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Aug 04, 2023

How to change your webcam settings in Windows 11

If you want to adjust certain controls for your webcam, the easiest place to do so is through the Windows 11 settings app. Many people do video conferencing on their Windows 11 PCs these days, and the

If you want to adjust certain controls for your webcam, the easiest place to do so is through the Windows 11 settings app.

Many people do video conferencing on their Windows 11 PCs these days, and the webcam is the heart of that experience. So, if you're hoping to take control of your webcam and tweak basic settings, like the image brightness, sharpness, and contrast, the Windows 11 settings app will be where you have to go. If you're on a device with an Arm-based SoC under the hood, like the Surface Pro 9, you also can tweak integrated webcam settings with Windows Studio Effects. We have a look at all two methods for you right here.

The easiest way to change webcam settings will be with the Windows 11 settings app. You can open this by pressing the Windows Key and I on your keyboard at the same time. Once it's open, follow the steps below. These settings apply to integrated webcams and external webcams.

Again, the Windows 11 settings app offers pretty basic controls for your webcam. It's nothing too fancy, but tweaking these settings can help lighten up your image a bit and make you look better on your calls.

If your device has an Arm-based SoC under the hood, from Qualcomm, you can tweak additional webcam settings beyond what the Windows 11 settings app enables. You'll see options for background effects, eye contact, and automatic framing. Thanks to the Windows 11 Moment 2 update, you'll have faster access to these settings in the Quick Actions area of the Taskbar. Note these settings only apply to integrated webcams, though. You also can find the settings manually in the Cameras area of the settings app, as we described above. We explain both methods.

Quick Actions are the easier way to get to the Windows Studio Effects. It doesn't take too many clicks, but you might have to add a button for it. Here's how.

More experienced users might want to tweak Windows Studio Effects from the Settings app. It's a more drawn-out process, but if you want to get to it the "hard" way, here's how.

Again, just like with what you see in Quick Actions, you can choose background effects like blur, automatic framing, eye contact, and more. You've now tweaked your integrated webcam to spice up your video feed. With Windows Studio Effects, you'll look even better in your video calls. You can learn more about the feature in our dedicated Windows Studio Effects how-to guide.

Changing the webcam settings in Windows 11 is just one way you can personalize your device. We also suggest you tweak settings for things like fast startup, and change a few settings to make Windows 11 more private.

I have over six years of experience covering Microsoft, Surface, Windows, macOS and ChromeOS news and rumors for sites like Digital Trends and OnMSFT. I also write laptop reviews and how-to guides. I am a Microsoft fan and I have a drawer full of PCs and other devices. You can follow and interact with me on Twitter if you want to chat! I'm always there making new friends!