I'm applying for a job that requires a camera-based assessment through Chrome. Chrome and Discord both show two camera options: my actual webcam and a leftover device called "Twitch Virtual Cam." I completely uninstalled Twitch Studio, which is no longer available to reinstall, and removed files containing "Twitch" from my computer. I also searched the registry and checked Device Manager with hidden devices enabled, but only my real webcam appears there. The virtual camera has disappeared from Streamlabs, yet it still appears in Chrome and Discord. The assessment website detects multiple cameras regardless of which one is selected, so I need to remove the obsolete virtual-camera entry entirely.
3 Answers
Chrome can keep an old camera list cached while background processes are still running. Quit Chrome completely, verify that no chrome.exe processes remain in Task Manager, remove any confirmed leftover camera registrations, and restart the computer. If the assessment still sees the extra device afterward, try a fresh Chrome profile or another browser temporarily; that can help determine whether the problem is Windows registration or the browser’s cached device list.
This type of leftover device may be stored under Windows’ camera and DirectShow registration keys, which explains why it doesn’t show in Device Manager. The relevant CLSID locations are HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{860BB310-5D01-11d0-BD3B-00A0C911CE86} and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{A3FCE0F5-3493-419F-958A-ABA1250EC20B}. Look for an Instances subkey and remove only entries that clearly identify the obsolete Twitch camera. Export the keys first so you can restore them if needed, then reboot.
Because it appears in multiple applications but not Device Manager, it’s probably a leftover DirectShow or Windows camera registration from Twitch Studio rather than an actual installed device. You can select your real webcam under Chrome’s camera permissions, but some assessment sites still reject the presence of a second camera. Before changing anything else, fully close Chrome and back up the registry. Then search the registry across HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT for “Twitch Virtual” and remove only entries clearly associated with that obsolete camera. Restart Windows before opening Chrome again.
Selecting my real webcam doesn’t solve it because the assessment site detects that multiple cameras exist. I already removed one matching registry entry, but the virtual camera still appears afterward.
I checked those locations. Only the first key produced a result, and removing it did not make the camera disappear. Twitch Virtual Cam also isn’t listed anywhere in Device Manager, even with hidden devices enabled.