Windows Hello Face not working

Since Windows Hello Face worked before, focus on camera access, driver recovery, and the Windows Hello-compatible camera path.

1. Check camera privacy access first.
   • Go to Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Camera.
   • Make sure Camera access is On.
   • Make sure Let apps access your camera is On.
   • Make sure Let desktop apps access your camera is On.
   • If Camera access is greyed out, an administrator must enable it.
2. Test whether the camera works in Windows itself.
   • Open Start > Camera.
   • If the preview works there, the issue is more likely with Windows Hello configuration rather than the basic camera hardware.
3. If this started after an update, roll back the camera driver.
   • Open Device Manager.
   • Right-click the camera, select Properties.
   • Open the Driver tab.
   • Select Roll Back Driver if available, then restart the PC.
4. If rollback is not available or does not help, reinstall the camera driver.
   • In Device Manager, right-click the camera and select Properties.
   • On the Driver tab, select Uninstall Device.
   • Select the checkbox to remove/delete the driver software if shown, then select OK.
   • In Device Manager, open Action > Scan for hardware changes.
   • Restart the PC and test again.
5. If the webcam is USB/UVC-compatible, switch it to the in-box Windows UVC driver.
   • This requires admin rights.
   • In Device Manager, find the webcam under Cameras or Imaging devices.
   • Right-click it and select Update driver.
   • Select Browse my computer for drivers.
   • Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
   • Select USB Video Device and complete the update.
   • Important: this can reduce camera-specific features. If the manufacturer driver provided custom Windows Hello support, switching drivers may also remove features such as face recognition support.
6. Check Windows Update, including optional updates.
   • Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
   • If View optional updates appears, check for camera-related updates.
   • Restart after installing updates.
7. If security software is blocking camera access, temporarily disable it and test.
   • Some antivirus or firewall products can lock the camera.
   • This is only for testing; re-enable protection after the check.
8. Confirm the hardware is still Windows Hello Face compatible.
   • Windows Hello Face requires an infrared (IR) camera. A normal webcam can work in the Camera app and still not be usable for Windows Hello.
   • If Windows no longer detects the IR camera path correctly, Windows Hello can report that no compatible camera is available even though standard cameras appear to be working.

If the feature worked before, the most likely recovery path is:

• verify Camera privacy settings,
• test in the Camera app,
• roll back or reinstall the camera driver,
• then install any optional driver updates.

References:

• Camera doesn't work in Windows
• Why is Windows Hello Facial Recognition Greyed Out? - Microsoft Q&A