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When you try using your camera, you may get an error message that reads, “Close other apps. It looks like another app is using the camera already. If you need it, here’s the error code: 0xA00F4288.”

You have double-checked, and there’s no active application that’s using your camera. The issue may have left you perplexed, but don’t sweat it. This guide will show you what to do to resolve the Error Code 0xA00F4288. Your device will work fine soon enough.

What Is the Error 0xa00f4288 on Windows 10?

This issue prevents users from using the camera on their devices. It can happen on any version of Windows. The problem is usually caused by:

  • Interference by the Windows firewall or some third-party antivirus software program on your computer
  • Issues with Microsoft Store apps
  • Malware infection
  • Problematic Windows updates
  • Issues with the camera drivers

Let’s proceed to learn how to fix the error.

How to Fix the Camera App Error 0xa00F4288 on Windows 10

If you face the “Close other apps. It looks like another app is using the camera already” message with the Error Code 0xa00F4288, here’s how to fix it:

  1. Reset the Camera app via Windows Settings
  2. Change camera permissions
  3. Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter and the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter
  4. Allow the Camera app through Windows Defender Firewall
  5. Update your Windows 10 OS
  6. Update Microsoft Store
  7. Disable Apps that use the camera
  8. Update or reinstall the camera driver
  9. Uninstall and reinstall the camera app
  • Enable Frame Server Mode in the registry editor
  • Scan your computer for viruses

By the time you apply two or more of the fixes, the ‘Camera in use’ issue will go away.

Let’s get started with the procedures for applying the fixes.

Fix 1: Disable Apps that Use the Camera

This solution is probably the first one that comes to mind when you encounter the Error 0xa00F4288. Here’s how to disable apps that may currently be using the camera:

  1. Open the Task Manager. To do so, press the Windows + X keyboard combination to open the Power User menu. Then, click on Task Manager from the list.
  2. Once the Task Manager is up, go to the Processes tab.
  3. Click on any app that might be using your camera and click the End Task button.

After disabling the apps that may be using your camera, the next thing you should do is to deny camera access to those programs. Here’s how to do it via Settings:

  1. Open Windows Settings. Go to the Start menu and click on Settings (represented by the cogwheel icon).
  2. Click on Privacy.
  3. Click on Camera under the App Permissions category in the left pane.
  4. Go to the ‘Choose which apps can access my camera’ section on the right-hand side of the page and toggle off all apps that have camera access. Don’t worry. If you need to use your camera on those apps again, they will ask for your permission to access the camera. However, in the meantime, this will stop the Error 0xa00F4288 from appearing.

Fix 2: Change Camera Permissions

Modifying the camera permission may help resolve the Error 0xa00F4288. Here’s how to do that:

  1. Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I keyboard combination.
  2. Click on Privacy.
  3. Click on Camera under App Permissions in the left pane.
  4. On the right-hand side of the page, click the Change button under “Camera Access for this device is on/ off.”
  5. Turn Camera Access off and turn it back on.
  6. Toggle off the ‘Allow apps to access my camera’ option. Then, toggle it on again.
  7. If you are having issues with your camera on a particular platform, go to the ‘Choose which apps can access my camera’ section. Ensure that camera usage is active for the platform.

Fix 3: Reset the Camera App via Windows Settings

Resetting the Camera app may help resolve the roadblock you’re facing. Here’s how to do so:

  1. Go to Windows Settings. To do that, open the Start menu and click the Settings icon. You can also use the Windows + I keyboard combination to launch the Settings app.
  2. Click on Apps.
  3. Click on Apps & Features in the left pane of the new page.
  4. Locate the Camera app in the list of apps on the right-hand side of the screen. Click on it.
  5. Click on Advanced Options.
  6. Go to the bottom of the page and click on Reset.
  7. Try using your camera once again. Has the problem been resolved successfully? If the error remains, don’t worry. Go ahead and try the next fix.

Fix 4: Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter and the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Windows 10 comes with several troubleshooting tools for dealing with various issues that users could encounter. You might be able to fix the Error 0xa00F4288 by running the Apps troubleshooter and the hardware and Devices troubleshooter. Here’s what you have to do:

  1. Open Windows Settings. You can open Settings by right-clicking on the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen. Then, click on Settings in the list of options.
  2. Click on Update & Security.
  3. Click on Troubleshoot in the left pane.
  4. Click on Windows Store apps on the right-hand side of the screen.
  5. Click on Run the Troubleshooter and wait for the system to detect and resolve issues.
  6. Now, click on Hardware and Devices.
  7. Click on Run this Troubleshooter.

Fix 5: Allow the Camera App through Windows Defender Firewall

The Windows Defender Firewall could be interfering with your camera app. Unfortunately, it is not advisable to turn off the firewall. Doing so will leave your PC prone to attacks. So, we suggest allowing your camera app through Windows Firewall instead. You need to verify whether the firewall is blocking your camera. Otherwise, you can move on to the next fix. However, in the meantime, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to the Start menu and type “Firewall” (no quotes) into the search box.
  2. Click on Windows Defender Firewall from the search results.
  3. Click the ‘Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall’ link in the left pane.
  4. Locate the camera app and tick the checkbox for Private and Public to allow the app on private and public networks, respectively. If you cannot find the camera app on the list, click the ‘Allow another app’ button and add it.
  5. Try using your camera again.

Fix 6: Update Your Windows 10 OS

Updating your Windows 10 operating system may help resolve the ‘camera not working’ issue. To install Windows updates, follow the steps below:

  1. Press the Windows logo key + I key combination on your keyboard to open Windows Settings.
  2. Click on Update & Security.
  3. Click on Windows Updates in the left pane.
  4. Click the Check for Updates button to see if there are available updates. If the app finds any, click the ‘Download and install’ link.
  5. Restart your computer to complete the update process.

If the problem started after installing new updates, it could mean that the updates are faulty. Uninstalling them may help. Here’s how to uninstall Windows updates:

  1. Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows + I keyboard combination.
  2. Click on Update & Security.
  3. Click on Windows Update on the left-hand side of the page.
  4. Click the Update History link on the right-hand side of the page.
  5. On the ‘View your update history’ screen, click the Uninstall Updates link.
  6. The system will present you with a list of recent updates along with their dates of installation. Right-click on the update you want to delete and click on Uninstall in the context menu.

Fix 7: Update Microsoft Store

Problematic Microsoft Store apps could interfere with the camera and cause the error to appear. Updating the Microsoft Store app will help fix that issue. Here are the steps you need to take:

  1. Click on Start to open the Start menu.
  2. Locate Microsoft Store and launch it.
  3. Click on See More.
  4. Go to Downloads and Updates.
  5. Click on Get Updates. The system will download any available update for Microsoft Store.

Fix 8: Update or Reinstall the Camera Driver

Updating your camera drivers could prove effective. Follow these steps to get the latest camera driver via the Device Manager:

  1. Right-click on the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen or press the Windows + X keyboard combination to invoke the Power-User menu.
  2. Click on Device Manager from the list of options in the menu.
  3. When the Device Manager opens, scroll down to Sound, Video, and Game Controllers or Cameras and Imaging Devices. Double-click on the category to expand it and locate your camera.
  4. Right-click on your camera and click on ‘Update Driver Software’ in the context menu.
  5. Turn on your internet connection and click on the option that reads, “Search automatically for updated driver software.”
  6. Wait for the system to search for and install the latest version of your camera driver.

Note: If you cannot find your camera in the Device Manager, click on ‘Scan for hardware changes’ in the menu bar at the top.

If you couldn’t successfully update your camera driver using the Device Manager, you can visit your computer manufacturer’s website. There, you will find the new version of your driver software. You can then download and install the driver. You have to be certain that you download the driver that matches your device. Installing incorrect drivers might harm your device or prevent your camera from working.

To make updating your drivers easier for you, we suggest using Auslogics Driver Updater. It is an automatic tool that monitors your computer for corrupt, missing, outdated, and incorrect drivers. It helps you to download and install the correct drivers for your hardware devices.

In some instances, the Error 0xa00F4228 could manifest after you performed a driver update. In such a scenario, you may have to consider rolling back the camera driver to its previous version. You can do that via the Device Manager. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Device Manager. Launch the Run dialog box, type “Devmgmt.msc” (no quotes), and click the OK button.
  2. Look for your camera in the Sound, Video, and Game Controllers category or the Cameras and Imaging Devices category.
  3. Right-click on the camera and click on Properties from the context menu.
  4. When the Camera Properties box opens, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Roll Back Driver button.
  5. After the process is complete, close the Device Manager and reboot your computer.

Fix 9: Uninstall and Reinstall the Camera App

Uninstalling and reinstalling the camera app may help resolve the ‘Another app is using the camera’ issue. To uninstall the camera app, here’s what you have to do:

  1. Right-click on the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen or press the Windows logo key + X key combination. Doing so opens the Power User menu.
  2. Click on PowerShell (Admin) from the list of options.
  3. When User Account Control (UAC) appears, click the Yes button to proceed.
  4. Copy and paste the following line into the PowerShell text field and then press Enter to execute it:

get-appxpackage *Microsoft.WindowsCamera* | remove-appxpackageon the PowerShell

  1. After running the above command, the system will uninstall your camera app. Go to the Microsoft Store and reinstall the app.

Fix 10: Enable Frame Server Mode in the Registry Editor

Making the following changes in the Windows Registry will get your camera working again. Take a look:

  1. Open the registry editor. To do so, open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows logo key + R combination. Then, type “Regedit” (no quotes) into the text box and click the OK button.
  2. UAC will display a prompt requesting to let the registry editor modify your computer. Click the Yes button on the dialog to proceed.
  3. Once the registry editor opens, the first thing you need to do is to create a backup file. Backing up the registry ensures that you can regain the current working state of your computer if necessary. So, follow these steps to back up the entire Windows Registry:
  • Right-click on Computer and click on Export in the context menu.
  • Type a name for the backup file.
  • Choose a safe location on your computer to save the file. You can save it to an external drive if you wish.
  • Click the Save button.
  1. Navigate to HKEY LOCAL MACHINE -> SOFTWARE -> Microsoft -> Windows Media Foundation -> Platform.
  2. Right-click on Platform and hover over New.
  3. Click on DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  4. Name the new DWORD
  5. Double-click EnableFrameServerMode type ‘1’ into the Value Data box. Then, click OK.
  6. Close the registry editor and restart your computer.
  7. Try using your camera again. The error will no longer appear.

Fix 11: Scan Your Computer for Viruses

A malware infection can cause unexpected issues on your PC. To prevent that from happening or to eliminate a current infection, it is crucial that you scan your system with a versatile antivirus program. We suggest using Auslogics Anti-Malware. Anti-Malware will find and remove deep-seated malicious items that have been causing issues on your computer. The software program is designed by Auslogics, a Microsoft Silver Application Developer. So, it will not interfere with any other security program you may already have on your PC. It may even find issues that the latter may fail to detect.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed how to get rid of the Error 0xa00f4288 in the camera app. There are a handful of issues that can affect your camera. We tried to exhaust them in our list of solutions.

If you know of other solutions to the issue, please share them with us in the comments section below. You can also drop your remarks. We’d like to hear from you.