Your webcam is likely losing power or fighting for USB bandwidth with other devices

A webcam that connects and disconnects repeatedly usually has one of three causes: the USB port is not supplying steady power, the camera driver is outdated or corrupted, or another device is competing for the same USB channel. The most common culprit is a loose or failing USB connection — either the cable itself, the port on your laptop, or the port on the camera if it is external. Less often, Windows is reinstalling the driver every time it detects the camera, which makes it appear to disconnect and reconnect.

The pattern matters. If the camera drops out only during video calls, the problem is usually bandwidth — your laptop is prioritizing other USB traffic and the camera loses its connection momentarily. If it happens constantly whether you are using it or not, the port or cable is likely failing. If it disconnects and reconnects with a Windows notification sound, the driver is being reinstalled each time.

Key Takeaways

  • A loose USB cable or failing port causes most webcam disconnections, and you can test this by trying a different port or external camera on the same port.
  • Outdated or corrupted drivers make Windows reinstall the camera each time it detects it, which you can fix by updating or rolling back the driver in Device Manager.
  • USB bandwidth conflicts happen when too many devices share one controller, and plugging the camera into a different USB port or removing other devices can solve it.
  • Built-in laptop webcams cannot be moved to a different port, so a failing internal camera usually requires repair or an external replacement.

Check the USB cable and port first

If your webcam is external, the cable is the easiest thing to test. Unplug it completely, wait five seconds, and plug it back in firmly. If the camera stays connected, the cable was loose. If it still disconnects, try a different USB port on your laptop — preferably one on the opposite side or back of the machine, since ports on the same side often share the same controller.

If you have another USB device (a mouse, keyboard, or phone charger), plug it into the port where the camera was connected. If that device also disconnects and reconnects, the port itself is failing and you will need to use a different port or have the laptop serviced. If the other device works fine, the problem is specific to the camera cable or connector.

For built-in laptop webcams, you cannot change the port, so a failing connection usually means the internal cable has come loose or the port on the motherboard is damaged. This requires opening the laptop or sending it for repair.

Update or reinstall the webcam driver

Windows communicates with your camera through a piece of software called a driver. If the driver is outdated or corrupted, Windows may reinstall it every time it detects the camera, making it appear to disconnect and reconnect. You can check and fix this in Device Manager.

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Look for Cameras or Imaging devices in the list and expand it. Find your webcam, right-click it, and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. If Windows finds an update, install it and restart your laptop.

If updating does not work, right-click the camera again and select Uninstall device. Restart your laptop. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it detects the camera again. If the problem persists after reinstalling, right-click the camera, select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver if that option is available. This reverts to the previous version, which sometimes fixes a bad update.

Reduce USB bandwidth conflicts

Every USB port on your laptop connects to a controller — a chip that manages data flow. When too many devices use the same controller at once, they compete for bandwidth and one may drop out temporarily. This is especially common during video calls, when the camera, microphone, and internet connection all demand data at the same time.

Try unplugging other USB devices — external hard drives, USB hubs, wireless mouse receivers, or phone chargers — and see if the camera stays connected. If it does, you have a bandwidth problem. Plug the camera into a different USB port, preferably one on the opposite side of the laptop, which usually connects to a different controller. If your laptop has USB 3.0 ports (usually blue inside), use those instead of USB 2.0 ports, since they have more bandwidth.

If you need multiple devices connected at once, a powered USB hub can help. A powered hub has its own power supply and does not draw power from your laptop, so it can handle more devices without starving the camera of bandwidth.

Disable USB selective suspend if the camera drops during calls

Windows has a power-saving feature called USB selective suspend that shuts down USB devices when they are not actively being used. Sometimes this feature is too aggressive and disconnects the camera even during a call. You can turn it off.

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers. Right-click each item in the list and select Properties. Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Do this for every USB controller in the list, then restart your laptop.

This is a more aggressive fix and will use slightly more battery power, so only do it if the camera still disconnects after trying the other steps.

Test with an external camera if the built-in one fails

If your laptop has a built-in camera that keeps disconnecting and the driver update and USB selective suspend settings do not fix it, the internal cable or port is likely damaged. Before paying for repair, test with an external USB webcam to confirm the problem is the built-in camera and not your laptop's USB system.

Plug in an external camera and use it for a video call or recording. If it works without disconnecting, the built-in camera is the problem. If the external camera also disconnects, the issue is your laptop's USB controller or power delivery, and you should have it serviced. If you need a camera when ready, an external USB webcam is a temporary solution that costs between thirty and one hundred dollars depending on quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my webcam disconnect only during video calls?

Video calls demand a lot of USB bandwidth at once — the camera, microphone, and sometimes other devices all need data simultaneously. Try unplugging other USB devices or moving the camera to a different port. If that does not work, disable USB selective suspend in Device Manager.

How do I know if it is the cable or the port?

Unplug the camera and plug a different USB device into the same port. If that device also disconnects and reconnects, the port is failing. If it works fine, the camera cable or connector is the problem.

Can I fix a built-in laptop camera that keeps disconnecting?

Update the driver first — that fixes most cases. If the camera still disconnects, the internal cable may be loose or the port damaged, which requires opening the laptop or professional repair. An external USB camera is a working alternative while you arrange service.

Does a powered USB hub actually help with camera disconnections?

Yes, if the problem is bandwidth or power. A powered hub supplies its own electricity instead of drawing from your laptop, so it can handle more devices without the camera losing connection. Plug the camera directly into the hub, not into your laptop.

What if I updated the driver and the camera still disconnects?

Try rolling back the driver to the previous version in Device Manager, or disable USB selective suspend. If neither works, test with an external camera to see if the problem is the built-in camera or your laptop's USB system.