Microsoft released the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1542 (KB5041872) to the Dev Channel for the 24H2 version on Monday. This build includes a redesigned widget entry point on the taskbar, changes to taskbar keyboard navigation, fixes some known issues, and much more.
One of the biggest highlights of this update is introducing a hidden advanced configuration section for the “Camera” settings page, which includes two new webcam options. This was discovered by a trusted Windows 11 insider @PhantomOfEarth and revealed on X (formerly Twitter).
For those unaware, Microsoft Windows 11 currently allows you to use the camera only on one application, which means no other app can use the default Windows camera at the same time. However, this is expected to change with Windows 11 Build 26120.1542.
The newer Windows 11 24H2 preview builds will include two new features: “Multi-app Camera” and “Camera Basic Mode,” which are turned off by default.
To use either of these features, you must enable them. To toggle on the “Multi-app Camera” feature, go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Camera, then choose the camera you want to use and click “Advanced Camera Settings.” This will open a new window on the screen, allowing you to enable the multi-app camera streaming.
Toggling on the “Multi-app Camera” feature will allow multiple video apps to access the default camera simultaneously. However, this feature has certain limitations. Once the multi-app camera feature is enabled, camera settings such as Brightness can only be adjusted from this specific settings page.
On the other hand, when enabled, the “Camera Basic Mode” feature turns on basic camera streaming functionality, which can be used to debug serious camera issues when traditional methods, such as Windows Troubleshooter, have failed.
It is important to note that Microsoft has announced neither of the two advanced camera features mentioned above in its official release notes. We can expect to hear more about them in the upcoming Windows 11 preview builds.
Meanwhile, to enable the advanced camera configuration section on your PC running Windows 11 build 26120.1542 and test these two features, you will have to install the ViveTool app, manually enable the following IDs: 49575624, 50292326, and 48433719 in Windows 11, and restart your PC.
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