Today every laptop comes with a built-in webcam, which allows you to take pictures or record what is happening in front of your laptop. However, to use the webcam, you need to have a dedicated application, depending on the operating system of the laptop. Here, I will show you how to take photos and videos with a laptop on the most popular operating systems today - Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7.
Take photos, record videos with a Laptop on Windows 10 and 8
Step 1: Run the Camera application
Search for the Camera app on your computer and click on it to run (if the app isn't already available, look in the Microsoft Store and download it).
Step 2: Select a mode to take photos or record videos
After the application is opened, the default mode being used is to take a photo. If you want to switch to video recording mode, click the camera icon on the right.
Step 3: Take photos or record videos
+ If you are in photography mode, you just need to click the Take Photo button (picture of the camera). The camera will capture the image in front of the laptop (being displayed preview on the screen).
+ If in video recording mode:
- Click the Take Video button (picture of the camera) to start recording.
- During the video recording, you can pause at any time. Once you have the video as you like, finish recording.
* Before you start taking photos or videos, you can adjust the brightness, countdown (for photo mode), quality, or saved folder, etc.
Step 4: Review the results
You can view the image or video just obtained by clicking on its thumbnail in the lower right corner.
Next you have a number of options, such as zooming, rotating, deleting, sharing, copying, or opening the containing folder.
Take photos, record videos with Laptop on Windows 7
Windows 7 cannot install the Camera app from the Microsoft Store like Windows 8 and 10. If your laptop already has camera opening software installed, use it. If not, I recommend you download and install Cyberlink YouCam .
(The software can also run on Windows 8 and 10. You can use it if you want even if you are not using Windows 7.)
To take a photo with the laptop's webcam:
Make sure you're in capture mode, then click the capture icon (or press F2 ) to capture the image before the webcam (being displayed preview on screen).
To record a video using your laptop's webcam:
- Switch to video recording mode. Click the red circle icon (or press the F4 key ) to start recording.
- During recording, you can pause at any time. Click the square icon (or press the F3 key ) to finish recording.
You can review the results by double clicking on the thumbnail of the captured image / video.
You can customize the quality, format and folder saved in the settings. Not only that, Cyberlink YouCam also allows you to "play" with a lot of interesting features such as adding scenes and frames, filters, emoticons or adding text to pictures. Perfect software for those who want to take a selfie with their face!
Through the article above, I have instructed how to take photos and videos with a laptop on Windows 10, 8 and 7 operating systems. I wish you success!