I need to buy a bunch of laptops and I need to physically disable both the webcam and the microphone in those laptops. Disabling in software or the BIOS of similar will not be adequate for my use case… Physically snipping wires or simply physically removing the webcam and the microphone will be perfectly acceptable solutions for me, and if I then need to use webcams or microphones with these laptops then I will plug in external USB webcams and microphones/headsets. I would be grateful if someone could tell me how easy or hard it is to meet my requirements with both the Framework 16 and the Framework 13. Thanks.
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As far as I’m aware, both the 13 and the 16 have hardware switches for both the microphone and camera, which cuts power to the devices
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There’s a hardware switch that disconnects the device, and the device is self-repairable so if you want to validate that flipping the switch really unplugs it that’s something you can do as well. If after that you still decide you don’t trust it, I imagine you can simply remove the modules. My guess is it’d be easier than other devices.
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It depends on the use case.
- BIOS can switch them off
- There are physical switches at the top of the screen so the users can cut off the power to mic and webcam. i.e. even if there was a malicious virus, it could not switch the mic/webcam back on. The two switches have a “red” position and a “black” position. The “red” one is the off position.
- You can reach the mic and webcam pcb quite easily and actually remove the mic/webcam pcb.
You can go to the “support->products” page on the framework web site and watch the step by step guides on how to replace the mic and webcam pcb to see how easy it is.
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Thanks for the replies. A comment in the replies on the page you linked, @James3 suggests that the ambient light sensor is built into the webcam module. If I remove the module or switch it off, am I correct in thinking that functionality associated with the ambient light sensor (presumably auto-adjusting screen brightness?) will not work?
Is there an equivalent guide to the one that you linked for the microphone?
Re: ambient light sensor: The recently updated camera module doesn’t drop off USB when the hardware switch is set to “off”. Instead, it cuts off the feed and signals to the OS that the camera is off as well as feeding a static “camera off” image. It’s highly likely that the light sensor remains functional in this scenario.
See the FW video about it here:
That is extremely easy thanks to the easily removable bezel, one ribbon cable and a few screws, no glue no clips. If you really don’t need them it is very easy, reversible and slightly more reliable than the switches.
Hi! - greetings from Bogotá - Colombia 
I’m in need of just the ‘old’ webcam cable, Framework doesn’t sell it or replace it, you have to buy the whole lid, can you help me?
thanks
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Just to be sure, which cable are you talking about? Perhaps you could take a picture or mark it on one of Framework’s pictures.
The cables appear the same for all combinations of Framework Laptop 13 lid and webcams. I don’t think there is a different “old” cable.
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Other members can contact you using the direct message feature of this forum.
You are correct. You have to buy the whole lid to get a small cable. It does not seem like a good low e-waste solution, but that is all that is available in the FW marketplace.
Framework support will send out parts that aren’t available separately on the marketplace. I suspect his issue is that he obtained a Framework laptop in a non-supported country. Each country has their own laws & regulations that Framework needs to clear before they can do business with residents of a country. They can’t ship to non-supported countries.
Thanks, I meant that I have the ‘old webcam’ Gen11 first model 13 inch laptop.
Don’t know if the cable changed on latest models, so, that is the one I’m looking for, I don’t need the whole LID, so far I only lost the Mic, started failing at some angles when opening the lid, until finally completely failed, webcam still works, I can live with an external mic, … I guess that if I had the time, I might try to fix it, I’m just going to need an external webcam (just in case)
Hi!, I was not awared of the rule, but I completely understand, thanks
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Bought it in USA straight form Framework, - I have an address in USA - should not be a problem.
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Have you contacted support & asked if it’s possible to get a cable? I believe they’ve been able to provide parts which aren’t normally available separately for other people. Unless support has told you they can’t provide support, due to something about your purchase not complying with the terms of sale.
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