Fix Camera Error 0xA00F4291 Video Preview Start Failed in Windows 11/10

Camera errors on Windows computers are not unheard of. Error 0xA00F4291 is faced when Windows users try to connect the built-in or third-party camera to make a video call. This error code makes the camera completely unresponsive or crashes on occasion. Camera error codes are not very helpful, since they don’t indicate what is the cause behind them. Today, we will look at some fixes you can implement to get rid of the Camera Error 0xA00F4291 <VideoPreviewStartFailed> (0xC00D3EA2) OR (0xc00d3704) on Windows 11/10.

The error messages you see could be:

0xa00f4291video preview start failed (0xc00d3704)

OR

0xa00f4291video preview start failed (0xc00d3ea2)

Fix Camera Error 0xA00F4291 Video Preview Start Failed error

The Camera Error 0xA00F4291 <VideoPreviewStartFailed> (0xC00D3EA2) OR (0xc00d3704)  on Windows 11/10 can be fixed by following these solutions:

1. Run Camera Troubleshooter
2. Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter
3. Grant permissions to the Camera app
4. Update the Camera drivers
5. Update the Display Drivers
6. Reset the Camera app
7. Edit the Registry

1] Run the Camera troubleshooter

Since the issue pertains to the Camera app, the first thing you should do to remediate this is to run the Camera troubleshooting utility. You will find the option for this in the Windows Settings.

1. Open the Windows Apps with the “Win + I” key combination and click on System
2. Click on Troubleshoot and further select Other Troubleshooters
3. You will find the Camera troubleshooter option. Click on Run and wait for the process to complete

This will reset the camera app and its drivers, shell out any system issues and fix them.

2] Run the Windows Store apps troubleshooter

The Windows Store apps troubleshooter is one of the most common troubleshooting tools when it comes to system apps like Camera, File Explorer, etc.

1. Open Windows Settings and click on the System tab
2. Scroll down and click on Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters
3. Under “Other,” you will find the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter

Click on Run and if there are any bugs with the camera, it will report them and fix them for you. It may also recommend resetting the apps or restarting the computer as part of its diagnostic process.

Read: Where do the Camera app & Photos app save Pictures and Videos in Windows?

3] Grant permissions to the Camera app

A myriad of camera errors can occur if the requisite permissions are not granted to the Camera app, including the one under discussion here. Therefore, you should access the privacy settings and set them so that the store apps can access the camera.

1. Open Windows Settings and click on the “Privacy & Security” tab
2. Scroll down till you get to the App permission section, and here, select Camera
3. Enable the Camera access if it is turned off
4. Right below this setting is a list of the apps that have camera access. Ensure that all the Windows Store apps have access to the camera

Close this settings window and check if the issue has been resolved.

4] Update the Camera drivers

If the camera drivers on your system are corrupt or obsolete, then they can cause all kinds of issues with the Camera app, including the one under discussion here. If that is the reason why you are facing this issue, you should look to update your camera drivers. Starting with Windows 11, the process of updating app drivers has become extremely easy where all you have to do is check for Windows system updates to install a fresh, updated set of drivers.

Alternatively, you can use the Intel Driver and Support Assistant or AMD AutoDetect to do the same.

5] Update the Display drivers

If a fresh set of Camera drivers are of no help, then you can also search if new Display drivers are available for installation. Although most new drivers are made available via Windows updates now, you can check the Optional Updates if the ones you are looking for are available.

1. Launch Windows Settings with the “Win + I” key combination
2. Click on the Windows Update tab
3. There, select Advanced options and under the Additional options list you will find ‘Optional Updates’
4. If there are any pending Driver updates, they will be shown here

You can run Windows Updates in Windows 10 to check if any updated drivers in the form of Optional updates are available or not.

6] Reset the Camera app

The Windows 11 settings allow you to reset or repair the Windows Store apps, and this can be of a lot of help when apps aren’t functioning properly. In the case of Camera Error 0xA00F4291, resetting the Camera app can help bring the camera app back on track.

1. Open Windows Settings
2. Click on the Apps tab on the left side and further click on Installed Apps
3. Scroll down to find Camera app from the list of option and click on the ellipses icon
4. Click on Advanced options and at the bottom of the resultant page, you will find a setting to reset and repair the Camera app

Doing so will permanently delete the Camera data and your existing preferences configured. Once the app is reset completely, open the Camera app again to check if it has been fixed.

7] Edit the Registry

Creating a new registry key can be of help when trying to put an end to a bug, so you can create a D-WORD value to get your Camera app to work properly. Before you make any changes to your Registry, it is advised that you take a backup of the existing configurations. You can do that by clicking on File > Export.

1. Open the run command box by entering “regedit” and click on “Ok” to open the Registry Editor
2. Paste the following path on the Registry Editor’s address bar and press enter

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Media Foundation\Platform

3. Right-click anywhere on the blank space. Click on New > DWORD (32-bit) value
4. Name this new key “EnableFrameServerMode” and set its Value Data to 0

Save this change by clicking on Ok and Restart your computer. Once it has been rebooted, the Camera on your system should start working smoothly.

How do I fix camera error 0xa00f4292 in Windows?

Similar to the Error code in discussion is camera error 0xa00f4292. This code is accompanied by an error message “Something went wrong”. It is a rather common camera error that some very elementary solutions can fix. Common causes behind this error include inadequate privileges granted, corrupted system files, outdated device drivers, or countering Windows Updates. There are several solutions that you can implement to fix this issue; using the Hardware and Device troubleshooter, granting permission access to the Camera app, updating the camera drivers, and if none of these work then you can also try resetting the Camera app.

How do I get Windows to recognize my USB camera?

If you have a computer that is not exactly state-of-the-art, then the built-in camera might not cater to your needs. In such a scenario, people often opt for a third-party camera utility that is often connected via USB. If everything is laid down properly, then simply trying to connect the USB cable to the port on your computer should recognize it. On the off chance that your USB camera is not recognized on Windows, you should check the USB cable and USB ports for any damage. You should also ensure that the camera settings are configured properly. Try reconnecting it after clearing the port, and lastly, check if it is being recognized by a different computer to ensure the damage is not on the camera’s part.

We hope that you find this helpful.