WINDOW 11

How to Fix Blurry or flickering Camera in Windows 11

5 SOLUTIONS
OCTOBER 23, 2024

If you're dealing with a blurry or flickering camera in Windows 11, there are several effective solutions to get your camera working smoothly again. Whether it's for video calls or recording, blurry video quality or flickering can be disruptive. Let’s get started and fix those camera issues!

Deepak Yadav
Deepak Yadav

Expert, Head of Windows Circle

Adequate Lighting

Ensure your environment has at least 300 lux of lighting for better image quality.

Clean Camera Lens

Use a microfiber cloth to clean your camera lens gently—dust or fingerprints can easily cause blurriness.

Stable Camera Setup

Ensure your camera is stable and positioned properly, ideally at eye level.

Advanced Driver Optimization

3 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

1/5

METHOD
Method 1
Overview

Drivers play a critical role in camera performance. Optimizing them can drastically improve clarity and fix flickering.

Method 1 of 5
Next Method

Open Device Manager

Press Win + X, then select Device Manager.

Method 1 of 5
Step 1 of 3

Find Your Camera

Expand Imaging Devices, right-click your camera, and select Properties.

Method 1 of 5
Step 2 of 3

Advanced Settings

Under the Driver tab, click on Update Driver.

Warning: If you've recently updated your Windows and the camera has started blurring or flickering, uninstall the camera driver and reinstall it.

Method 1 of 5
Step 3 of 3

Optimize Camera App Settings

5 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

2/5

METHOD
Method 2
Overview

Sometimes your camera isn’t given enough system resources to function at its best. Increasing its priority can improve performance.

Method 2 of 5
Next Method

Launch the Camera App

Press Win + S, type Camera, and press Enter.

Method 2 of 5
Step 1 of 5

Open Camera Settings

In the Camera app, click on the Settings gear icon (top-left corner)

Method 2 of 5
Step 2 of 5

Adjust Resolution

Under Photos and Videos, increase the Resolution to the highest setting available to improve clarity.

Method 2 of 5
Step 3 of 5

Test the Camera

Capture an image or video to see if the issue persists. Higher resolutions typically eliminate blurriness.

Method 2 of 5
Step 4 of 5

Adjust Flicker Reduction Settings

Switch the video Flicker Reduction between 50Hz and 60Hz depending on your region. This adjustment is crucial in fixing flickering issues, especially in different lighting environments.

Method 2 of 5
Step 5 of 5

USB Management (For External Camera)

3 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

3/5

METHOD
Method 3
Overview

For external USB cameras, sometimes power-saving settings cause intermittent blur or flickering. Overriding these settings helps maintain a stable connection.

Method 3 of 5
Next Method

Open Device Manager

Expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers"

Method 3 of 5
Step 1 of 3

USB Root Hub Properties

For each USB Root Hub, right-click and select Properties

Method 3 of 5
Step 2 of 3

Power Management Tab

Under the power management tab, uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device",

Check USB Selective Suspend

Note: This is particularly effective for external webcams that blur intermittently due to power-saving features.

Method 3 of 5
Step 3 of 3

Custom Registry Optimization

4 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

4/5

METHOD
Method 4
Overview

For a more technical approach, you can make some custom registry tweaks to optimize camera performance.

Method 4 of 5
Next Method

Open Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

Method 4 of 5
Step 1 of 4

Navigate to the Key:

Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Media Foundation\Platform.

Method 4 of 5
Step 2 of 4

Create New DWORD:  

Name: EnableFrameServerMode

Value: 0

Method 4 of 5
Step 3 of 4

Create Another DWORD: 

Name: EnableHardwareTransforms 

Value: 1

Caution: Always back up your registry before making changes. Use Export in Registry Editor to create a backup.

Method 4 of 5
Step 4 of 4

Camera App-Specific Optimization

3 STEPS EASY 2 MIN

5/5

METHOD
Method 5
Overview

The Windows Camera app has built-in features that can enhance image quality if properly configured.

Method 5 of 5

Open the Camera App

Click the gear icon for Settings.

Method 5 of 5
Step 1 of 3

Enable Experimental Mode

Under Related Settings, turn on Experimental Mode. It's in beta version and available only for specific users or updates.

Method 5 of 5
Step 2 of 3

Adjust Key Settings

Frame Rate Priority: Set it to Quality for better clarity. 

Focus: Adjust to Manual if available, and fine-tune until you achieve sharp focus.

Remember: In Pro Mode, create different profiles for varying lighting conditions. This ensures optimal performance in different environments.

Method 5 of 5
Step 3 of 3

Additional Tips

Image

Place your light at a 45-degree angle to avoid shadows and ensure you’re well-lit without flickering.

Avoid harsh light—soften it with a lampshade or bounce it off a wall for a more natural look.

Once you’ve got a setup that works—good lighting, background, and camera angle—stick with it. It’ll save you from making adjustments every time and give you a reliable, consistent look on video.

Before an important call, do a quick camera test to make sure everything’s working as expected. This way, you won’t be caught off guard by any issues.

Restart your system at least once a week. It helps clear out any glitches that might be affecting your camera or overall performance.

If you’re using fluorescent lights, switch to LED or daylight-balanced lighting. Fluorescent lights can flicker on camera, and LEDs are a much better option for reducing this effect.

Depending on where you live, set your powerline frequency to either 60Hz or 50Hz in your camera settings. This small tweak can help eliminate flicker in your video.

Methods (5)

Advanced Driver Opt...
3 Steps
Optimize Camera App...
5 Steps
USB Management (For...
3 Steps
Custom Registry Opt...
4 Steps
Camera App-Specific...
3 Steps

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