This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off allowing multiple apps to use camera at the same time for your account or all users in Windows 11.
Starting with build 26100.8524 (24H2) and build 26200.8524 (25H2), Microsoft added a new Advanced camera options section on the Cameras page in Settings.
This includes a new setting for users to turn on or off Allow multiple apps to use camera at the same time. When turned on, it allows multiple applications to access the camera stream simultaneously, developed with the Hard-of-Hearing community to enable video streaming to both a sign language interpreter and the end audience at the same time.
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Multi-App Camera Mode for Current User in Settings
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Multi-App Camera Mode for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Three: Enable or Disable Multi-App Camera Mode for All Users using REG file
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Bluetooth & devices on the left side, and click/tap on Cameras on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Under Connected cameras, click/tap on the camera (ex: "Logitech BRIO") you want to change this setting for. (see screenshot below)
4 Click/tap on the Edit button for Advanced camera options. (see screenshot below)
5 Turn on or off (default) Allow multiple apps to use camera at the same time for what you want, and click/tap on Apply. (see screenshot below)
6 You can now close Settings if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Three to configure the same policy.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Camera > Configure Camera Options
3 In the right pane of Configure Camera Option in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Configure Camera Options policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (always enable), or step 6 (default) below for what you want.
5 Always Enable Multi-App Camera Mode for All Users
This will prevent using Option One.
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below)
B) Select AutoShare in the "Configure Camera Options" drop menu in Options.
C) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below.
6 Default User-choice Basic Camera Mode or Multi-App Camera Mode
This is the default setting to allow using Option One.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below.
7 You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
1 Do step 2 (always enable) or step 3 (default) below for what you would like to do.
2 Always Enable Multi-App Camera Mode for All Users
This will prevent using Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_always_use_Multi-app_Camera_Mode_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Camera]
"ConfigureCameraOptions"=dword:000000013 Default User-choice Basic Camera Mode or Multi-App Camera Mode
This is the default setting to allow using Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Default_user-choice_Camera_Mode.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Camera]
"ConfigureCameraOptions"=-4 Save the REG file to your desktop.
5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
6 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.
7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
