Enable or Disable Camera in Ubuntu Linux
Disabling your camera in Ubuntu Linux stops all programs from using it, which is great for protecting your privacy. Enabling it brings your camera back to life for video calls and other apps.
Ubuntu Linux usually sets up your camera automatically when you plug it in, often recognizing hardware like the Logitech C920 right away. You can easily check if your camera is working by opening the pre-installed Cheese app.
This guide shows you the simple steps to turn your camera on or off within Ubuntu’s settings.
Disable your Ubuntu camera by removing the uvcvideo kernel module using the command sudo modprobe -r uvcvideo. To permanently disable it, add ‘blacklist uvcvideo’ to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf. Re-enable by removing the blacklist entry and running sudo modprobe uvcvideo.
How to enable or disable the camera in Ubuntu Linux
With administrator access, you can disable and enable cameras for all users on the device. Here’s how to manage your Ubuntu camera settings.
Find the Camera driver module
The uvcvideo driver manages most webcams in Ubuntu Linux, controlling your Ubuntu camera settings. This driver is essential for your camera’s operation. Inspecting the system’s loaded drivers can help confirm if your camera uses this driver. Because Ubuntu doesn’t have a direct camera on/off switch, you can control camera access by managing the uvcvideo driver.
Most recent cameras and webcams in Ubuntu use UVC (USB Video Class) compliant drivers, which means they adhere to a standard for video devices. The generic uvcvideo kernel driver module in Ubuntu supports these drivers.
You can check this with a command to list the uvcvideo kernel driver module:
sudo lsmod | grep 'uvcvideo'
If the commands return nothing, then Ubuntu doesn’t recognize the camera or hasn’t installed a driver for it. If a camera is identified and drivers are loaded, you should see lines similar to these:
uvcvideo 106496 0 videobuf2_vmalloc 20480 1 uvcvideo videobuf2_v4l2 32768 1 uvcvideo videobuf2_common 77824 4 videobuf2_vmalloc,videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_memops videodev 258048 3 videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common mc 65536 4 videodev,videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
If you don’t get a similar result, it might mean a different camera driver is installed. Check these sites here and here for additional driver information.
Remove camera drivers from Ubuntu
You can disable your camera in Ubuntu by removing its driver with a command. Running `sudo modprobe -r uvcvideo` unloads the common webcam driver, turning off your camera. If an app is currently using the driver, close that app before running this command to disable your Ubuntu camera.
sudo modprobe -r uvcvideo
Remember to replace uvcvideo with any other driver names you found on your system.
If the camera is currently in use, you’ll see an error like this:
To disable the camera in Ubuntu Linux, first close any application currently using the camera. Then, run the specific command to disable the camera device. This action prevents the camera from being accessed by any software until it is re-enabled.
These commands temporarily remove the driver. A reboot will restore it. For permanent disabling, add the driver to a block list file. Run these commands to add the driver to ‘/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf’.
Drivers listed here are blocked indefinitely, preventing apps from accessing your camera.
echo 'blacklist uvcvideo' | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
Enable camera in Ubuntu Linux
If you previously disabled your camera in Ubuntu, you can easily turn it back on by loading its driver again. Running the command `sudo modprobe uvcvideo` adds the common webcam driver back to your system. This action should re-enable your Ubuntu camera, allowing you to use it again for video calls or taking photos.
sudo modprobe uvcvideo
That should do it!
Conclusion:
- Enabling or disabling the camera in Ubuntu Linux requires administrator access
- The uvcvideo kernel driver module is commonly used for recent camera and webcam drivers in Ubuntu
- Removing a camera driver using the modprobe command may require exiting the app using the camera
- Re-enabling the camera driver involves removing the blocklist entry and using the modprobe command
- Once disabled, apps will not have access to the camera
How do I check my camera settings on Ubuntu?
If you are using GNOME, you can check your webcam settings through the GNOME Control Center. Open Settings from the applications menu. Go to the “Devices” section and select “Camera” if available; this will show your connected webcams.
Is there a camera app for Ubuntu?
QtCAM is e-con’s open source Linux webcam software. This Qt Ubuntu camera application provides an easier user interface for capturing and viewing video from devices supported by the Linux UVC driver.
Was this guide helpful?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!