On most laptops, the camera sits in the top display bezel; some models use the bottom bezel, hinge edge, or a pop-up key.
Scan the top edge of the screen for a tiny circle or pill, often beside a status light. If you don’t see it there, check the lower bezel, the hinge line, or a function key with a camera icon.
Fast Ways To Spot The Built-In Camera
Hold the screen at eye level and look along the top bezel. The lens is a dark dot behind glass. Many models place a small green or white indicator next to it. If a light turns on when an app opens your webcam, you’ve found it.
If the top edge is blank, sweep the lower bezel. Some designs moved the lens there to shrink borders. Angle the lid back and look along the hinge, too.
Still not obvious? Press a function key with a camera symbol. Some laptops ship with a pop-up unit hidden in a keycap. When pressed, a small square rises to reveal the lens.
Open a camera app and cover likely spots with a fingertip. When the view goes dark, you’re on the lens.
Common Places By Design
Top Bezel Above The Display
This is the standard spot across MacBooks, Chromebooks, and most Windows laptops. Apple notes that Mac computers have a built-in camera near the top edge, with a green light that glows when it’s active. See Apple’s guide: Use the camera on Mac.
Bottom Bezel “Nose Cam” Designs
Thin borders once pushed some brands to mount the lens below the screen. That angle looks up your face and chin. Dell used this placement on earlier XPS models, then returned the lens to the top after engineering a smaller module.
Hidden In The Hinge
A few business and education laptops place a slender camera in the hinge area. Look for a slit centered above the keyboard. This placement keeps bezels narrow without a bottom-bezel angle.
Pop-Up Camera In A Key
Some ultrabooks hide the lens in a function-row key. Press it and a tiny block pops up with the camera facing you. Huawei’s MateBook X Pro popularized this layout. The viewpoint is low. Close the key to hide the lens between calls.
World-Facing Camera On Some Chromebooks
Education-focused Chromebooks sometimes include a second camera aimed away from you, near the keyboard deck. Flip the device into tablet mode and that lens points outward for scanning documents.
Quick OS Tests To Confirm The Spot
Windows
Press the Windows key and type “Camera.” Open the Camera app and watch for a light near the display edge. If you see yourself, wave a finger along the top bezel. The view will blur when you pass over the lens. Settings path: Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Cameras. Microsoft’s help page: Windows 11 Camera settings. Reboot once and test again now.
If your picture is black, a privacy shutter may be closed or a function key disabled the webcam. Many Lenovo models include a sliding shutter called ThinkShutter; move the tab to uncover the lens.
macOS
Open FaceTime or Photo Booth. A green light next to the lens turns on when the camera is active. On Macs the camera sits near the top edge of the display. Manage app access under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.
ChromeOS
Launch the Camera app from the app launcher. If the model has a world-facing lens, switch to the rear camera in the app and flip the device into tablet mode to test.
Why You Might Not See The Lens Right Away
Dark Glass And Tiny Openings
Modern bezels often hide sensors under black glass. The lens window can be just a few millimeters wide. Shine a soft light at an angle to spot the circle.
Privacy Shutters And Switches
Physical shutters are common on business models. Slide the tab until the red marker disappears. Some brands use a keyboard shortcut or a side switch to disable the webcam at the hardware level. If Windows or ChromeOS sees no camera, check those first.
External USB Webcams
If the laptop’s built-in lens is covered or missing, an external webcam may be clipped to the top edge. Trace the USB cable to confirm which camera you’re using in your app settings.
Where Laptop Cameras Are Hidden—Model Clues
Brands tend to follow patterns. MacBooks keep the lens centered in the upper bezel with a linked green indicator. Many ThinkPad laptops add a sliding shutter next to the lens. Past XPS designs put the camera below the screen, then shifted up once a thinner module arrived. Some ultrabooks tuck a pop-up unit into a function key. Chromebooks can add a second outward-facing lens for classroom use.
Not sure which you own? Search your exact model on the maker’s support page. The product images usually show the lens and any shutter label. You can also check the User Guide PDF for a diagram.
Simple Troubleshooting If Apps Can’t Find The Camera
Check Physical Controls First
- Slide any privacy shutter open.
- Tap the camera function key to enable the module.
- Unclip any external webcam if it blocks the built-in lens.
Confirm Permissions
In Windows, open Settings → Privacy & security → Camera and make sure camera access is on for the device and for your app. On macOS, open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera and grant access to FaceTime, Zoom, or your browser.
If no camera appears in your app list, open Device Manager (Windows) and look under Cameras or Imaging devices. On macOS, open System Information → Camera. If nothing shows, the webcam may be disabled in firmware or missing on that model.
Close Other Apps
Only one app can usually use the camera at a time. Quit video tools, browsers, or background utilities that might be holding the lens.
Hands-On Check: Prove The Location In Seconds
- Open a camera app.
- Hold a finger at the top bezel, then move along the edge.
- Watch the preview. When it blurs or darkens, you’ve found the lens.
- If nothing changes, repeat on the lower bezel and hinge line.
- Press any camera key to test a pop-up module.
If you use Linux, list video devices with the command below and pick /dev/video0 in your app.
ls /dev/video*Privacy Notes You Can Act On
The status light next to your camera is often hardware-linked. When the light is on, the camera is active. Use your OS privacy panel to see and control which apps can access the camera.
Table: Common Locations And What To Look For
| Location | Where To Look | Trade-Offs |
|---|---|---|
| Top bezel | Center above the screen; often with a small LED | Natural angle; easy to find |
| Bottom bezel | Center below the screen | Low viewpoint; can cut off your forehead |
| Hinge edge | Slit along the hinge line | Clean bezels; lens sits lower than eye level |
| Pop-up key | Function row key that raises a small block | Hidden when closed; low angle on the desk |
| World-facing | Near keyboard deck on some Chromebooks | Great for documents; not for face calls |
Real-World Examples To Compare With Yours
Apple’s laptops place the lens at the top and light it with a green indicator. Dell once tried a below-screen angle on thin-bezel models, then moved back to the top. Huawei’s MateBook X Pro hides a camera in a function-row key that pops up when pressed. Lenovo’s ThinkPad line often adds a sliding shutter next to the lens.
When The Built-In Camera Isn’t There
Some budget or rugged models skip a webcam. If there’s no lens window in the bezels, no indicator light, and no device listed in your OS settings, you may not have one. A compact USB webcam clipped to the top edge works well and can be stowed when not in use.
Next Steps
Scan the top edge, sweep the lower bezel and hinge, and press any camera key. Test with a simple app and watch the status light. Check the shutter and OS permissions if the view is blank. With those steps, you can locate the lens on almost any laptop in under a minute.