How it works
- Choose the microphone, the camera, or either, and optionally an app such as Zoom or Teams; leave the app empty for any app.
- It reads the same record Windows uses for its own mic and camera privacy indicator.
- When true it tells you which app is using the device.
- Inside Wait until it wakes as soon as an app starts or stops using the device.
Routines that use it
No shutdown mid-call
Before a nightly Shut down step, check that no app is using the microphone, and skip it if you're still talking.
Wait for the call to end
Wait until the camera is no longer in use by Teams, then Set volume turns your music back up.
Meeting-aware hotkey
A hotkey plays music only when the mic isn't in use, otherwise Show banner reminds you that you're on a call.
Good to know
- Experimental: Windows keeps this information for its privacy indicator but doesn't officially document it.
- Apps that use the mic or camera without going through Windows' normal capture system aren't seen.
Questions
- How can I tell if Zoom or Teams is using my camera?
- Use Mic or camera in use, set the device to the camera and type Zoom or Teams as the app. It's true while that app has the camera on.
- Is this the same as the microphone icon in the taskbar?
- It uses the same information Windows uses for that privacy indicator, so it generally agrees with it.