Webcam not working after doing pre recorded interview for target? Older Lenovo

Troubleshooting Webcam Issues After Pre-Recorded Interview on Older Lenovo Devices

If you’ve recently participated in a pre-recorded interview process—such as the one used by companies like Target—and have subsequently encountered issues with your webcam, you’re not alone. Many users with older Lenovo laptops have reported similar problems, particularly following such sessions. This article aims to guide you through systematic troubleshooting steps to restore your webcam’s functionality.

Understanding the Context

Pre-recorded interviews often leverage specialized platforms like HireVue, which require access to your device’s hardware, especially the webcam and microphone. Once the interview is completed, some users notice that their webcam ceases to function altogether. This may be due to software conflicts, driver issues, or background processes that interfere with camera operation.

Initial Observations

The webcam stopped working after completing a HireVue or similar pre-recorded interview.
No obvious applications are currently running that would normally access the webcam.
The device is an older Lenovo model, which may have hardware or driver limitations.
Background processes are active, but their role in the webcam issue is unclear.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Restart Your Device

Begin with a simple restart. This can resolve temporary glitches caused by software conflicts or resource locking.

Check Device Manager for Driver Issues
Press Windows Key + X and select ‘Device Manager.’
Expand the ‘Imaging Devices’ or ‘Cameras’ section.
Look for your webcam. If a yellow exclamation mark appears, it indicates a driver problem.
Right-click on the webcam device and select ‘Update Driver.’
Choose ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ and follow the prompts.
If no updates are found, consider visiting Lenovo’s support website to download the latest drivers compatible with your device.
Verify Webcam Privacy Settings
Navigate to Settings > Privacy > Camera.
Ensure that ‘Allow apps to access your camera’ is enabled.
Check the list of apps and confirm the specific application you’re using to test the webcam has permission.
Test the Webcam with Built-in Applications
Open the Camera app (search ‘Camera’ in the Start menu).
If the webcam still doesn’t activate, try using other applications like Skype or Zoom to test functionality.
Check Background Processes and Conflicting Applications
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Review the list of active processes.
Look for any apps that might be using the webcam or related services.
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