Microsoft has acknowledged a bug causing Windows 10 user’s webcams to break. The bug was introduced to Windows 10 following the recent February 2021 cumulative update package, KB4601319.
Windows 10 Cumulative Update Breaking Webcams
Users report that the KB4601319 cumulative update is knocking their webcams offline, with the Inter RealSense Depth camera and Razer Stargazer camera confirmed casualties. Responding to the issue in the official Microsoft Feedback Hub, a Microsoft engineer said:
Thank you for bringing the issues with Intel RealSense Camera to our attention. We are aware of the issue and are working on a fix. In the meantime, if you need to get your camera working, please follow the instructions on how to remove an installed Windows Update
Microsoft is working on a fix for the issue, which some users speculate as stemming from a forgotten driver. For the time being, though, if your Intel RealSense or Razer Stargazer webcam has suddenly stopped working and you just installed the KB4601319 cumulative update, you should remove the update.
To manually uninstall a Windows 10 update:
- Press Windows Key + I, then head to Update & Security.
- Select View Update History > Uninstall updates.
- You’ll be presented with a list of Windows updates installed on your system, usually sorted by the most recently installed. Locate the KB4601319 update and select Uninstall.
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Your webcam should be back up and running.
As KB4601319 is a cumulative update, you can pick and choose when to reinstall it. Some users have reported experiencing blue screen of death crashes after installing the update. However, there is no single bug linking those crashes, so it’s more than likely individual or local issues.
Tricky Period for Microsoft Updates
There is always some consternation when it comes to Windows updates. However, January and February 2021 are proving particularly irksome for Microsoft. Just hours ago, we reported on a Windows 10 Secure Boot bug that triggers the BitLocker key recovery process, while several other bugs relating to recent issues have been discovered.
Of course, there’s always the regular glut of patches for Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday. Still, those fixes focus on the delivery of important security patches across the entire spectrum of Microsoft’s products.
Even though Windows 10 updates do introduce the occasional bug, it is no reason not to install updates. Updates delivered to Windows 10 often fix bugs (rather than introducing them!), improve stability, and most importantly, patch vulnerabilities.
Plus, you can always wait a short period with these optional cumulative updates before installing to dodge bugs like this.