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The year 2020 will be remembered for the coronavirus pandemic, which has ravaged all parts of the world. Due to the lockdown rules, human interaction was brought to a halt, and people had to resort to other means of communication and doing business. Video calls through various platforms, like Skype and Zoom, have become the primary way to conduct business and keep in touch with loved ones.

That’s why webcams are now an integral part of modern communication. Nevertheless, using a built-in camera hasn’t been a smooth experience for everyone. Some Windows users have reported encountering the error code 0xA00F4271 when trying to use their webcams.

This error pops up unexpectedly, cutting short your call. So, whether you’re on a business call or having a personal conversation, you can imagine the frustration that it might cause.

What Is Webcam Error 0x80070001?

Most modern laptops come with integrated webcams that allow you to make video calls or record videos. Unfortunately, integrated cameras, just like any other piece of hardware, might fail to work. Some users have been getting the webcam error 0x80070001 on their Windows 10 machines, which is an indication that their webcams are not functioning properly.

The webcam error 0xA00F4271 (0x80070001) first appeared in 2016 after the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Users have been complaining that their cameras might work one moment and then suddenly fail to work.

What Causes Error 0xA00F4271 in Windows 10?

At first, some users thought that this error was caused by a specific app. However, even after uninstalling the suspected app, the error may still pop up, preventing your webcam from working. It’s important to mention that the webcam error 0xA00F4271 only affects your laptop’s integrated webcam. So, if you’re using an external camera, the error is unlikely to manifest itself.

For most people, the error started to appear after upgrading their PCs to the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, and it seems to mostly affect Lenovo users. Some of the possible reasons that could trigger the webcam error 0xA00F4271 (0x80070001) in Windows 10 include

  • outdated camera drivers,
  • an aggressive third-party antivirus tool,
  • an outdated Windows version, and
  • file corruption.

How to Fix Webcam Error Code 0xA00F4271

If you’ve encountered the webcam error 0x80070001, just keep reading this article. We’ve outlined the most efficient fixes below. Try each solution until you find one that resolves the camera issue on your Windows 10 PC:

  1. Check for updates
  2. Check your camera settings
  3. Check your antivirus
  4. Reset your webcam
  5. Check if your webcam is compatible with your Windows version
  6. Troubleshoot Windows Store apps
  7. Update or roll back your camera driver

Let’s get started.

Solution 1: Check for Updates

Before you begin, you should check that you’ve installed all available updates. Issues always arise when using your computer, and most of them are fixed when updates are released. So, the fix for the error code 0x80070001 might have been released in one of the periodic Windows updates.

That’s why it’s important to keep your Windows machine always updated. To check if updates are available, follow this simple process:

  1. Press the Windows logo on your keyboard, type in “Updates” (without quotes), and select the “Check for updates” option.
  2. If updates are available, allow them to install and restart your device when the process is completed.
  3. Test your camera to see if it’s working. Be sure to click “Yes” when asked if you want to allow access to the Camera.

If this option doesn’t work, there are other solutions to get rid of the error.

Solution 2: Check Your Camera Settings

You can only use your webcam if your apps have access to it. Windows improved its security by blocking the default access to the camera for some apps. This prevents hackers from turning your camera on or off without your authorization. However, for your webcam to function correctly, you have to permit apps to use it.

This setting might also be turned off after a recent Windows 10 update. To check if your camera settings are to blame, follow this guide:

  1. Go to your “Start” menu, click the gear icon to open the “Settings” app, and click on the “Privacy” link.
  2. Select the “Camera” option in the left pane and check whether the “Camera access for this device” option under “Allow access to the camera on this device” is turned off. If it is, select the “Change” button and toggle the button on.
  3. Next, you’ll also need to enable access to your camera by turning on the option under “Allow apps to access your camera”.
  4. The next step is to choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your camera. Here, you’ll only find apps installed from the Microsoft Store.
  5. If you don’t find the apps that you want to give access to the camera here, scroll down and check under “Allow desktop apps access to your camera”. This setting will allow you to make calls via apps installed from the internet, like Zoom.
  6. Finally, restart your PC and check whether the issue has been solved.

Solution 3: Check Your Antivirus

Your antivirus software may have blocked access to your camera, thereby triggering the webcam error 0x80070001. If you suspect this to be true, open your antivirus software and allow access to your camera. You might want to visit its manufacturer’s website for instructions.

Solution 4: Reset Your Webcam

It’s also likely that your webcam has run into some glitches that are causing the error code 0xA00F4271. If particular files are corrupted, you can fix the issue by resetting your webcam using the following steps:

  1. Go to your “Settings” app by pressing the Win + I keyboard shortcut.
  2. Click on the “Apps” link and look for “Camera” under the “Apps & features” section.
  3. Click on it and select the “Advanced options” link.
  4. Under this section, look for the “Reset” button and click on “Reset”.
  5. Confirm your selection by clicking on “Reset” again.

Solution 5: Check If Your Webcam Is Compatible with Your Windows Version

When it comes to how hardware and software work on your PC, compatibility plays a big role. For your webcam to function properly, it should be compatible with your version of Windows. For example, if you’re running Windows 10 and using a camera meant for the Windows 7 operating system, then it might explain why you’re encountering the 0xA00F4271 (0x80070001) webcam error.

To fix this issue, check your webcam’s version using the steps below:

  1. Press the Win + X shortcut and select “Device Manager” from the list of options that appear.
  2. In the Device Manager window, look for and select “Cameras” (or “Imaging devices” if you’re using an older Windows version). Your webcam should be listed here.
  3. Right-click on it and open its “Properties” window.
  4. Open the “Driver” tab and click on the “Driver Details” button. If you see a file with the “stream.sys” extension, then it means that you’re running a camera that’s been developed for the Windows 7 OS. In that case, you will have to replace it with a camera designed for Windows 10.

Solution 6: Troubleshoot Windows Store Apps

If the webcam error 0xA00F4271 appears when you’re using apps installed from Microsoft (Windows) Store, like Skype, the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter may provide the necessary fix. Here’s how to run it:

  1. Use the Win + I keyboard shortcut to launch the Windows “Settings” app.
  2. Look for and select the “Update & Security” link, and click on “Troubleshoot” in the left pane.
  3. In the right pane, scroll to the bottom of the page to find “Windows Store Apps” and click on it to display the “Run the troubleshooter” button.
  4. Once you click on this button, Windows will initiate a scan to detect issues that are preventing Microsoft Store apps from functioning properly. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Once you’re done, restart your Windows 10 PC to see if the webcam error has been resolved.

Solution 7: Update or Roll Back Your Camera Driver

If the issue is not caused by one of the Microsoft Store apps installed on your computer, then your hardware may be to blame for the webcam error code 0xA00F4271 (0x80070001).

To make sure your webcam is working as expected, you need to update or roll back your camera driver. You see, when you install new apps, the old drivers cannot support your device, and that’s why you may run into errors, like 0xA00F4271 (0x80070001), on your Windows 10 computer.

Update the Camera Driver

To update your camera driver, follow this guide below:

  1. Press the Windows logo on your keyboard, type in “Device Manager” (without quotes), and hit “Enter”.
  2. Locate and click on the “Cameras” option (or “Imaging devices” if you’re using an older version of Windows) to expand it.
  3. Your webcam should be listed here. It’s easy to identify it since it will be bearing its manufacturer’s name. Right-click on it and select “Update driver”.
  4. Choose the first option to let Windows automatically search online for available driver updates. If Windows finds updates, it will automatically install them on your machine. However, in most cases, you’ll see the “Windows has determined that the best driver for this device is already installed” notification.

If that’s the case, then your best option is to use a third-party driver updater to update your outdated camera driver. We recommend Auslogics Driver Updater, a reliable and dedicated tool designed specifically to fix driver issues. This program scans your entire PC to detect the OS that’s currently running, the installed hardware, and the versions of the installed drivers.

Once the scan is completed, Driver Updater displays the details of the diagnostics, including the date the current driver was installed and the date the latest version was released. The good thing about using this driver updating software is that it ensures that only the latest official driver versions directly from the manufacturers’ websites are installed. Plus, it will update not only the camera driver but also all your device drivers that are out of date, missing or faulty.

And one more thing. With Driver Updater, you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues since it only installs drivers that are compatible with your OS. The program lets you update all drivers at once with a single click of a button, or you can update them one after the other.

Once all the updates have been installed, restart your computer to apply the changes and see if the webcam error 0x80070001 has been fixed.

Roll Back the Camera Driver

If the 0xA00F4271 (0x80070001) webcam error has been bothering you since updating the camera driver, you may have installed the wrong driver or it may have failed to install correctly. In that case, rolling it back might resolve the issue.

Here is how to proceed:

  1. Open “Device Manager” by pressing the Win + X shortcut and select “Device Manager”.
  2. Expand the “Cameras” (or “Imaging devices”) option, right-click on it and open its “Properties” window.
  3. Under the “Driver” tab, click on the “Roll Back Driver” button.
  4. Click “Yes” to confirm your action. If the “Roll Back Driver” option is grayed out, it means there are no drivers to roll back to.

If you used Auslogics Driver Updater to update your camera driver, simply launch the program, select the “Backup” tab, and choose your old camera driver to restore it.

That’s it! We hope you have fixed the webcam error 0x80070001 using the solutions in this post. If you have additional information about the error, feel free to share it with our community by posting your comments below.