Customers who bought the Microsoft Surface Pro X have recently been reporting a strange bug: the tablets’ cameras no longer work. This applies to both the front and rear cameras. This is reported by several affected people Reddit and in Microsoft support forum.
The bug not only turns off the cameras, it also apparently prevents apps installed on the device from being able to access them. In short: the cameras can no longer be used. The reason seems to be an expired security certificate.
“We know how important it is to resolve this issue. We are here to help you”Microsoft wrote on twitter. The company is aware of the bug and is working on a solution.
Expired certificate as the cause
In the meantime, there is a workaround that can be used to bypass the error message. Customers accomplished this by manually setting their Surface Pro X’s system time to a time prior to May 23, 2023. Apparently the certificate expired on this day. If the system time is reset, the lock can be tricked.
Video: Microsoft Surface Pro X – Hands on
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Within Windows, this can be set in the system settings under the Time and language tab > Date and time. The automatic clock must be switched off there and then the time selected in the corresponding tab – Set date and time manually.
Alternatively, customers can also wait for an external fix from Microsoft. An incorrect time can lead to problems with other services and programs. Usually, expired certificates can be renewed relatively quickly. The only question is what priority the bug has at Microsoft.