DamienG

Using your Xbox Kinect as a webcam for Skype on Windows

Thanks should go to ScottOrange on the MSDN forums however it’s along thread that has lots of pieces to pick out and try.

Still getting odd noise, corruption and other issues in Skype. Wouldn’t recommend using a Kinect as a webcam on Windows right now.

What worked for me (eventually):

  1. Download the Kinect SDK from Microsoft
  2. Install the Visual Studio 2010 Runtime if you don’t already have it
  3. Go to the KinectCPP site and download KINECTSQM.DLL and MSRKINECTNUI.DLL
  4. Create a folder for your Kinect camera drivers to live and copy those two files there
  5. Go to Wildbill’s GitHub repo and download the three files there into the same folder
  6. Open a Command Prompt as Administrator and CD into the folder
  7. Type install and press return

You should get a success message. If you don’t then you probably missed steps 2 or 3 — if all else fails open KinectCam.ax in Dependency Walker and see which DLL it claims it can’t find. (the IESHIM one missing is fine)

Restart Skype and see if it shows up in the list of cameras. If it doesn’t.

  1. Quit Skype entirely
  2. Go to %appdata%\Skype\shared_dynco in Windows Explorer
  3. Delete dc.db
  4. Restart Skype

[)amien

11 responses to Using your Xbox Kinect as a webcam for Skype on Windows

  1. Avatar for

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  2. Avatar for greg
    greg

    I can see this is an old thread, but I’ll add my two cents because I ran across this. The kinects used to come with an external powered usb adapter, but the new xboxes have the proprietary connectors built in. You can by the powered adapter on amazon for like $3 and with it you can hook it to any computer.

  3. Avatar for William
    William

    Hey guys. Not sure about this method, about to try and cut off the original end off of a kinect 2 sensor and replace with an external power supply and a new USB 3.0 for pc. Running the kinect SDK developer software, fimgers crossed, will update when done !

  4. Avatar for Damien Guard
    Damien Guard

    Did your Kinect come with your Xbox? If so it may not have the separate cable and power supply that standalone models came with to allow them to attach to the older non-slim models which only had regular USB… and a PC.

  5. Avatar for Mike Bethany
    Mike Bethany

    You’re missing a fairly important piece of information: HOW DO YOU PLUG IT INTO A COMPUTER!

    The cable end is proprietary.

  7. Avatar for Tooru_
    Tooru_

    Did you sorted this for Windows 8? Specifically asking for Skype for Windows 8 and Lync 2013.

  9. Avatar for Sking
    Sking

    I just tried it and Kinect Cam shows up on Skype, but it only shows hi-res static.

  10. Avatar for Damien Guard
    Damien Guard

    This is the method that works for me — I’m using the camera daily. Sometimes however Skype can’t see it and I have to restart Skype and then it’s usable again.

    Never seen a logo of Kinect on mine or a blank screen. It either doesn’t show as a device or it works.

    In device manager I see Microsoft Kinect as a top level item with four sub-items of Audio Array, Camera, Device and Security Control.

  11. Avatar for GregW
    GregW

    Doesnt work, Ive tried this method and about 3 others across the web and I still cant get a video stream to show up in video chat.

    All I get is a backwards logo of KinectCam or a black screen. Any idea what Im doing wrong? Thanks.

  12. Avatar for Carlo
    Carlo

    What’s the quality like on it? I’m assuming it’s pretty god to go through all that to get it working? Add some screenies Damo :)