to this device.

The assistant will review the configuration, permissions, and hardware statusIt can also apply automatic corrections if it detects any obvious issues. While it doesn't resolve all complex cases, it can fix simple conflicts that are causing slowdowns or crashes when apps try to activate the camera.

Once the process is complete, Windows usually displays a brief report With the checks it has performed and if it has found anything, it's a good idea to take note of what the troubleshooter indicates, especially if it mentions disabled services, permissions, or corrupted drivers.

Create a new local user to rule out profile issues

In some devices, the camera problems are not in the hardware or the system itself, but in the user profile: corrupted settings, application remnants, or improperly saved permissions that drag on session after session.

A fairly simple way to check if the problem is related to your profile is create a new local user with administrator privileges and test the camera from that account. If everything works smoothly in the new profile, you'll know the problem originates in the original user's settings.

To create this user, you can access “Computer Management” (right-click on Start) and, within “Local Users and Groups > Users”, Add a new account and place it in the “Administrators” group.Another option is to use the Accounts section in Settings, but the idea is the same: to have a completely clean profile.

After restarting your computer and logging in with the newly created account, try using the camera in various applications (Windows Camera, browser, Teams, etc.). If There are no freezes or detection problemsYou will probably have to decide whether to migrate your data to the new user or spend time cleaning up the original profile.

Check which apps are using the camera and perform a clean boot

Another reason why apps might freeze when trying to use the camera is that Another program is already using it in the backgroundWindows 11 offers a quick way to see which apps have recently accessed the camera and, from there, close whatever might be causing the conflict.

Go to Settings (Windows + I), enter "Privacy and security," and check the Camera section. There you'll find the settings. the applications that have tried to use the camera along with the recent activityIf you see any apps you weren't using or that might interfere (for example, another video calling tool, a browser with video conferencing tabs open, etc.), close them before trying again.

If the crashes still persist, you can try a more drastic test: a clean boot of Windows 11This technique starts the system with the minimum number of services and startup programs possible, which helps determine if background software is causing crashes when the camera is turned on.

To do this, press Windows + R, type “msconfig” and press Enter. On the “Services” tab, select the option "Hide all Microsoft services" To avoid affecting system essentials, uncheck all other third-party services. Apply the changes and restart your computer.

With a clean boot enabled, try using the camera again. If now The applications stop crashing or running slowlyThis will give you a clue that some third-party service or program, when active, is interfering with the camera's use. From there, you can reactivate elements one by one until you find the culprit.

However, keep in mind that a clean boot is a temporary measure to diagnose problemsWhen you finish the tests, you will have to return the configuration to its normal state by following the same steps but reactivating your usual services and programs.

After checking physical connections, drivers, privacy permissions, Windows security, software conflicts, user profiles, and potential bugs specific to applications like Teams, it's normal that the Most problems with slow or frozen applications when using the built-in camera in Windows 11 These issues should be resolved or, at the very least, confined to a very specific scenario. This combination of steps allows you to separate hardware failures from configuration or compatibility errors, minimize crashes, and have a more stable system every time you turn on the camera for a video call or recording.