Surface Pro 3 Camera not working

Looks like something is missing.   E.g. Search settings for Camera does not show me what I would expect.  Actually I don't know where to find what it would be trying to show me...  Perhaps this one?   ms-settings:privacy-camera  which doesn't work but others do using that pattern.  Ah.  Looks like the label should be Webcam instead.  ms-settings:privacy-webcam  works.   Then a search for Webcam supposedly leads us to Device Manager.  And I finally found what that would be referring to under Imaging devices, where mine are apparently called LifeCam--who knew?  Also with those it looks like something is missing because with Properties Events I see an Information message for each device indicating "requires further installation".  WTH does that mean?

How do we use the cameras anyway? All Windows Search shows is "Trusted Windows Store app".  Ok.  That's there and it works.  What's wrong?  In its Settings under Press and hold camera button (WTH is that?) there is a Disabled option.  That would probably explain your symptom.

Where is the Help for this thing?

HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
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Robert Thanks for your reply and insight. I navigated my way and found the LifeCam but from there I was lost. There is no setting other than the disable or uninstall, neither of which I have done as I done want to cause any other problems.

I am not sure where to go from here.

Did you find the app?  Search for Camera.  I get a match from Win-s cam Enter.

Where is the Help for this thing?

Not here

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/apps/windows-camera/9wzdncrfjbbg

Finding that was an adventure too with BING.   Tried first to search with

camera  site:apps.microsoft.com  loc:us

The last term was obviously ignored because I got anything but en-US in hits.

Then tried BING's suggestion

Download Camera windows 10

which did find it?  I was looking for Help not a Download.

Now the links in that Download page (on the Store) are just generic.  So still no help for Camera.

Found the app and is installed on my system but the camera will not launch even when the open button is selected for the store.

What is the fix for this???

I just tried to simulate something like that by disabling both cameras and got a "Something went wrong" message.  See if disabling both does the same for you.  If you're lucky toggling them back on may fix something that would be due to just the devices.  Am still seeing that "requires further installation" mystery message.  In fact, it looks like in my case it is only the Rear camera which needs to be re-enabled.  I don't know how to pick the other one.  Where's the Help (again)?

Good luck

Robert
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Hello Pdon69,

You may try to go the Device Manager, uninstall the camera driver then restart the device. After restarting the Surface the driver should be installed by Windows update.

Hi all,

I am a student and I am using my Surface Pro 3 for video recording of lectures. As the lecturers are using projector screens for the presentation slides in a dim lighted room, the exposure for the camera has to be turn down to be able to see the contents of the slides on the screen in video recording with the built in front camera.

Ever since Windows 10 upgrade, the exposure setting for the camera could not be found in the default camera software. I am pretty sure that before the upgrade it is possible to adjust the exposure to be able to see the contents on the projector screen when video recording. Is there any where this setting could be hidden at?

Thanks in advance!