1. Windows Camera App
The camera app is one of the most frequently used apps on smartphones, and Windows also has a camera app. Microsoft has significantly improved the camera app through online updates. In Windows 11, you can now use the camera app from the Start menu. All Apps > Camera.
2. After the start
You can quickly take a new profile photo, use it as a picture control before a video meeting, or as a makeup mirror. The camera has many uses. The app's design and operation is modeled after the camera app on your smartphone. When you launch the app, it displays a live image from your webcam.
3. Take a photo
When you launch the app, it's set to photo mode. Click the capture button to take a photo. Your new image will appear as a preview in the bottom right, so click to view it.
4. Use the self-timer
To take a photo with the self-timer, click the stopwatch button on the left side of the Camera app. Click repeatedly to cycle through delays of 2, 5, or 10 seconds.
5. HDR recording
Depending on your camera, you may have additional buttons on the left, especially for HDR (High Dynamic Range) recording, which has higher image contrast. The “Show advanced photo and video controls” button can be found in Settings.
Depending on which position it's in, you may or may not see additional options. Try it out: On our test PC, HDR mode was only available when the switch was disabled.
6. Set the resolution
In the app settings (step 4), you can specify the resolution your camera uses: In the “Photo settings” section, under “Photo quality,” set the highest resolution your camera can provide. Then scroll down to “Video settings” and under “Video quality,” set the camera's desired resolution for taking photos.
7. Timelapse
Timelapse is an additional feature in the Camera app. It automatically records images at regular time intervals. The resulting photo series shows an accelerated view of reality. Use the slider in the Photo settings to turn on Timelapse.
To capture a time-lapse photo series, enable the self-timer (step 5). The Camera app will keep recording until you press the camera button again. A blue circle indicates a pause between shots.
8. Recording videos
To record a video, switch to “Video” mode using the arrow on the right side of the window. Then start recording with the Video button. Click the button again to end recording.
No images showing in camera app
If the Camera app can't access your webcam, you may need to adjust your security settings.
To do this, open the Settings app and go to “Privacy & Security > Camera. Find “Camera” in the list that appears and make sure the switch to its right is set to “On.”
This article was originally published in our sister publication PC-WELT and has been translated and localized from German.