A shutter for the camera
A webcam cover is a small sliding shutter that sticks to the frame round your laptop's camera. Slide it one way and the lens is covered; slide it back for a call. It gives you something you can see and touch, rather than trusting a setting. Many people fit one on a work laptop, a child's laptop or a shared family computer, and the same covers fit tablets, phones and desk monitors with a built-in camera.
What is in this range
- Stick-on sliders in black or white plastic, with a sticky pad on the back. They come singly or in packs, up to a hundred for an office.
- Round caps for external webcams fit over the lens of a separate webcam, in two sizes, and keep dust off it too.
Where the thickness is given, the sliders here are around 0.7mm to 1mm.
Before fitting one to a MacBook
Apple asks people not to close a MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with a camera cover on it that is thicker than 0.1mm, about a sheet of printer paper, because the gap between the closed screen and the keyboard is very small and the display can be damaged. The sliders here that give a thickness are all well over that. So on a MacBook, take the cover off before closing the lid, or rely on the green light instead: Apple says it comes on whenever the camera is on, and the camera cannot run without it. Apple adds that a cover can block the light sensor that sets automatic brightness. On other laptops, check the gap before fitting by closing the lid slowly over the cover.
Questions people ask about webcam covers
Will it leave a mark?
Most peel off cleanly. Clean the frame first, press the cover on firmly, and keep it clear of the screen itself.
Does a cover stop the microphone too?
No. It only covers the lens. To control which apps can use the camera and microphone, use the settings: Privacy & security on Windows, and Privacy & Security in System Settings on a Mac.
Do any webcams come with a cover built in?
Yes, a few webcams here have a privacy shutter of their own, which closes over the lens on the webcam itself.
Is it safe for small children?
The covers are small parts, so keep spare ones away from young children.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that pack usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.
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