5 Ways to Fix the All Cameras Are Reserved Error in Windows 11

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Try Basic Fixes

Fix 1: Close Apps Using Your Camera

A common reason why the Camera app may fail to access the webcam and display the “All the cameras are reserved” error message is if another app or program is already using it in the background. That means you may have another app or browser open that’s accessing the webcam on your computer.

To find out which app is using your camera on Windows, use these steps:

Step 1:Press theWindows + Ikeys to open the Settings app.

Step 2:Navigate to thePrivacy & securitytab. Then, scroll down to App permissions and selectCamera.

Step 3:If an app is using your webcam, you’ll see the “Currently in use” message under its name.

After you identify the app that’s using your webcam, close it and the error message will go away.

Fix 2: Enable Camera Permission

Another reason why the Camera app may fail to access your webcam is if it lacks the necessary permission. Here’s how to check.

Step 1:Open theSettingsapp and head toPrivacy & security > Camera.

Step 2:Under the “Let apps access your camera” section, turn on the toggle next toCamera.

After this, check if the “All cameras are reserved” error occurs again.

Fix 3: Run the Camera Troubleshooter

Running the Camera troubleshooter allows Windows to diagnose the connection between your PC and webcam. The tool also checks your system for othercamera-related issuesand attempts to fix them. Here’s how you can run it.

Step 1:Open theSettingsapp and head toSystem > Troubleshoot.

Step 2:ChooseOther troubleshootersfrom the right pane.

Step 3:Click theRunbutton next to the Camera and follow the on-screen prompts to run the troubleshooter.

Fix 4: Update Camera Drivers

Outdated camera drivers can also mess with your system, resulting in error codes like 0xa00f4288. Hence, it’s a good idea to check if the camera drivers on your PC require an update.

Step 1:Press theWindows + Skeys to open the Windows search menu, type indevice manager, and select the first result that appears.

Step 2:Click the arrow beforeCamerasto expand it. Then, right-click on your webcam and select theUpdate driveroption.

After updating the drivers, try using the Camera app again and check if the issue is still there.

Fix 5: Repair or Reset the Camera App

Repairing the Windows Camera appis an effective way to resolve common issues interfering with its functionality. If the ‘All cameras are reserved’ error is app-related, repairing it should help.

Step 1:Right-click on theStart iconon the taskbar and selectInstalled appsfrom the list.

Step 2:Scroll through the list to locate the Camera app. Click thethree horizontal dotsicon next to it and selectAdvanced options.

Step 3:Scroll down and click theRepairbutton.

After the process is complete, you will see a checkmark next to the Repair button. If the error persists even after that, you can try resetting the app from the same menu. This will delete all the corrupt app data and reset the app to its default configuration.

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Last updated on 01 August, 2024

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