Windows 11 Camera App Not Working When Webcam Protection Is Enabled

[MrMB 0]

The computer I have is a Dell G7 17 7790 with Windows 11--all updated including drivers.

When I have the Webcam protection enabled and start the Windows Camera app, it freezes frame and the app queries for permission settings. I exhausted all the options there (including Troubleshooter) to no avail. If I turn webcam protection off, the Camera app resumes function. I tried to add a new rule, but the ESET app doesn't allow that manually, so I tried to coax it into querying for permission by deleting the rules. This didn't work, so I'm now at a loss.

What should I do so that I can have a rule that allows the Microsoft Camera app permission to access the built-in camera?

Thank you for your help!

[itman 1,659]

According to Eset online product help, you should have received an alert when the Windows Camera app tried to access the web camera:

Quote

Webcam protection

Webcam protection informs you about processes and applications that access your computer's web camera. When an application tries to access your camera, you get a notification to allow or block the access. The color of the alert window depends on the application's reputation.

https://help.eset.com/essp/16.1/en-US/idh_page_settings_antivirus.html?idh_config_webcam.html

Selecting Allow should have created a rule allowing that app access thereafter to the web camera.

Also there appears to bug in regards to this statement:

Quote

When Webcam protection is enabled, Rules become active, enabling you to open the Rules editor window.

When I did so, there was no option to manually add a rule.

-EDIT- This knowledge base article provides more details: https://support.eset.com/en/kb7071-create-and-edit-webcam-rules-in-eset-windows-home-products . Appears a rule can only be added as result of webcam alert Allow response. Thereafter, the added rule can be modified via selecting it and modifying it as needed.

Edited April 19, 2023 by itman

[Marcos 5,074]

If there are no blocking rules for the webcam and disabling Webcam protection makes a difference, please raise a support ticket for further investigation.