Some reasons Steam keeps updating on your PC are that the app may not have permission to make permanent changes to your system, your firewall may have blocked the app’s access to the internet, your installed Steam games may be updating, and more.

1. Launch Steam as an Administrator

One reason Steam shows an update dialog box each time you launch the app is that the app is unable to make permanent changes to your system. Your app updates may want to make certain changes to your system, and the lack of required permissions prevents that from happening.

In this case, you can run Steam as an admin to resolve your issue. Launching the app as an administrator grants it all the rights it needs, fixing all the permission-related issues.

1. Find Steam in your Start menu or on your desktop.
2. Right-click the app and select Run as administrator.

3. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.

If this method fixes your issue, make Windows always launch your Steam client with admin rights using the following steps:

1. Right-click the Steam shortcut on your desktop and select Properties.
2. Open the Shortcut tab and choose Advanced.
3. Enable the Run as administrator option and choose OK.

4. Select Apply followed by OK to save your changes.

From now on, double-click your desktop Steam shortcut to launch the app with admin privileges.

2. Add Steam to Your Firewall’s Whitelist

If your PC’s firewall has restricted Steam’s access to the internet, that may be why the app’s update feature isn’t working as expected. Add Steam to your firewall’s safelist, so your app can always make all the required connections.

1. Open the Start menu, find Windows Security, and launch the app.
2. Select Firewall & network protection in the app.
3. Choose Allow an app through firewall on the following screen.
4. Select Change settings at the top.
5. Turn on both Private and Public checkboxes next to Steam.

6. Select OK to save your changes.
7. Launch Steam.

3. Prevent Steam From Running on Your PC’s Startup

If Steam automatically launches and updates when you turn on your computer, the app is in your startup programs list. You can remove the app from this list to avoid seeing the app’s update progress when you boot up your machine.

You can then update the app manually by launching the app on your system.

1. Right-click the Windows taskbar and select Task Manager.
2. Access the Startup apps tab in Task Manager.
3. Find steam, right-click the app, and select Disable.

4. Change Your Steam Update Settings

In case you aren’t aware, Steam allows you to tweak your update settings so the app only downloads and installs available updates during your specified schedule. You can configure this option from within the Steam app, and we’ll show you how.

1. Launch Steam on your computer.
2. Select Steam > Settings in the menu bar.
3. Choose Downloads in the left sidebar.
4. Enable the Schedule auto-updates option on the right.
5. Choose a time from the Restrict updates to between drop-down menus.

5. Turn Off Updates for Your Steam Games

Instead of Steam updates, your downloaded games may be updating via Steam, displaying an update dialog box. If you’d like to prevent your games from automatically updating, you can configure an option in your Steam client as follows.

1. Launch Steam on your computer.
2. Select Library at the top and find the game you want to turn off the updates for.
3. Right-click your game and select Properties.
4. Choose Updates in the left sidebar.
5. Select the Automatic Updates drop-down menu on the right and choose Only update this game when I launch it.

Steam will now update your game only when you run the game in your client. Repeat the above steps for all your games so your games don’t update automatically.

6. Uninstall the Games You No Longer Play

If you’ve installed many games via Steam, the app may try to find and install the updates for all your games. If you don’t play all your installed games, removing those games is a good idea so Steam doesn’t look for updates for those items.

You can always re-download a game if you want to play the game in the future.

1. Open Steam on your computer.
2. Select Library and find the game to delete.
3. Right-click the game and select Manage > Uninstall.

4. Choose Uninstall in the prompt to remove the game.

Repeat the above steps to remove all unwanted games from your Steam library.

7. Remove and Reinstall Steam on Your Computer

If your Steam update issue remains unresolved, you can use the final solution: delete and reinstall the Steam app on your computer. This is because your app may be facing a core file issue, leading to various problems.

Uninstalling and reinstalling the app fixes all the file problems, allowing you to use your app normally.

Note that Steam removes your installed games when you uninstall the app. You can retain your games by making a backup of the steamapps directory located in your Steam installation folder. This way, you don’t have to download your games again.

On Windows 11

1. Right-click the Start menu icon and select Settings.
2. Navigate to Apps > Installed apps in Settings.
3. Find Steam, select the three dots next to the app, and choose Uninstall.

4. Select Uninstall in the prompt to remove the app.

On Windows 10

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Select Apps in Settings.
3. Choose Steam on the list, select Uninstall, and choose Uninstall in the prompt.

Now that you’ve deleted Steam, head to the official Steam website and download and install a fresh version of the app on your computer.

Resolve Steam’s Constant Update Issue on Your Computer

There are many reasons Steam starts updating as soon as you launch the app. Luckily, fixing the issue isn’t as hard as you may think. You can use the methods outlined above to resolve issues with your Steam app, which will prevent the app from constantly updating on your machine. You can then enjoy your favorite games in the app without any interruptions.

1. Fully Quit and Re-Open Discord

It’s best to kick things off by completely shutting down Discord before attempting to relaunch it. That should resolve any random technical issues preventing the app from opening. To do that, right-click the Discord icon on the system tray and select Quit.

If the system tray icon is unresponsive, you can shut down Discord and any stuck background processes using the Task Manager in Windows. Here’s how:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager.
2. Select a Discord process under the Processes tab and choose End task.
3. Continue ending all instances of Discord.

After quitting Discord, re-open the app and check if it launches correctly. If not, restart your computer—open the Start menu and select Power > Restart—before moving on with the rest of the fixes.

2. Check for Discord Updates

Outdated software can cause compatibility issues, so the next fix involves ensuring you’re running the latest version of Discord. After attempting to open the application, right-click its icon on the system tray and select Check for Updates.

If Discord’s system tray icon fails to respond, download the Discord installer from the official Discord website. Run it, and it should automatically update the app and launch it afterward.

3. Run Discord as an Administrator

Insufficient permissions are another reason that interferes with Discord’s ability to launch. To fix the issue, try running the app as an administrator.

To do that, right-click the Discord icon on the desktop area—or search for Discord on the Start menu—and select Run as administrator.

If that helps, you can configure Discord to always run as an administrator. To do that:

1. Right-click the Discord shortcut on the desktop and select Properties.
2. Switch to the Compatibility tab.
3. Check the box next to Run this program as an administrator and select Apply.

Note: If Discord is unavailable as a shortcut, open the Start menu, select All apps, and drag Discord to the desktop area to create one.

4. Clear the Discord Cache

Corrupt files within the Discord cache can lead to various anomalies, so clearing it might restore normal app functionality. To do that:

1. Press Windows + R to open a Run box.
2. Type %appdata%/discord and select OK.
3. On the File Explorer window that launches, delete the following Discord folders:

• Code Cache
• GPU Cache
• Cache

5. Enable/Disable Hardware Acceleration

By default, Discord relies on hardware acceleration to improve performance. However, that can cause the app to malfunction on various Windows configurations. To fix that, you’ll need to turn off this feature.

Since you can’t access the relevant setting via the Discord app, you’ll have to disable hardware acceleration using File Explorer and Notepad. Here’s how:

1. Fully exit Discord.
2. Press Windows + R, type %appdata%/discord, and press Enter.
3. Right-click the setting.json file and select Open with.
4. Choose Notepad and select Just once.
5. Replace true with false next to “enableHardwareAcceleration”:.

6. Select File > Save and exit the Notepad window.
7. Relaunch Discord.

If that helps, update your computer’s video card drivers, re-enable hardware acceleration, and check if the issue recurs.

6. Check the Discord Server Status

Every time you open Discord, it tries to connect to its servers. If these servers have a problem, the app could stop loading or display a blank screen indefinitely.

Visit Discord’s official status page to ensure the servers are operational. If they’re experiencing an outage, you must wait for Discord to bring them back online.

7. Disable Proxies and VPN

If there’s nothing wrong with the Discord servers, consider disabling any active proxies or virtual private networks (VPNs) on your Mac, as they can interfere with app connectivity. To do that:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Network & internet.
3. Visit the Proxy and VPN categories and disable manual or automatic proxy setups and VPNs.

8. Clear the DNS Cache

Obsolete DNS (Domain Name System) data can prevent Discord from connecting to its servers. To clear the DNS cache in Windows:

1. Open the Start menu, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
   ipconfig /flushdns

9. Allow Discord on the Windows Firewall

If the problem persists, check the Windows Firewall to ensure that Discord has permission to communicate with the internet freely. To do that:

1. Open the Start menu, type Windows Firewall, and select Allow an app through Windows Firewall.
2. Select the Change settings button.
3. Locate Discord and make sure the boxes under the Public and Private columns are active.

If Discord does not appear within the list, select Allow another app and add Discord from the following directory:

Local Disk C > Users > [Your Username] > AppData > Local > Discord

Note: Replace [Your Username] with your Windows username.

10. Correct the Date and Time

Incorrect system time settings can lead to Discord connection issues, so the next fix involves ensuring your computer’s clock is accurate. If it’s off, sync it with Microsoft’s time servers. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Time & language > Date & time.
3. Select the Sync now button.

Learn how to manually set the time and date in Windows if the clock fails to sync with the time servers.

11. Uninstall and Reinstall Discord

As a last resort measure, try uninstalling and reinstalling Discord, as that can resolve corruption issues with the application. If you’d like to go ahead:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Apps & Features (Windows 10) or Installed apps (Windows 11).
2. Select Discord.
3. Select the More icon (three dots) and choose Uninstall.

4. Download the latest version of Discord.
5. Run the Discord installer to reinstall Discord.

Get Discord Up and Running Again

As long as you systematically work your way through the fixes above, you should be able to get Discord up and running pretty quickly. However, if none of them resolves the problem, contact Discord Support and use the web version of Discord in the meantime.

Some items that can prevent your file copy operation are your antivirus program, a malicious app installed on your PC, Windows’ corrupted system files, incorrect changes made to your system, and more.

Temporarily Turn Off Your Antivirus Software

As you can see, the error message suggests that your file potentially contains a virus. If you trust your file’s source and know the file is safe to use, you can temporarily disable your antivirus protection to copy your file.

How you turn off your antivirus protection depends on the program you’re using. You’ll find the button to toggle off protection on the main screen in most antivirus apps.

If you’re a Microsoft Defender Antivirus user, use the following steps to disable your real-time protection:

1. Open your PC’s Start menu, find Windows Security, and launch the app.
2. Select Virus & threat protection in the app.
3. Choose Manage settings under the Virus & threat protection settings header.

4. Turn off the Real-time protection toggle.

5. Select Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
6. Remove your storage device from your PC.
7. Plug your storage device back into your PC and try to copy your file.

Add Your File to Your Antivirus Exclusion List

Another way to ensure Microsoft Defender Antivirus doesn’t interrupt your file transfer task is to add the specific file you want to copy to your antivirus safelist. Doing so ensures your antivirus doesn’t scan or restrict your access to your specified file.

1. Connect your storage device to your PC.
2. Launch the Windows Security app.
3. Select Virus & threat protection and choose Manage settings under the Virus & threat protection settings header.
4. Scroll down to the Exclusions section and choose Add or remove exclusions.
5. Select Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
6. Choose Add an exclusion > File and select the file on your storage device that you want to copy.

7. Close Windows Security, open File Explorer, and try to copy your file.

Run a Virus Scan on Your Windows PC

One reason you get an 0x800700E1 error is that your Windows PC is infected with a virus or malware. This causes interruptions with your various system tasks, including the file transfer task.

You can fix that by running a full virus scan and removing all the viruses from your machine.

1. Open the Windows Security app on your PC.
2. Select Virus & threat protection in the app.
3. Choose Scan options on the following page.
4. Enable the Full scan option and select Scan now.

5. Wait for the antivirus to find and remove viruses from your PC.
6. Restart your PC and try to transfer your file.

Repair Your Windows File Explorer Utility

If you still can’t copy your file, your File Explorer tool may be experiencing an issue. In this case, you can run a couple of commands from Command Prompt to find and fix corruption issues with File Explorer.

1. Open the Start menu, find Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
3. Type the following command on the CMD window and press Enter: sfc /SCANFILE=c:windowsexplorer.exe

4. Next, run the following command: sfc /SCANFILE=C:WindowsSysWow64explorer.exe
5. Close Command Prompt, launch File Explorer, and try to copy your file.

Clean Boot Your Windows PC

Sometimes, you have trouble using certain system features because a malicious app installed on your PC is causing interference. This may be the case with you.

You can verify that by clean booting your Windows system. Doing so only loads the essential files to turn on your computer, allowing you to check if a third-party app is causing the problem. Check out our guide on that topic to learn how to perform the procedure.

If your file copies without issues when you clean boot your system, remove any recently installed malicious apps from your PC. You can do that from Settings > Apps > Installed apps on Windows 11 and Settings > Apps on Windows 10.

After removing the malicious app, restart your PC and try to copy your file.

Fix Windows’ Broken System Files

If your Windows operating system’s core files are corrupted, that can cause your many system features to break. This may be the reason you can’t copy files from your storage device to your PC.

In this case, fix your system’s bad files by using the SFC (System File Checker) tool. This tool automatically finds and repairs the corrupted system files on your Windows PC, allowing you to resolve many system problems.

1. Open the Start menu, find Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
3. Type the following command on the CMD window and press Enter: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

4. Run the following command to begin finding and fixing your system’s corrupted files: sfc /scannow
5. Reboot your PC when you’ve fixed your system’s broken files.

Roll Back Your System Changes Using System Restore

If you started encountering the 0x800700E1 error after making a specific change to your PC, that change might have caused the issue. In this case, roll back that change, and your issue should be resolved.

You can use your PC’s built-in System Restore utility to automatically undo your recent changes.

1. Access the Start menu, find Recovery, and select that item in the search results.
2. Choose Open System Restore on the following page.
3. Select Next on System Restore’s first screen.
4. Choose the latest restore point on the list and select Next.

5. Select Finish to begin undoing your changes.

Resolve Your 0x800700E1 Error Code and Copy Your Files Successfully

Windows 11 and Windows 10’s 0x800700E1 error prevents you from transferring files from your storage devices to your PC. If your error isn’t resolved even after multiple attempts to copy your files, the guide above will help you out.

The guide includes methods that fix the very items causing your file copy error, allowing you to transfer your files without problems. Happy using your Windows PC!

This message is usually caused by incorrect file permissions, but that isn’t the only cause. Corrupt setup files, existing (and running) applications, your user account settings, and more could all be at fault.

Thankfully, there are some steps you can try to help resolve the problem. If you’re looking to fix the “error opening file for writing” error on Windows, follow these steps.

1. End the Application in Task Manager

For most users, there’s one obvious problem that causes the error opening file for writing error—an open application. If you’re trying to update an existing application, for instance, but that application is running, it can’t install itself as the files are still in use, causing the error.

To fix this issue, you’ll need to close the application and stop any related processes using the Task Manager. To do this, follow these steps.

1. Right-click the Start menu or the taskbar and select Task Manager.

2. In the Task Manager window, look for the application name of the app you’re trying to install or any related processes in the Processes tab. For example, if you are trying to install VLC Media Player, look for vlc.exe or any other processes that start with vlc.
3. Right-click on each process and select End task from the menu.

4. If prompted, press Yes to confirm the termination.

Once the applications have stopped, try the installer again to see if the problem is fixed.

2. Run the Installer File with Administrator Rights

File permissions can sometimes cause problems with installing applications. If you’re using a standard user account on your PC, for instance, you may need to run an installer file with administrator rights to give it the necessary permission to install itself (and access or overwrite any existing files).

This will give the installer full access to write to any file or folder on your system. To do this, follow these steps.

1. Locate the program’s setup file in File Explorer.
2. Right-click the file and select the Run as administrator option.

3. When prompted, select Yes in the User Account Control pop-up window. Alternatively, if you’re running with a basic user account, you may be prompted to insert your username and password here.

The file will open with administrator privileges—continue with the installation process as usual at this point.

3. Change a Standard User Account to An Administrator

A standard user account shouldn’t have the necessary permissions to make system changes, which includes installing applications. If you find that you can’t run the app installer as an admin, you’ll need to change your user account type from a standard account to an administrator.

An admin account will give you full control over your PC, allowing you to install any application without any restrictions. The best way to do this is still to use the older Control Panel in Windows 11. To change your user account type, follow these steps.

1. Open the Start menu, search for control panel, and select the top (Best Match) result.

2. In the Control Panel menu, select Change account type under the User Accounts section.

3. Select your user account and press Change the account type.

4. From the options, choose Administrator. If this is grayed out, you don’t have the necessary permissions to make the change—you’ll need to switch to another user account and try again.
5. Press Change Account Type to confirm the change, then restart your PC.

6. Once you’ve restarted, log back into your user account. It should now have elevated administrator privileges, allowing you to begin the installer again.

4. Change the Installation Location or Drive

Another possible solution is to change the installation drive for the application you’re trying to install. You may be running out of disk space on your main C: drive, or you may prefer to offload certain applications onto a second hard drive or partition.

To do this, make sure you choose Browse (or similar) during your application installation process. You’ll need to choose your new installation location, making sure that it’s on a different drive. Failing that, you should make sure it’s in a different location to any existing applications.

Once you’ve done that, proceed with the installation as normal. If the installation completes successfully, you’ve been able to bypass the error.

5. Run the Compatibility Troubleshooter for the Installer File

If the application you’re trying to install is older, you may find that compatibility issues between the installer file and your current Windows version are preventing the installation from succeeding. If this is the case, you can run the Compatibility Troubleshooter tool to try and fix the problem.

The troubleshooter will automatically identify compatibility issues between the file and your PC. If it can resolve them (for instance, by running the file in compatibility mode), it’ll do it for you automatically.

To run the Compatibility Troubleshooter, follow these steps.

1. Right-click on the installation file in File Explorer and select Properties.

2. In the Properties window, select the Compatibility tab and press the Run compatibility troubleshooter option.

3. The troubleshooter will begin to search for recommended settings automatically. If it finds any, press Test the program to check that it works.

4. If it works, press Next.
5. Choose Yes, save these settings for this program.
6. Otherwise, choose No, try again using different settings to find another solution or No, report the program to Microsoft and check online for a solution instead.

7. You can also apply a custom compatibility setting using the Compatibility mode and Settings options in the Properties window.
8. If you’ve applied the new settings, make sure to press OK in the Properties box to save them.

6. Try a Different Installation File

While it might be uncommon, you may need to consider trying a new copy of the installation file. If the file has been corrupted or is missing a crucial part of the setup process, the installation will fail.

To fix this issue, you’ll need to try and download a newer copy of the file from a reputable source. You should try a manufacturer or developer’s website in the first instance, as downloading files from less-reputable sites could put your PC at risk from a malware infection.

Once you have the file, delete the original from your PC by right-clicking it in File Explorer and selecting Delete. You can then run the new file, as normal, to see if it resolves the issue.

Remember to run it as an administrator using the steps we’ve outlined above if you run into any problems.

7. Remove Older Versions of the Application

If you’re trying to manually update an older application, you may need to consider uninstalling the older version first. These older applications may have their own file protections in place to prevent you from overwriting them—antivirus software being a common example.

To uninstall older applications, follow these steps.

1. Right-click the Start menu and select Settings.

2. Select Apps > Installed Apps in the Settings menu.

3. Locate the older version of the application or use the search bar to narrow the search. Once you locate it, press the three-dots menu icon next to it, then press Uninstall.

4. You’ll be asked to confirm your choice—press Uninstall to continue.

5. If the application has any further removal settings or options, follow the on-screen instructions to complete this process.

Once the application is removed, restart your PC and try the newer installation file again to see if the problem is resolved.

Successfully Installing Applications on Windows 11

The “error opening file for writing” error on Windows isn’t a common one, but if you encounter it, the steps above should help you to fix the problem. Make sure to check that you’re not trying to overwrite any running applications and ensure your user account has the right permissions to make changes to your system.

Need to remove an app you installed from the Microsoft Store? The process for uninstalling Microsoft Store apps is a little different—you’ll need to do this via the Settings menu or the Store itself.

Want to try a particular mobile app on your PC? You can install Android apps on Windows 11 to allow you to do just that.

1. Allow Camera Access for Problematic App(s)

Using your webcam in different applications will help determine if the issue is system-wide or app-specific. Set up a dummy video call in any video-conferencing application, or try taking a picture in a camera app.

Applications might display a black screen if they attempt to use your Chromebook camera without having camera permission. If your Chromebook’s camera doesn’t work in a specific application, follow the steps below to grant it camera permission.

1. Launch the Settings app, open the Apps tab on the sidebar, and select Google Play Store.

2. Select Manage Android preferences.

3. Next, head to Apps > See all apps and choose the affected app.

4. Select Permissions.
5. Select the Camera permission.
6. Set “Camera Access for This App” to Allow only while using the app.

Reopen the app and check if it can use your Chromebook’s camera. Update or reinstall the app if the issue persists.

Search for the app in the Google Play Store and select Update to install the latest version on your Chromebook.

Delete and reinstall the app if it won’t access your Chromebook’s webcam after updating to the latest version.

Right-click the app icon in the app launcher or shelf and select Uninstall.

2. Enable Site Camera Access in Google Chrome

When a website attempts to access your webcam for the first time, Google Chrome displays a pop-up asking you to allow or deny camera permission for the website.

If you ignore or block the camera access request, your Chromebook’s camera won’t work on the site.

To remedy this, select the Camera icon in the address bar, and select Always allow [website URL] to access your camera. Select Done to save the camera permission and close the pop-up.

Alternatively, paste chrome://settings/content/camera in the address bar and press Enter. Select the website, open the Camera drop-down menu, and select Allow.

Reload the website and check if your Chromebook’s webcam works on the website. Close and reopen Google Chrome if the issue persists.

3. Disable Webcam Privacy Switch

Some Chromebooks have a physical webcam privacy switch that turns the camera on and off. Turning on the privacy switch blocks applications’ access to your Chromebook’s webcam.

When switched on, your Chromebook’s webcam light turns red when an app attempts to use your webcam. The indicator light turns white when you toggle the privacy switch off.

If your Chromebook camera isn’t working and the webcam light is red, find and toggle off the webcam privacy switch.

The webcam switch’s position will vary depending on your Chromebook’s model or brand, but it’s typically on any computer’s left or right side.

4. Reboot Your Chromebook

Turning your Chromebook off and back on might get its webcam working correctly again. A system reboot might also install pending updates designed to fix webcam malfunctions. Close all applications before restarting your Chromebook to avoid losing unsaved data or documents.

Press your Chromebook’s Power button and Refresh key simultaneously to initiate a system reboot.

Alternatively, open your Chromebook’s status area (press Shift + Alt + S), select the Power icon and choose Restart.

Wait 1-2 minutes and press the Power button again to turn on your device. Update your Chromebook’s operating system if the camera doesn’t work after the reboot.

5. Update Your Chromebook

Installing the latest ChromeOS version on your Chromebook can resolve hardware and system problems.

Head to Settings > About ChromeOS and select the Check for Updates button.

Otherwise, select Restart to force your Chromebook to install pending software updates.

6. Reset Your Chromebook Hardware

A “Hard Reset” fixes hardware failure by restarting or refreshing your Chromebook’s hardware—keyboard, touchpad, fingerprint sensor, webcam, etc. Performing a hard reset could resolve issues affecting your Chromebook camera.

Resetting your Chromebook might delete some files in the “Downloads” folder. Hence, we recommend backing files in this folder to other folders in the Files app, Google Drive, or external storage devices.

Reset Chromebook Using Keyboard Shortcut

1. Shut down your Chromebook and wait a few seconds for it to shut down completely.
2. Press and hold your keyboard’s Power and Refresh button for at least ten seconds.

You can also press and hold the Back + Refresh + Power buttons to initiate a hardware reset.

3. Release the Refresh button (or Refresh and Back buttons) when your Chromebook boots.

Reset Hardware on 2-in-1 Chromebook

1. Turn off your Chromebook and detach its keyboard.
2. Press the Volume Up and Power buttons for at least 10 seconds.
3. Release both buttons when your Chromebook boots.

Reset Chromebook Hardware Using Reset Button

Some Asus, Samsung, Acer, and Lenovo Chromebooks have a dedicated button for initiating a hardware reset. You’ll typically find this special reset button in a hole on the bottom of your Chromebook.

1. Turn off your Chromebook, remove its power adapter, and unplug any connected storage device or accessory.
2. Insert a paperclip, pin, or SIM card ejector into the reset button hole.
3. Hold the paperclip or SIM ejector in place and connect your Chromebook’s power adapter.
4. Press the Power button to turn on your Chromebook and remove the paperclip or SIM ejector.

Hard Reset Chromebooks with Removable Batteries

Removing and re-inserting your Chromebook’s battery will hard reset its hardware. Shut down your Chromebook, take out the battery, wait 10-30 seconds, and re-insert the battery. Turn on your device and check if the built-in camera works.

7. Factory Reset (Powerwash) Your Chromebook

Restore your Chromebook to factory settings if the camera doesn’t work after trying the troubleshooting steps above. Factory resetting your Chromebook deletes everything (files, apps, user accounts, extensions, etc.) saved on the device.

Backup your files to Google Drive or an external storage device before factory resetting your Chromebook.

1. Head to Settings > Advanced > Reset settings and select the Reset button.

2. Select Restart to proceed.

Fix Chromebook Camera Problems

Contact your Chromebook manufacturer if the webcam still doesn’t work after a factory reset. Use an external webcam if you need to make an urgent video call or recording—check out some budget webcams below $60.