Windows users have long faced the frustrating limitation of being unable to use the same webcam across multiple applications simultaneously—a quirk that often requires third-party software to work around. The reasons behind this restriction have been the subject of speculation, ranging from concerns about privacy and security to potential performance issues and conflicts arising from simultaneous settings adjustments.
However, Microsoft is addressing this annoyance with an upcoming feature in the Windows 11 major update, scheduled for release this fall. According to Windows Latest, the new Multi-app Camera feature will finally allow users to access their webcam from multiple apps at the same time.
With Multi-app Camera, you can stream your webcam feed to various applications simultaneously, though you’ll need to adjust the camera’s settings, like brightness, through Windows 11’s main camera settings rather than from within individual apps. Additionally, the update will introduce Camera Basic Mode, which simplifies the webcam’s functionality to aid in troubleshooting any issues.
