If you leave your laptop’s front camera open, you can easily become the victim of a huge privacy breach. Many people solve this problem in a quick and easy way by simply attaching a post-it sticky note on top of the lens to cover it up. But we’re in the era of online classes and working from home, so you might need to use your webcam or laptop camera several times throughout the day, which means the ideal solution is a cover with a slider that can easily be opened and closed.
So far, we’ve gone over some of our favorite laptop camera covers that you can order for yourself, but there’s still some explaining left to do. You’ll only order one of these for your laptop, so here’s everything you need to know to make the right decision.
The first step is to make sure that a laptop camera cover is compatible with your target device before you purchase it. No matter how high-quality or effective the camera cover is, it’s of no use if it simply doesn’t fit the device that you’re planning to put it on.
Some camera covers are specifically designed for MacBooks, while others are thick enough to pose a threat to the screen’s safety. These camera covers can sometimes act as an elevated point of contact, which means most of the pressure upon impact gets directed to one area of the screen, causing it to shatter. Remember to check online reviews and the product’s compatibility sheet to make sure this doesn’t happen to you.
Next, you need to be aware of the quality and longevity of the adhesive that’s used on a laptop camera cover. Since the adhesive is the only thing that keeps the cover on your device, it’s essentially a direct determinant of how long it’ll last before you need to switch it out with a new one.
Your best bet is to go with one that comes with a 3M adhesive. It’ll stay locked in a position that’s perfectly aligned with the cutout and you won’t have to worry about flicking it off on accident every time you slide it to the open or closed position.
The thinnest laptop camera covers start at about 0.023 inches, like the CloudValley cover at the top of our list. Unless you have an extremely sleek laptop, you should be fine with a cover that’s 0.027 inches thick. Any thicker than that and you’d be putting your laptop screen at risk, especially if there’s no wiggle room available in your particular device or model.
Sometimes thick covers can prevent the laptop’s lid from closing completely. This means that when you close the lid, the laptop doesn’t really go to sleep, which has a huge impact on its day-to-day battery life.
A laptop camera cover is a tiny piece of plastic with the sole purpose of covering your camera up and ensuring your computer privacy. For such a small object, there’s no point wasting half an hour just to install it properly. Some poorly designed laptop camera covers can unfortunately take that long to set up. Some even require you to watch a video to get it right!
Steer clear of those options. Instead, choose a laptop cover that requires you to peel off the cover on the 3M adhesive, position it right, and press on it for three to five minutes.
As soon as you begin browsing for a laptop camera cover, you’ll be able to see that there are hundreds of brands that produce these camera covers. Be cautious as not all of them offer the same reliability and quality. Some of the most accepted brands on the marketplace are CloudValley, C-slide, XBrand, Mesmos, Yilador, Sireg, Targus, Pulabo, DD Gaming, and Privise.
All of the manufacturers mentioned above have a strong reputation and hundreds of customers that are loyal to their name. You can certainly rely on them to get the job done.
A laptop camera cover is going to be a permanently installed accessory so there’s no reason why it shouldn’t look good! It can closely match the theme of your laptop through similar colors, or you can go with a funky design or pattern. Whatever speaks to your personal style should do the trick.
The number one position on our list goes to the CloudValley Laptop Camera Cover. It’s simple to use and has a compact, minimalistic build, all of which gets the job done. This laptop camera cover is designed to be compatible with a wide range of laptops including the 13 and 15-inch Apple MacBooks, along with iPads, Android tablets, and various laptop models from computer manufacturers like Acer, HP, Dell, and Asus.
With an easy, simple installation process, simply press this camera cover for 15 seconds against the camera cutout of your device and you’re all set! You can conveniently flip the slider to hide or reveal the camera as needed. This is the only camera cover on our list that comes in trendy colors like blue, white, pink, and black, earning it our best overall award.
If you’re tired of your cover falling off all the time, the Yilador Laptop Camera Cover is for you! It comes with a 3M adhesive that allows it to remain on your laptop camera for longer, no matter how many times you snap it open or closed, or how much your laptop heats up. But even if one of them falls off, you still have two more to replace it with since this one comes as a three-pack.
If that’s not enough for you, you can also get it in packs of six and nine for a slight bump in price.
If you want your laptop accessories to add some character to your device, have a close look at the Mesmos Laptop Camera Cover. It’s a six-pack that comes at an affordable price, yet has adorable plant faces drawn on each one. This camera cover is by far the most stylish option to cover your camera with, whether you’re using an iPhone, an iPad, a Macbook, or an iMac.
This camera cover is a wonderful addition to the front of your smartphone to keep you safe from hackers.
If you’re a value seeker like us and want to get the biggest bang for your buck, then the XBrand Laptop Camera Cover is exactly what you’re looking for. For such a small price, you get a pack of six high-quality covers that are all designed to be long-lasting. These camera covers have a durable adhesive lining that keeps them stuck to your device for months.
Even though they’re high-quality and don’t need to be replaced often, having six of them allows you to secure almost all of your devices with a single purchase.
Lastly, the C-slide Laptop Cover takes the final spot on our list. Unlike the three, six, and nine-packs listed above, this cover ships as a single piece. But there are several color options and patterns to choose from, including black, white, silver, and one with the American flag on it.
This camera cover is also super easy to install and use. You just need to peel off the 3M adhesive cover, position it directly over the camera, and apply some pressure for a few seconds — that’s it! This camera cover is compatible with iPads, iPhones, and MacBooks.
A: Unfortunately, yes. Like any other tech device, the camera integrated into your laptop’s screen can be hacked and can be used to breach your privacy. But with a physical laptop camera cover installed, all they’ll see is black.
A: Yes, it’s worth covering up for many reasons. Security experts often suggest covering up your laptop camera as your first and most important line of defense against hackers. It’s one of the most effective forms of cybersecurity and can be achieved by something as simple as putting a post-it note over your camera.
A: Yes, unless it’s too thick for your device. We suggest looking for a laptop camera cover that’s as thin as paper, or somewhere under the thickness range of 0.027 inches.