How to Turn Off a Computer Camera

All newer notebook computers come with an integrated camera for taking personal picture, homemade video and network convenience. Turning off a computer camera is easy. These instructions can be helpful if you intend to turn off your built-in camera and use an external one. Just disconnect the external camera from the USB port if you are using this kind for your computer.

A video camera adds picture and record functionality to a computer.

XP and Vista

Step

Click the "Start" button. Choose "Control Panel" on the menu.

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Double-left click on " System and Maintenance." Choose the "Administrative Tools" near the bottom of the window.

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Select the "Computer Management." On the left of the screen, click on "Device Manager."

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Locate your computer camera by scrolling through the devices list. Click on the computer camera icon when you find it.

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Click the "Properties" button on the camera window. Choose the "Driver" tab near the top of the "Properties" pop-up.

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Press the "Disable" button at the bottom of the screen. Click "OK" to confirm that you want the camera turned off.

Windows 7

Step

Go to "Start," and click the "Control Panel" item on the menu.

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Click "Device Manager" on the appearing screen.

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Find and click "Imaging Devices" in the list, on the "Device Manager" screen.

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Double-left click the item called "Video Camera" under "Imaging Devices."

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Choose the "Driver" tab, located near the top of the "Video Camera" pop-up. Press the "Disable" button on the "Driver" pop-up window. Click "OK" to turn off your camera.