Windows 10: How can I use a phone as a webcam and have it show up under cameras in device manager...

How can I use a phone as a webcam and have it show up under cameras in device manager instead of imaging devices? Using a new gaming desktop with windows 11 and a samsung a14 cell phone. Connecting via IVCam app on both windows and android. I need this for my camera program in a golf simulator to recognize the camera. Was told it will only show up if camera is listed under cameras and not imaging device. Thanks.

:)

 

Can't Find WebCam Device in Device Manager


In Win7 I'd do Device Manager > Imaging Devices > USB 2.0 PC Camera to find my USB WebCam and activate it and de-activate the monitor's built-in camera.

But in Win10 Device Manager has no listing for Imaging Devices.




Where in Win10 can I enable and disable webcams?

 

USB Webcam showing as Hidden in Device Manager

Hi,



The above issue might occur due to incompatibility of the webcam drivers with Windows 10 OS installed on the computer.



Before we assist further, what are the methods tried to resolve the above issue?



If haven’t tried, uninstall and reinstall the webcam drivers manually from Device manager by following the steps below and check if the issue is resolved.

• Connect the webcam to the PC, press Windows logo + X keys on the keyboard and select
  Device manager from the context menu.
• Expand and locate the webcam drivers, right click and select Uninstall from the context menu. Remove the camera device.
• Restart the computer and check if the drivers install automatically on connecting the device to the computer.
• Open Camera app and check if the issue is resolved.
• If the issue persists, download and install the latest and most compatible webcam drivers from the manufacturer’s website and check if the issue is resolved.

Refer to Windows can’t find or start the camera article and check if it
helps:



Write to us with the methods tried to resolve the issue and the status of webcam showing the error message and the device drivers hidden in Device manager on the computer in the same post for further assistance. Your reply is most important for us
to ensure we assist you accordingly.



Thank you.

 

USB Webcam showing as Hidden in Device Manager

Hi Likhitha V,

I’m not convinced this is a driver issue at all as the issue appears to be that something has decided to make the device hidden hence the other apps on the PC not being able to find it. However here are the steps I have just tried as outlined in your
reply.

• 
  The webcam I have is an eSecure webcam, this is connected to a USB port and I know that power is being supplied to the Camera as the lights on the camera can be turned on.
  
• 
  Opened the Camera App (as supplied with Windows 10) and the “We can’t find your camera message” appears.
  
• 
  Opened Device Manager
  
• 
  Expanded Imaging devices. Used the menu option under View to Show Hidden Devices. USB2.0 Camera is then listed.
  
• 
  Right clicked on the device and selected Uninstall. Message box asking me to confirm Uninstall appears and I select OK.
  
• 
  Webcam is removed from Device Manager list.
  
• 
  Removed Webcam from USB port.
  
• 
  Restarted PC and opened Device Manager. As anticipated no Webcam under Imaging devices even when Hidden Devices is selected.
  
• 
  Re-attached Webcam to USB port. Device is still not visible under Imaging Devices.
  
• 
  Opened Camera App and the “We can’t find your camera message” still appears.
  
• 
  Scanned for hardware changes in Device Manager and the Webcam is still not visible.
  
• 
  Power still being supplied to Webcam as the lights still operate.
  

So now I have a webcam attached to the system that I cannot see in Device Manager or use under any app.



When I ended up in a similar state to this before, by following similar steps (as described in other forums found by searching Google for this issue) I had to restore my PC back to a previous Restore point.
To get the Webcam to be visible in Device manager again.



Regarding drivers, the manual supplied with the webcam states that the “eSecure Webcam does not require an installation driver CD. Simply plug in the USB wire to your computer and the drivers will automatically
be installed”. As mentioned in my original post the Webcam worked when it was first attached but something, somewhere chose to make it invisible to the system.



The help on the error message mentions it may be blocked by Antivirus software. I have Windows Defender running and cannot see any setting that may be causing this blocking to happen but I'm not certain that
I know enough to state that this categorically not the case.



Do you have any other ideas for me to try? Do I revert back to the restore point to at least get the PC to recognise the Device (albeit in a hidden state)?



Any further help would be appreciated.