On most HP Envy x360 models, the camera control is a function-row key with a camera icon; some include a tiny privacy slider beside the webcam.
If your webcam won’t turn on—or you’re just hunting for that elusive button—the answer comes down to two places: the keyboard’s action row and, on select units, a near-invisible slider next to the lens. The steps below show you exactly where to look, how to toggle the control, and what to do if the webcam still refuses to show up in apps.
Camera Button Location On HP Envy X360: Quick Scan
Start with the top row of your keyboard. HP places hardware toggles in the action keys (F1–F12). One of those keys carries a tiny camera glyph. Press it to switch the webcam off or on. On some units, you’ll need to hold Fn and tap the camera key.
Don’t see an icon? Check the thin bezel above the display. Several Envy x360 trims include a whisper-small privacy slider that physically covers the lens. Slide it until the lens is visible. If you spot an orange/amber light on the camera key, that usually signals the webcam is disabled; press the key again to re-enable it.
These placements match HP’s own guidance for notebooks that ship with a webcam shutter key in the action row and, on select models, a privacy switch near the lens. HP’s support article confirms both behaviors and the need for the Fn modifier on some keyboards. HP webcam troubleshooting spells this out clearly.
How To Identify The Correct Key Or Switch
Find The Camera Icon In The Action Row
Scan F-keys for a camera symbol or a crossed-out camera. Common placements include F6, F8, F9, or F10 across Envy lines. The exact F-number varies by generation, so trust the icon over memory. If tapping the key does nothing, hold Fn and press the same key.
Look For A Subtle Bezel Slider
Some Envy x360 builds hide a slim slider at the top bezel. It sits flush with the frame and can be easy to miss under normal light. A quick flashlight sweep often reveals it. When closed, it physically blocks the lens; slide it open until the lens is fully exposed. HP agents and owners often point out this tiny switch in forum threads about Envy units.
Check The Key Light
Many keyboards light the camera key orange when the webcam is disabled. If the lamp is on, tap the key (or Fn+key) to turn the camera back on. Users report this behavior on multiple Envy x360 variants.
Quick Steps To Get The Webcam Working
1) Toggle The Hardware Control
- Press the camera icon key once. No change? Hold Fn and press it again.
- If your model has a bezel slider, open it so the lens is visible.
2) Confirm Windows Permissions
Windows can block the webcam even when hardware is on. Flip the switches here:
- Open Settings → Privacy & security → Camera.
- Turn on Camera access and Let apps access your camera.
- Scroll down and enable access for the app you’re using (Teams, Zoom, Browser, etc.).
Microsoft documents the exact path for Windows 11 and 10. If those toggles are off, apps can’t see the device at all. See Manage app permissions for a camera.
3) Pick The Right Device In Your App
Video apps often let you choose a camera. If “HP Wide Vision” or a similar entry is listed, select it. Close other conferencing apps so they don’t hold the camera open in the background.
4) Refresh Drivers If The Camera Vanished
- Right-click Start → Device Manager.
- Expand Cameras or Imaging devices.
- If the HP camera shows a down arrow, right-click → Enable device.
- If it’s missing, click Action → Scan for hardware changes, then View → Show hidden devices.
Owners who see an amber camera key and a missing device in Device Manager often fix it by re-enabling the driver or reinstalling it after a scan.
Model Differences You Should Know
HP has shipped Envy x360 units across many years and screen sizes (13-, 15-, 17-inch). Two patterns appear in support material and community reports:
- Action-row shutter key: A camera icon on an F-key. Press to toggle; use Fn if your keyboard requires it. Confirmed in HP’s own help doc.
- Physical privacy slider: A tiny switch at the top bezel. Some threads describe it as nearly invisible unless you shine light across the edge.
A few users also report placement near the power button on certain older trims, so if your keyboard and bezel show nothing, sweep that area too.
When The Camera Key Light Stays Orange
If the lamp stays lit even after pressing the key, treat it as a “hardware says off” symptom. Work through these fixes in order:
- Toggle with and without Fn. Some keyboards invert action-key behavior based on BIOS settings.
- Open the bezel slider fully. A half-closed shutter still blocks the sensor.
- Restart the laptop. A quick reboot releases any app holding the webcam.
- Update HP drivers and BIOS. Use HP Support Assistant if installed.
- Reinstall the camera in Device Manager. Right-click the device → Uninstall, then Scan for hardware changes.
Multiple Envy owners with stuck orange lights reported progress after driver refreshes or BIOS/firmware updates.
Privacy And App Behavior Tips
Windows lets you choose which apps can access the webcam and shows recent usage. That’s handy for tracking down apps that keep grabbing the device when you open meetings. Microsoft documents the permission switches; enthusiasts also outline where to review usage in Settings.
Common Myths, Clear Answers
“There’s A Single, Universal F-Key For Every Envy X360.”
No single F-key applies across all releases. The icon is consistent, not the number. Newer keyboards may place it on F8 or F9; other trims use different spots. Community threads and generic guides reflect that mix.
“If I Don’t See A Slider, My Camera Is Broken.”
Some models skip the slider entirely and rely on the action-row key. If your device manager lists the camera and Windows permissions are on, the webcam works—even without a physical shutter.
“An Amber Light Means A Hardware Failure.”
Not by itself. It usually flags that the shutter control is set to off. If it stays amber after key presses, check the bezel switch, then permissions, then drivers.
Table Of Quick Reference Controls
The chart below compresses the most common placements and what each control does. Use it when you’re in a hurry before a call.
| Placement | What To Look For | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard Action Row | F-key with camera icon or crossed-out camera | Press once to toggle; if no change, use Fn+key. |
| Top Bezel | Slim privacy slider next to lens | Slide open to reveal lens; slide closed to block camera. |
| Near Power Button (select trims) | Dedicated shutter key clustered near power | Tap to toggle webcam state; lamp shows off/on. |
Step-By-Step Troubleshooting When Apps Still Can’t See The Camera
Confirm Windows Access One More Time
Head to Settings → Privacy & security → Camera. Make sure device access and app toggles are enabled. Microsoft’s article shows the exact switches for both Windows 11 and 10. Camera permissions.
Close Other Apps That May Be Holding The Webcam
Only one app can use many webcams at a time. Quit Teams, Zoom, Discord, browsers with open meeting tabs, and try again.
Reset The Driver
- Right-click Start → Device Manager.
- Under Cameras or Imaging devices, right-click the HP camera → Disable device, wait two seconds, then Enable device.
- If problems persist, right-click → Uninstall device, check Attempt to remove the driver for this device, reboot, and let Windows reload it.
Update Firmware And System Packages
Open HP Support Assistant (if available) and install keyboard, chipset, and BIOS updates. Several Envy owners cleared stubborn shutter-key issues after firmware or driver refreshes.
Pick The Device Inside Your Meeting App
Open the app’s video settings and select the HP camera explicitly. Some apps default to “None” after a driver reinstall.
Safety And Privacy Pointers
When you need privacy, use the hardware controls first. A physical shutter or the action-row key cuts access instantly. Pair that with Windows’ per-app permissions so only trusted apps can request the device. Microsoft’s guide covers those granular switches.
Fast Checklist Before Your Next Call
- Toggle the camera key (with Fn if needed).
- Open the bezel slider so the lens is clear.
- Enable Privacy & security → Camera switches for your app.
- Close other conferencing tools and browser tabs with active meetings.
- Pick the HP camera in the app’s video settings.
- Refresh the driver in Device Manager if the device went missing.
Why This Works
The action-row key sends a hardware toggle that Windows respects across apps. The bezel slider, when present, blocks the sensor physically. If either control is set to “off,” no amount of app-side adjustments can start the feed. That’s why the best path is: hardware first, then Windows permissions, then drivers. HP’s help doc and community cases reflect the same sequence.
Still Stuck? What To Try Next
If the camera icon key and slider look fine, and Windows shows the device but apps still fail, test in the built-in Camera app. If the app shows video, the hardware and driver are healthy; the issue lives in the meeting app’s settings or permissions. If the Camera app shows an error, reinstall the device driver and update BIOS/firmware through HP’s utilities, then test again. HP’s support steps for notebooks with shutter keys mirror this flow.
Sources: HP’s official guidance on notebook webcam shutter keys and privacy switches, and Microsoft’s Windows permissions article for camera access.