Taking a photo on your PC means using either your built-in webcam or an external camera connected to your computer

Most PCs come with a webcam built into the monitor or keyboard, and Windows includes a Camera app that lets you take photos in seconds. If you have an external camera or phone connected via USB, you can use that instead. The simplest route is opening the Camera app, pointing at what you want to photograph, and pressing the spacebar or clicking the camera button.

This guide covers the three most common ways: using the built-in Camera app for your webcam, using the Photos app to capture from an external camera, and taking screenshots when you need to photograph what is on your screen instead.

Key Takeaways

  • The Camera app is built into Windows 10 and 11 and works with your webcam without any setup or downloads.
  • Press the spacebar or click the camera icon to take a photo; your image saves automatically to your Pictures folder.
  • External cameras and phones connected by USB appear in the Camera app's device menu, letting you switch between them.
  • If you need to photograph your screen instead of the physical world, use the Snipping Tool or Print Screen key to capture what you see.
  • Photos save as .jpg files in your Pictures folder by default, and you can change the save location in Camera settings.

Opening the Camera app and taking your first photo

On Windows 10 or 11, press the Windows key and type "Camera" — the Camera app will appear at the top of the search results. Click it to open. The app takes a moment to load and will ask permission to use your webcam the first time you open it; click "Yes" to allow it.

Once the app is open, you will see a live preview of what your webcam sees. Point the camera at your face, an object, or a scene. To take the photo, press the spacebar on your keyboard or click the camera icon (a circle) at the bottom of the screen. You will hear a shutter sound, and the photo is saved. The app does not show you a preview — it goes straight to saving. If you want to see what you just captured, click the thumbnail that appears in the bottom right corner, or open your Pictures folder after closing the app.

Finding and organizing your saved photos

By default, the Camera app saves all photos to your Pictures folder. To find them, open File Explorer (the folder icon on your taskbar), click "Pictures" on the left side, and look for a folder called "Camera Roll." Your photos are inside, named with the date and time you took them.

If you want to change where photos save, open the Camera app, click the three-line menu icon in the top left, select "Settings," and scroll down to "Photo and video settings." Click "Change" next to "Save photos and videos to," and choose a different folder. This is useful if you want all your photos in one custom folder instead of the default Camera Roll.

Using an external camera or phone connected to your PC

If you have a digital camera, phone, or other device connected to your PC via USB cable, the Camera app can use it instead of your webcam. Open the Camera app and look at the top of the screen — you will see a dropdown menu that says "Built-in Camera" or the name of your current device. Click it to see a list of all connected cameras.

Select the camera you want to use. The live preview will switch to that device. Take photos the same way — press spacebar or click the camera icon. The photos save to your Pictures folder just like webcam photos do. If your external device does not appear in the list, make sure the USB cable is fully connected and the device is powered on. Some cameras need to be set to a specific mode (like "PC Connection" or "Mass Storage") before Windows recognizes them — check your device's manual if it does not show up.

Taking photos of your screen using the Snipping Tool

Sometimes you need to photograph what is on your screen rather than the physical world. Windows includes the Snipping Tool, which captures part or all of your display as an image. Press Windows key + Shift + S to open it, or search for "Snipping Tool" in the Start menu.

When the Snipping Tool opens, your screen will dim and your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a rectangle around the area you want to capture. Release the mouse, and the captured image appears in the Snipping Tool window. Click "Save" (the disk icon) to save it as a file, or click "Copy" to paste it directly into another program like Word or email. You can also use the Print Screen key to capture your entire screen, which copies it to your clipboard so you can paste it into any program.

Adjusting camera settings and fixing common problems

If your photos look too dark, too bright, or blurry, the Camera app has basic settings you can adjust. Open the Camera app, click the three-line menu, and select "Settings." Look for "Photo and video settings" — you will see sliders for brightness and contrast. Drag the brightness slider to the right to brighten photos, or to the left to darken them. Adjust contrast the same way.

If your webcam is not working, first check that the camera is not disabled in your device settings. Press Windows key + I to open Settings, go to "Privacy & Security," click "Camera," and make sure "Camera access" is turned on. Also check that the Camera app itself has permission to use your camera — scroll down in that same menu and look for "Camera" in the list of apps. If it is off, click it and turn it on. If you still have no image, try unplugging and replugging your external camera, or restarting your PC.

Switching between photo and video mode

The Camera app can record video as well as take still photos. At the bottom of the screen, you will see two icons — a camera (photo mode) and a video camera (video mode). Click the video camera icon to switch to video recording. Press spacebar or click the red record button to start recording. Press spacebar again to stop. Videos save to the same Camera Roll folder as photos.

If you only want to take photos and never use video, you can ignore the video mode button entirely. The app defaults to photo mode when you open it, so you will not accidentally record video unless you click that icon first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do my photos save if I do not choose a folder?

Photos save automatically to your Pictures folder in a subfolder called "Camera Roll." You can find them by opening File Explorer, clicking Pictures on the left, and opening the Camera Roll folder. All photos are named with the date and time you took them.

Can I take a photo with my phone camera instead of my PC webcam?

Yes, if you connect your phone to your PC with a USB cable and set your phone to allow file transfer or camera mode, it will appear in the Camera app's device menu. Click the dropdown at the top of the Camera app and select your phone. You can then take photos using your phone's camera while controlling it from your PC.

What if the Camera app is not on my PC?

The Camera app comes built into Windows 10 and 11. If you cannot find it by searching, you can read it free from the Microsoft Store. Open the Microsoft Store app, search for "Camera," and click "Get" to install it. This takes a few minutes and requires an internet connection.

How do I delete photos I do not want?

Open File Explorer, go to Pictures, open Camera Roll, right-click the photo you want to delete, and click "Delete." The photo moves to your Recycle Bin. If you change your mind, open the Recycle Bin, right-click the photo, and click "Restore." Photos in the Recycle Bin stay there until you empty it.

Can I edit my photos in the Camera app?

The Camera app does not have editing tools. To edit photos, open the Photos app (search for "Photos" in the Start menu), find your photo, click "Edit," and you will see options to crop, rotate, adjust brightness, and add filters. The Photos app is also built into Windows and free to use.