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Windows 10 update is breaking millions of webcams - how to fix it
Microsoft's first major update to its flagship operating system is breaking customers' webcams.
The Windows 10 anniversary update, which includes a raft of new features such as selfie login for websites and apps and an overhauled Cortana, includes a piece of software that causes certain webcams to freeze.
Millions of users have found that upgrading to the software has rendered their webcams obsolete, including built-in cameras and external ones that connect via USB or Bluetooth, according to Microsoft website Thurrott.
Affected webcams are those that use the MJPEG or H264 video format, such as the Logitech C920. Those that use YUY2 - a separate format - are unaffected.
Several webcam users have taken to Twitter to share their frustration.
The error is down to a new piece of software in the Windows 10 anniversary update that allows multiple applications to access a webcam at once. In older versions of the software only one application at a time could access it, meaning that, for instance, you couldn't connect to Skype and use selfie login at the same time.
"It was important for us to enable concurrent camera access so Windows Hello, Microsoft HoloLens and other products and features could reliably assume that the camera would be available at any given time, regardless of what other applications may be accessing it," Microsoft said.
To resolve this, the Windows 10 anniversary update connects applications to an intermediary program that accesses a stream from the camera, rather than the camera itself, meaning the camera's feed has to be encoded in a certain format.
Those that encode in the MJPEG and H264 formats have been limited to prevent poor performance, resulting in cameras freezing.
How to fix your webcam
Microsoft said it is working to fix the problem, but it is not yet clear when the issue will be resolved.
In the meantime you can revert to the previous version of Windows if you really need your webcam to work. You have 10 days after you've updated your computer to the new software to roll back to the previous version.
To downgrade to an earlier version of Windows go to Settings -> Updates and Security -> Recovery. Under the "Go back to an earlier build" section click "Get started".
Microsoft will here ask you why you are choosing to revert your software then click "Next". Follow the steps on the screen and your device will have returned to Windows 10 version 1511.