Windows 11 24H2 is getting a multi-app camera mode that allows multiple apps to use the webcam in your laptop at the same time, removing a frustrating limitation.

Windows and webcams, it’s often a frustrating combination. Until now, it was always possible to use your webcam in just one app. If you wanted to use the webcam in another app, you had to close the first application first. This intermediate step is no longer necessary as of Windows 11 24H2, as Windows Latest noted in a preview version of the update.

Multiple apps at the same time

Windows 11 will soon have a multi-app camera mode that will allow you to use your webcam in multiple apps at once. In this mode, it will not be possible to adjust the webcam settings directly from the apps that use your camera. This will only be possible via Windows Settings: Microsoft therefore keeps it a bit cumbersome.

There are many theories about why the webcam in Windows is limited to one app, but no one knows the exact reason. Privacy may be an argument for preventing your webcam from remaining active in an app you no longer use.

It could also be a technical limitation of earlier versions of Windows, when webcams still required a lot of processing power. Originally, these limitations also applied to audio and microphone, but this was previously fixed by Microsoft.

Basic mode

The Windows 11 24H2 update introduces an additional new camera mode: Basic fashion. This mode resets your webcam to its basic settings and functionality, making it easier for the average user to troubleshoot camera issues.

The update is expected in the fall and will introduce numerous new features. It will be the biggest and most important Windows update of the year.