Camera Privacy Covers: What to Check Before You Buy

Choosing a camera privacy cover for laptops and monitors comes down to fit, webcam position, screen clearance, adhesive placement, how easily it slides open and closed, and how many devices you need to cover.

For laptops, the key check is whether the cover is slim and well placed enough to avoid pressure when the screen closes. For monitors, check whether there is a clean, flat surface around the webcam so the cover can sit properly.

If you use a hybrid work setup with a laptop and one or more external monitors, treat each camera separately. A cover that suits one screen may not be right for another.

What is a webcam privacy cover?

A webcam privacy cover is a small physical cover placed over a device camera lens.

Most designs slide open when you want to use the camera and slide closed when you do not. They are commonly used on laptops, monitors and shared work screens, especially in home office and desk setups where video calls are part of the day.

A camera cover is a simple workspace accessory. It is not a replacement for checking your device settings, app permissions or workplace IT guidance. It only deals with the camera lens.

What should you check before choosing a camera privacy cover?

Before buying a laptop camera cover or monitor camera cover, check the device itself rather than assuming every cover will fit every screen.

Here are the practical checks that matter most.

1. Check the camera position

Many laptops have the camera centred along the top edge of the screen. Some monitors have a different camera position, a raised camera area or a camera module built into the frame.

Before applying a cover, look closely at where the lens sits. The cover needs to line up with the webcam without blocking nearby features.

Check for:

• Indicator lights
• Microphone holes
• Sensors near the camera
• Raised camera surrounds
• Curved areas around the lens

If your monitor has a camera in an unusual position, measure the available space around it before buying.

2. Check the space around the webcam

A camera cover usually needs a clean, flat area around the lens so the adhesive can sit correctly.

Very narrow bezels can leave less room. Curved, textured or uneven surfaces may also make adhesive placement harder.

For a home office laptop, this might be a thin top bezel. For a shared office monitor, it might be a raised camera section with limited flat surface around the lens.

Before fitting any cover, wipe the area gently and check that the cover can sit flat without overhanging the screen edge.

3. Check laptop screen clearance

This is the most important check for a laptop.

A laptop camera cover sits between the screen and the keyboard area when the laptop closes. If the cover is too thick or placed badly, it could create pressure when the lid is shut.

Before applying any laptop camera cover, check your device guidance and make sure the cover does not affect how the screen closes.

Practical steps:

• Place the cover loosely first to check alignment
• Do not press the adhesive down until you are happy with the position
• Close the lid gently the first time
• Stop if you feel resistance
• Never force a laptop shut

This matters most if you carry your laptop between home, the office, university or client sites.

4. Check how easy it is to open and close

If you join regular video calls, the cover should be easy to slide open quickly.

A cover that is stiff, awkwardly placed or too small to handle comfortably may become annoying in daily use. It may also lead to rushed opening before a call, which can shift the cover or leave the camera partly blocked.

Think about your routine:

• Do you join several video calls a day?
• Do you switch between laptop camera and monitor camera?
• Do you use a shared workstation?
• Do you need the cover to be obvious enough to check at a glance?

Good placement makes everyday use simpler.

5. Check whether you need one cover or a pack

Count every device you want to cover.

For many UK desk setups, that might include:

• A work laptop
• A personal laptop
• A monitor with a built-in camera
• A spare laptop used by the household
• Shared office screens
• Hot desk devices

If you manage a small team or shared workspace, buying single covers one at a time may be less practical than choosing a pack.

A multi-pack is also useful if you want a consistent setup across several desks.

6. Check that it suits your workspace, not just the device

A camera cover is only one part of a practical desk setup.

You may also be thinking about visual privacy, screen comfort, workstation layout and keeping your desk tidy. For example, a hybrid worker might use one cover on a laptop at home and another on a monitor in the office.

The right choice should fit the way you actually work, not just the device model.

Laptop camera cover vs monitor camera cover: what changes?

A cover may look simple, but laptops and monitors create different fitting questions.

Laptop camera cover checks

For a laptop, focus on screen clearance first.

Check:

• Whether the laptop closes normally with the cover in place
• Whether the bezel is wide enough for adhesive placement
• Whether the cover lines up with the camera lens
• Whether it avoids sensors or indicator lights
• Whether it slides open easily before calls
• Whether you have positioned it correctly before pressing it down

If anything feels tight when closing the laptop, stop and reassess the fit.

Monitor camera cover checks

For a monitor, the main question is whether the camera area gives you enough flat space.

Check:

• Whether the monitor has a built-in camera
• Whether the camera area is flat enough for a cover
• Whether the cover would block a light, sensor or microphone opening
• Whether the camera is raised or recessed
• Whether you have more than one monitor to cover
• Whether the monitor is used by several people

Do not assume a monitor camera cover will work on every screen shape. Look at the actual camera area before applying it.

Are camera privacy covers enough on their own?

A camera privacy cover only covers the camera lens.

It does not manage microphone access. It does not control which apps can use your camera. It does not replace device privacy settings, software updates or workplace IT advice.

For many people, it is still a useful physical reminder. If the cover is closed, you can see at a glance that the lens is covered. If you need to join a video call, you slide it open.

A sensible setup may include both:

• A physical webcam privacy cover
• Device and app permission checks
• Workplace IT guidance where relevant
• Careful use of video call settings

This is especially useful on shared desks, student desks and home office setups where devices are used throughout the day.

A practical option from ReFind Commerce

If you are setting up several laptops, monitors or shared workstations, the 25 ReFind camera covers pack is a practical option to consider.

It is a Camera Cover product in the ReFind Commerce Office & Workspace range, positioned as a simple workspace accessory for camera coverage across a desk setup.

The current catalogue price is £7.99.

It may suit users who want to cover multiple devices in one home office, small business workspace or shared desk area. As with any camera cover, check each device before applying it, especially laptop screen clearance and the available flat surface around the webcam.

Related workspace privacy accessories

Camera covers deal with the webcam lens. Other workspace accessories can help with layout, visual separation or screen-use problems in a desk setup.

Useful related options from ReFind Commerce include:

• ReFind Desk Divider - for workspace layout and visual separation
• ReFind Desk Divider Pro - for workspace privacy, focus and desk setup
• ReFind Computer Shade - for screen-use and desk setup problems

These are not substitutes for a webcam privacy cover. They are simply related accessories for people organising a more practical workspace.

Final buying checklist

Before choosing a camera privacy cover for laptops and monitors, run through this quick checklist:

• Does it line up with your webcam?
• Is there enough clean, flat space around the camera?
• Will your laptop close without pressure?
• Is it easy to slide open before video calls?
• Does it avoid blocking nearby lights, sensors or microphone openings?
• Do you need covers for more than one device?
• Have you checked your device guidance before applying it?
• Have you tested the fit gently before pressing the adhesive down fully?

If you are covering several laptops or monitors, view the 25 ReFind camera covers at ReFind Commerce.

FAQs

Can I use a camera privacy cover on both laptops and monitors?

Often, yes, but it depends on the camera position, surface shape and available space around the webcam.

Laptops also need a screen clearance check before closing. Monitors need enough flat space around the built-in camera for the cover to sit properly.

Will a laptop camera cover stop my laptop closing properly?

It can if the cover is too thick or poorly placed.

Always check the fit before fully closing the lid, and follow any device guidance. Close the laptop gently the first time after fitting. Do not force it shut if you feel resistance.

Is a webcam privacy cover the same as changing camera permissions?

No.

A webcam privacy cover is a physical cover for the lens. Camera permissions are controlled through your device or app settings.

Many users consider both as part of their workspace setup.

How many camera covers do I need?

Count each device with a camera.

That may include laptops, monitors, shared workstations and spare devices used at home or in the office. A pack can be useful if you are setting up several devices at once.

What should I avoid when fitting a camera cover?

Avoid placing it over sensors, indicator lights, microphone holes or the edge of the screen.

Do not press the adhesive down until you are happy with the position. Do not force a laptop shut if the cover creates resistance.