How to enable/disable webcam by script (Win 10)

Question

I'm using for win 10 on my laptop and sometimes I need ti enable/disable my build in webcam and mic by any script or .exe file. In other words I need to switch this one by script: WebCam Settings I tried to find something in Google, but without success. Tell me where to start?

Answer 1

Mmmmh... it works if you are not using the webcam, but if it is still active it shows this error (running the powershell script as administrator):

Disable-PnpDevice : Generic failure

At line:1 char:1

• Disable-PnpDevice -InstanceId (Get-PnpDevice -FriendlyName "USB Video ...

•   + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: 
  

(Win32_PnPEntity...7&169FD4E3&...):ROOT\cimv2\Win32_PnPEntity) [Disable-PnpDevice], > CimException

• FullyQualifiedErrorId : HRESULT 0x80041001,Disable-PnpDevice

• Is there any way to turn it off while it's still in use ? My problem is that after I end a Microsoft Teams meeting, I see that the cam is still in use, because I see its led still ON...

Answer 2

You can disable and enable your webcam using PowerShell script.

1. List all your cameras:

   Get-PnpDevice -FriendlyName *webcam* 
   

2. Filter camera by status:

   Get-PnpDevice -FriendlyName *webcam*  -Status OK
   

3. Disable the camera:

   Disable-PnpDevice -InstanceId (Get-PnpDevice -FriendlyName *webcam*  -Status OK).InstanceId    
   

4. Enable the camera:

   Enable-PnpDevice -InstanceId (Get-PnpDevice -FriendlyName *webcam*  -Status Error).InstanceId