Windows Hello is a great replacement for the standard Windows 10 password. You can use this biometric login option to instantly unlock your Windows 10 devices. However, the facial recognition feature may occasionally display the error message “We couldn’t find a camera compatible with Windows Hello Face.”
This means you won’t be able to use Windows Hello Face to gain access to your computer. In this post, you will learn how to troubleshoot this issue. I was faced with the problem that’s why I am now putting the steps I took to resolve it into writing so you can also use it to resolve yours. If you’re now encountering the problem simply because your system drivers are up to date and you wish to set up Windows Hello for business check out the prerequisites for deploying Windows Hello for Business. You can learn about the new smart App Control and how to enable Phishing Protection: Windows 11 New Security Features and also find out when security updates for Windows 10 will come to an end.
Windows Hello is a fingerprint authentication technology that allows Windows 10 users (as well as those who upgrade to Windows 11) to authenticate secure access to their devices, apps, online services, and networks using only a fingerprint, iris scan, or facial recognition. The sign-in mechanism is essentially an alternative to passwords, and it is generally regarded as a more user-friendly, secure, and dependable process of accessing critical devices, services, and data than conventional password logins.Why Windows Hello?
Windows Hello provides an alternative method for Windows users to log into their devices and applications by using a fingerprint, iris scan, or facial recognition. Windows Hello was first announced in 2015, is Microsoft’s fancy name for Windows 10’s non-password login security options. Several of those login options are biometric, which means they use a feature of your body to verify your identity.
Resolving: We Couldn’t Find a Camera Compatible With Windows Hello Face
To resolve the issue, follow these methods:
Method 1 – Install Windows Hello Face Driver – HelloFace.inf file
To locate this, go to This PC and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\WinBioPlugIns\FaceDriver
When you’re there as shown in the screenshot above, do the following:
- Locate the HelloFace.inf and then right-click on the file to install it on your computer.
- Restart your computer and check if the error is gone.
Method 2 – Check for Camera Updates
To install the latest camera driver version for your webcam, go to Device Manager, select Cameras, right-click on your webcam, and select Update Driver. The shortcut to instantly get to the Device Manager on your PC is by pressing Windows + R to open the run dialog box and enter "devmgmt.msc" command, and then press the Enter Key.
Conversely, go to the website of your camera’s manufacturer and see if there are any new updates available.
Method 3 – Check to Ensure that Windows Hello Face is Installed
The third method to fix Windows Hello error message would be to ensure that Windows Hello Face is installed properly on your PC.
- Go to Settings, click on Apps, and select Apps & features.
- Then go to Optional features.
- Locate the Windows Hello Face option.
If this option is missing, click on Add a feature. Search for Windows Hello Face and install the feature on your PC. If Windows Hello Face is installed but the error message has not been fixed, uninstall and reinstall the feature.
Method 4 – Scan Your System Files for Errors
If the Windows Hello system files became corrupted, this could explain why the system indicates that your camera is incompatible. To fix this Windows Hello issue, launch Command Prompt with administrative privileges and run the following commands in order:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow
After that, restart your computer and check if windows Hello has been fixed.
Method 5 – Check if Cameras are Disabled Under UEFI Settings
Another way to fix issues with Windows Hello is to check if the cameras are disabled. To do this:
- Press the Shift Key, go to Power, and select Restart to enable Windows 10 Advanced Startup Options.
- Then select Troubleshoot, and go to Advanced Options.
- Select UEFI Firmware Settings, and hit Restart
- Click on Devices and ensure camera support is enabled.
Then go to Settings, select Update and Security and go to Windows Update. Check for updates, install any pending updates and restart your system.
Method 6 – Resetting Windows Hello Biometric Database
You can fix Windows Hello by resetting the Windows Hello Biometric Database by doing the following things:
- Press Windows key + R, to open the Run dialog box
- Type
services.mscand press the Enter Key to launch the Services app. - Locate the Windows Biometric Service.
- Right-click on it and select Stop from the context menu
- Now, go to C:\Windows\System32\WinBioDatabase, take a backup of all the files inside the WinBioDatabase folder
- After taking a backup of the files, delete all the files.
- Now, open Services by following steps 1 and 2, and restart the Windows Biometric Service.
- Go to Start >> Settings >> Accounts >> Sign-in options and register the Face data again.
Finally, if Windows 10 reports that your camera is incompatible with Windows Face Hello, download the Face Driver and update your camera. Then, ensure that the Windows Biometric Service is active. If Windows Hello still isn’t fixed, try resetting the biometric database. Which of the above methods works for you?
I hope you found this blog post helpful. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment session.
