FIX: Error 0xa00f4246 on Windows 10/11 for good

Some Camera app users have discussed a Windows 10 error 0xa00f4246 on forums. That’s an error that arises when users try to utilize their integrated or external webcams with Camera and other apps.

The error message states: “Can’t start your camera… If you need it, here’s the error code: 0xa00f4246 (0x887A0004).” Consequently, users can’t record anything with their webcams. Some of the resolutions below might fix Windows 10 error 0xa00f4246.

Can’t start your camera on Windows 10? Try these solutions

1. Open the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
2. Check the Camera Settings
3. Edit the Registry
4. Update the Webcam’s Driver

1. Open the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

First, try fixing the issue with some of Windows 10’s troubleshooters. They don’t always provide a fix, but those troubleshooters are worth noting nonetheless.

The Windows Store Apps troubleshooter might provide some resolutions for users who try to utilize the webcam with Camera and other UWP apps. This is how users can open that troubleshooter.

1. Press the Windows key + Q keyboard shortcut to open Cortana.
2. Enter troubleshoot as the keyword in Cortana’s search box.
3. Select Troubleshoot settings to open the window in the shot directly below.
4. Select the Windows Store App and click Run the troubleshooter to open the window shown below.
5. Thereafter, go through the troubleshooter’s suggested fixes.

3. Check the Camera Settings

Settings include options with which users can configure apps to access the webcam. Some users might need to adjust those settings to ensure that the required apps can utilize the camera. This is how users can check the camera settings.

1. Press the Type here to search button to open Cortana.
2. Input camera in the search box.
3. Click Camera privacy settings to open the window in the shot directly below.
4. First, check that the Allow apps to access your camera setting is on. If not, toggle that option on.
5. Make sure that the app you’re trying to utilize the webcam with is toggled on under Choose which apps can access your camera.
6. In addition, users can try toggling off webcam apps that they don’t need to utilize. That will ensure there aren’t any webcam app conflicts.

4. Edit the Registry

Users have confirmed that editing the registry fixes Windows 10 error 0xa00f4246. So, editing the registry is probably one of the best resolutions. Just edit the registry exactly like this.

1. Right-click the Start menu and select Run.
2. Input regedit in Run and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. Browse to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
   Microsoft\Windows Media Foundation.
4. Then select Platform on the left the Registry Editor’s window.
5. Right-click an empty space on the right side of the Registry Editor window to open a context menu.
6. Then select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value on the context menu.
7. Next, enter EnableFrameServerMode as the title for the new DWORD.
8. Double-click EnableFrameServerMode to open an Edit DWORD window.
9. Enter ‘0’ in the Value data box as shown below.
10. Select the OK option to close the Edit DWORD window.
11. Then close the Registry Editor’s window.
12. Restart Windows after editing the registry.

So, that’s how users can fix Windows 10 error 0xa00f4246. Editing the registry usually does the trick for most users. If error 0xa00f4246 arises after a Windows update, rolling back recent updates with System Restore might also resolve the issue.