[SOLVED] Webcam is a black still image

Megido · 2026-08-20 07:04:06

Hi, just installed Arch on this Lenovo LOQ 15IRX10 laptop. The integrated camera device is detected but when an app enables it, the LED powers on for less than a second and it shows a black image, even if the OS considers it as active still.

[megi@artema ~]$ v4l2-ctl --list-devices
Integrated Camera: Integrated C (usb-0000:00:14.0-6):
        /dev/video0
        /dev/video1
        /dev/media0

[megi@artema ~]$ v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 --list-ctrls

User Controls

                     brightness 0x00980900 (int)    : min=0 max=255 step=1 default=128 value=128 flags=has-min-max
                       contrast 0x00980901 (int)    : min=0 max=100 step=1 default=32 value=32 flags=has-min-max
                     saturation 0x00980902 (int)    : min=0 max=100 step=1 default=64 value=64 flags=has-min-max
                            hue 0x00980903 (int)    : min=-180 max=180 step=1 default=0 value=0 flags=has-min-max
        white_balance_automatic 0x0098090c (bool)   : default=1 value=1
                          gamma 0x00980910 (int)    : min=90 max=150 step=1 default=120 value=120 flags=has-min-max
           power_line_frequency 0x00980918 (menu)   : min=0 max=2 default=1 value=1 (50 Hz)
      white_balance_temperature 0x0098091a (int)    : min=2800 max=6500 step=10 default=4600 value=4600 flags=inactive, has-min-max
                      sharpness 0x0098091b (int)    : min=0 max=7 step=1 default=3 value=3 flags=has-min-max
         backlight_compensation 0x0098091c (int)    : min=0 max=2 step=1 default=1 value=1 flags=has-min-max
   region_of_interest_rectangle 0x00981ae1 (rect)   : value=(0,0)/1x1 flags=has-payload, has-min-max
  region_of_interest_auto_ctrls 0x00981ae2 (bitmask): max=0x00000001 default=0x00000001 value=0x00000000 flags=has-min-max

Camera Controls

                  auto_exposure 0x009a0901 (menu)   : min=0 max=3 default=3 value=3 (Aperture Priority Mode)
         exposure_time_absolute 0x009a0902 (int)    : min=2 max=1250 step=1 default=156 value=156 flags=inactive, has-min-max
     exposure_dynamic_framerate 0x009a0903 (bool)   : default=0 value=1
                        privacy 0x009a0910 (bool)   : default=0 value=1 flags=read-only

Last edited by Megido (2026-08-20 12:09:45)

Lone_Wolf · 2026-08-20 09:01:20

Unfortunately none of those outputs show what type and model webcam is used.

Please post the output of lsusb -tv .

Megido · 2026-08-20 09:36:55

Lone_Wolf wrote:

Unfortunately none of those outputs show what type and model webcam is used.
Please post the output of lsusb -tv .

Sure!

[megi@artema ~]$ lsusb -tv
/:  Bus 001.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/16p, 480M
    ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
    |__ Port 003: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M
        ID 145f:0254 Trust 
    |__ Port 003: Dev 002, If 2, Class=Audio, Driver=snd-usb-audio, 12M
        ID 145f:0254 Trust 
    |__ Port 003: Dev 002, If 3, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
        ID 145f:0254 Trust 
    |__ Port 004: Dev 003, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M
        ID 0db0:0b30 Micro Star International 
    |__ Port 004: Dev 003, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M
        ID 0db0:0b30 Micro Star International 
    |__ Port 006: Dev 004, If 0, Class=Video, Driver=uvcvideo, 480M
        ID 5986:11ad Bison Electronics Inc. 
    |__ Port 006: Dev 004, If 1, Class=Video, Driver=uvcvideo, 480M
        ID 5986:11ad Bison Electronics Inc. 
    |__ Port 006: Dev 004, If 2, Class=Application Specific Interface, Driver=[none], 480M
        ID 5986:11ad Bison Electronics Inc. 
    |__ Port 008: Dev 005, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
        ID 048d:c693 Integrated Technology Express, Inc. 
    |__ Port 008: Dev 005, If 1, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
        ID 048d:c693 Integrated Technology Express, Inc. 
    |__ Port 014: Dev 006, If 0, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M
        ID 8087:0026 Intel Corp. AX201 Bluetooth
    |__ Port 014: Dev 006, If 1, Class=Wireless, Driver=btusb, 12M
        ID 8087:0026 Intel Corp. AX201 Bluetooth
/:  Bus 002.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/9p, 20000M/x2
    ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub

Lone_Wolf · 2026-08-20 10:27:31

Found it on https://linux-hardware.org/?id=usb:5986-11ad , should be supported fine.

Can you verify basic functionality dor video0 , video1 and media0 with qv4l2 ?
man qv4l2 has details how it works .

Megido · 2026-08-20 11:46:50

Lone_Wolf wrote:

Found it on https://linux-hardware.org/?id=usb:5986-11ad , should be supported fine.
Can you verify basic functionality dor video0 , video1 and media0 with qv4l2 ?
man qv4l2 has details how it works .

All three open, but still, /dev/video0 which is the integrated cam shows a black opengl window. https://imgur.com/a/p5BgOiE

dimich · 2026-08-20 11:56:36

Sanity check: what E-shutter privacy switch state is?

Megido · 2026-08-20 12:07:39

dimich wrote:

Sanity check: what E-shutter privacy switch state is?

I assume you refer to some switch or Fn key, but I can't find any related to the camera. The webcam doesn't have a lid or button.

Megido · 2026-08-20 12:09:29

Welp, there is a switch on the side of the laptop. That did it. Thank you both!

Arch Linux

#1 2026-08-20 07:04:06

[SOLVED] Webcam is a black still image

#2 2026-08-20 09:01:20

Re: [SOLVED] Webcam is a black still image

#3 2026-08-20 09:36:55

Re: [SOLVED] Webcam is a black still image

#4 2026-08-20 10:27:31

Re: [SOLVED] Webcam is a black still image

#5 2026-08-20 11:46:50

Re: [SOLVED] Webcam is a black still image

#6 2026-08-20 11:56:36

Re: [SOLVED] Webcam is a black still image

#7 2026-08-20 12:07:39

Re: [SOLVED] Webcam is a black still image

#8 2026-08-20 12:09:29

Re: [SOLVED] Webcam is a black still image

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