Windows Camera 2022.2607.1.0

Windows Camera 2022.2607.1.0 is Microsoft's free camera app for Windows, used to take photos, record video and scan documents with a laptop, tablet or external webcam. It usually comes preinstalled, and you can download Windows Camera again from the Microsoft Store if it was removed.

Who it is for

Windows Camera is the simplest way to use the camera of a Windows device. It suits people who just want to check how they look before a video call, test whether a new webcam works, snap a quick photo or record a short clip without installing anything extra. Students and office workers use its document mode to photograph pages or a whiteboard: the app detects the edges, straightens the image and saves a clean scan. Its QR code and barcode scanner is handy on tablets and 2-in-1 devices. On PCs with several cameras, such as a front and a rear camera on a Surface, the app switches between them with one button. For more demanding tasks it quickly hits limits: there are no overlays, no streaming, no scene switching and only basic manual settings. People who stream, record tutorials or want to use a phone as a webcam will need other software. The app is built as a Universal Windows Platform app and runs on x86-64 and ARM devices.

Main features

• Photo and video capture with a timer and grid.
• Document scanning with automatic edge detection.
• QR code and barcode scanning.
• Switching between front, rear and external cameras.
• Basic settings such as brightness and video quality, depending on the camera.

How to install or reinstall it

1. Open the Windows Camera page in the Microsoft Store.
2. Click Get or Install; if the app is already there, Store shows Open instead.
3. In Settings, go to Privacy and security, then Camera, and allow apps to access the camera.
4. Start Camera from the Start menu and choose photo, video or document mode.

Changes to test versions are listed in the Camera release notes for Windows Insiders.

Requirements

Windows Camera is part of current Windows and needs a working built-in or USB camera with an up-to-date driver. On Windows 11, the system itself requires a compatible 64-bit processor and DirectX 12 graphics, as listed in Windows 11 requirements. The app package is about 24.33 MB according to catalogue data.

Safety and price

The app is free and comes from Microsoft, so there is no reason to look for it elsewhere. Windows shows a camera indicator and lets you control which apps can use the camera in privacy settings; review that list from time to time.

Pros and cons

• Pro: preinstalled and free.
• Pro: useful document and QR scanning.
• Pro: simple, starts in seconds.
• Con: very few manual controls.
• Con: no streaming or overlays.
• Con: quality depends entirely on the camera.

Alternatives

For recording and streaming with overlays, OBS Studio is on our site. iVCam, DroidCam and Iriun Webcam turn a phone into a better webcam, and Snipping Tool captures the screen rather than the camera.