[Windows App] Allow specifying which camera to use for setup-via-QR code

Hello @scottnm,

Thanks for your message about selecting a specific camera in 1Password on your surface pro laptop.

The 1Password app uses the OS's default settings. For example, Open and Fill opens the systems default browser you've set up in the OS.

Could you try switching the camera in the Camera app to the rear-facing camera and let us know if this helps:
How to use the Camera app - Microsoft Support

I'm looking forward to your reply.

Fiddling around with the camera in the default settings app did not change anything. I tried the following
* open camera app, switch camera to backfacing camera, close camera app, try to signin via QR in 1Password app
* open camera app, switch camera to frontfacing camera, close camera app, try to signin via QR in 1Password app
* open camera app, switch camera to backfacing camera, leave camera app open, try to signin via QR in 1Password app
* open camera app, switch camera to frontfacing camera, leave camera app open, try to signin via QR in 1Password app

In most cases, 1Password still only tried to use my frontfacing camera. The only exception was when I left the camera app open with the front facing camera. Then 1Password was just unable to activate any camera and so the QR scanner didn't work at all.

I was somewhat able to force 1Password to open the rear-camera by disabling the frontfacing camera in Device Manager per this article: https://www.lifewire.com/flip-camera-on-surface-pro-5191562

BUT this had its own problems. The image on the rear-facing camera was flipped and when the camera scanned the QR code it failed to complete login (I'm not really sure what's happening here. It just exits back to the login screen once it recognizes the QR code. There's no error message or anything but it's not logging in after scanning the QR code)

I have also tried flipping the QR code around and that didn't seem to fix it either.

Hello @scottnm,

I'm sorry this advice did not help and the article found caused other troubles.

I didn't want to leave this without a quick reply, but I've reached out to the wider team to see if someone has a surface pro laptop to help test things out. If not I'll get something filed for the development to help look in to this matter further.

While scanning the QR set up code is a quick and convenient way of signing in, I'd suggest using one of the other sign in methods in the meantime. For example, you can first:
1. Sign in to 1Password.com.
1. Select your name from the top of the right sidebar > "Get the apps".
1. Under Step two, click the Add your account directly button.
1. Select "Open 1Password for Windows desktop".
1. Sign in with your account password.

Thanks again for the report of this issue!

Hi @scottnm,

I've found a member of the team that will be able to help test things later in the day. I'm hopeful for some additional news for you tomorrow morning.

This seems more like a device specific issue with, 1) front-facing camera not properly focusing or, 2) the switch in default camera not being properly picked up as the default by Windows and allowing 1Password use it. In the meantime, could you take a look at this Microsoft Support guide and let us know if any steps help?
* Surface camera not working - Microsoft Support

The image on the rear-facing camera was flipped and when the camera scanned the QR code it failed to complete login (I'm not really sure what's happening here. It just exits back to the login screen once it recognizes the QR code. There's no error message or anything but it's not logging in after scanning the QR code)

I have also tried flipping the QR code around and that didn't seem to fix it either.

I also did some testing with a mirrored QR code. Either way, 1Password on my Windows device was able to see and recognize this set up code.

Could you confirm that you've been able to sign in to your account on this device using another method?

Please let me know!

Hello @scottnm,

Good morning and thanks patience here.

I've been in touch with our development team and your original request of a way for the 1Password app to select which camera to use is the best course of action. They were having similar troubles getting Windows itself to default to any camera other than the internal, on both Windows 10 and 11.

While can't make promises, I've gone ahead and filed this request with the Product team for consideration.

In the meantime, my best suggestion will be to use a method other than Scan Setup Code to sign in to your 1Password account on this device.

If you have any further questions or suggestions, please let us know!

ref: PB 37781091

Thanks @ag_mike_d ! Appreciate all your help. And yes I've been able to login via another method in the meantime. The computer where I was doing this login is a PC I keep around for test purposes and its fairly often reset to a clean boot. All that to say, having faster ways to sign in such as with the QR code will be very helpful to me as a 1Password user on this PC and I'm crossing my fingers that this feature will show up in the future :)

Hi @scottnm,

I hope you had a great weekend. I'm happy that your log in was successful with another method!

The teams is always looking to make improvements to 1Password and this type of feedback is most helpful. 🤞

Enjoy your week to come.