Windows has had its built-in set of MSDT-based inbox troubleshooters for a long time. The Windows team has now decided to integrate all troubleshooting with the Get Help app, which is interactive and intelligent. In this post, we will share how you can use the new Camera Troubleshooter in the Get Help app on Windows 11.
What is the Get Help app in Windows 11?
Windows Team has been centralizing Windows’s Help and Support section into this new Get Help app for some time. You can type in your problem, and based on the knowledge base, the app will recommend suggestions to resolve the problem. We may see future AI or ChatGPT integration with the app, which can suggest better solutions within Windows.
How to use Camera Troubleshooter in the Get Help app of Windows 11
Before we start, understand that the Get Help App is a conversation-based product. It means you can type your problem, and it will recommend solutions. Once you confirm whether the solution is working or not, it will suggest the next suggestion. It can also run tasks in the background with your consent.
Here is how we used the Camera Troubleshooter in the Get Help App of Windows 11:
- Type Get Help in the Start Menu search, and once it appears, click to open it.
- You would see a text box where you can type your issue. In this case, search foe Run the Windows Camera troubleshooter
- It will then reveal smart prompts such as Troubleshoot camera issues, how to fix the computer camera, camera not working on PC, and so on. Select one.
- Post this; it will then Recommend a solution, Camera Troubleshooter, and start a conversation-based interaction that will prompt you to check and do things.
To open the new Camera Troubleshooter directly, you can click here.
Here is the list of interactions we did when using the Camera Troubleshooter
- Sometimes the easiest way to fix a camera problem is to unplug the camera USB cable and plug the camera USB cable back again. Let’s try that first!
- Automated Diagnostic with Consent. It will run scripts, detect cameras, and then prompt you again if the problem is solved.
- Reset camera settings Windows will reset camera services and prompt if the issue is resolved.
- The suggestions from the Get Help App will get more technical if the earlier one doesn’t solve. In this one step, it reran the troubleshooter, tried to find the root cause of the issue, and prompted me for consent to update the camera driver.
- Microsoft attempted to install the official driver with the Windows Update service in the above step. If that doesn’t work, it will prompt you to install the Windows default driver and check if it works.
- If nothing works, Get Help App will prompt you to leave feedback or connect with someone, i.e., Live chat.
We tried the live chat part and waited for a while, but nothing happened. I guess a longer waiting time is probably required, or there is a timezone issue. There is no clarity as of now on this.
At the bottom of the troubleshooting section, the app also offers a More Help section with links to the Microsoft Official section, which can help users understand and read about the issues around it.
Conclusion:
While Microsoft is retiring the MSDT, the Get Help App integration is promising. It is inclusive and offers clarity to the users on how it’s attempting to troubleshoot. Even more interesting is that it prompts change based on the selection. While they do almost the same thing, things will look different based on your query and prompt selection.
If you are running Windows 11 version 22H2 and older, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, etc., your device will remain unaffected by this update. Users with earlier Windows operating systems can continue using Microsoft legacy inbox troubleshooters.
Once all the legacy inbox troubleshooters are retired, the Troubleshoot links in the Windows Settings app will automatically get redirected to open the new troubleshooters.
What is MSDT?
MSDT stands for Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool. It is used by Microsoft Support to help diagnose Windows problems. When you contact Microsoft Support for any help, the support professional will give you a Passkey. You are required to open the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool and enter the Passkey.
