Enable Hidden Camera Privacy Indicator in Windows 11

The majority of contemporary Windows desktops and laptops with built-in webcams have dedicated LED indicators to let you know the camera is functioning and observing you, let’s learn how to enable hidden camera privacy indicators in Windows 11.

To improve the security of devices without indicators, Microsoft has created a systemic notification that shows whether the camera is turned on or off. Having said that, the hidden camera privacy indicator feature has to be enabled manually via Windows 11’s Registry Editor. Here’s how to activate the hidden camera privacy indicator in Windows 11 if your laptop’s LED indicator is broken, you don’t have one, or you just want more privacy protection.

Steps to Enable Hidden Camera Privacy Indicator in Windows 11

Warning – Before going through the following steps, make sure to create a system restore point. Making changes to the Registry in Windows 11 can result in serious problems if done incorrectly, so it’s crucial to make a complete backup of your system before you begin.

Follow the steps to enable the hidden camera privacy indicator,

1. Go to Start Menu and search “Registry Editor”, and open it.

Or, press the Windows key + R to open Run, then search “Regedit” and press Enter

2. In Regedit, go the following path –

Computer → HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE → SOFTWARE → Microsoft → OEM → Device → Capture

Or, copy the following address and paste it on the address bar in Regedit.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\OEM\Device\Capture

3. If you cannot find a Capture key there, you have to create it by right-clicking on the  Device key and selecting New → Key. Name the new key “Capture”.

4. Inside Capture, find the NoPhysicalCameraLED value on the right side. If you cannot find one, right-click on the empty area and select New → DWORD (32-bit Value). And name it “NoPhysicalCameraLED”.

5. Finally, open the NoPhysicalCameraLED value by double-clicking on it. Then change the value to 1.

6. Keeping the value to 0 means the hidden camera privacy indicator is disabled.

7. Click on OK to confirm.

8. Restart your PC.

After the process is done, a “Camera” indicator will appear whenever the camera turns on or off to let you know its current working state. Also, changing the value on Regedit does not affect the LED indicator. Just follow the procedure and you would be able to enable the hidden camera privacy indicator in Windows 11.