diff --git a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ffmpeg.cmake b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ffmpeg.cmake
index 1d4faa8394..dd5eefaac9 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ffmpeg.cmake
+++ b/modules/videoio/cmake/detect_ffmpeg.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # --- FFMPEG ---
-OCV_OPTION(OPENCV_FFMPEG_ENABLE_LIBAVDEVICE "Include FFMPEG/libavdevice library support." OFF
+OCV_OPTION(OPENCV_FFMPEG_ENABLE_LIBAVDEVICE "Include FFMPEG/libavdevice library support." ON
   VISIBLE_IF WITH_FFMPEG)
 
 if(NOT HAVE_FFMPEG AND OPENCV_FFMPEG_USE_FIND_PACKAGE)
diff --git a/modules/videoio/src/cap_ffmpeg.cpp b/modules/videoio/src/cap_ffmpeg.cpp
index cc62920c74..09ed1f43c2 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/src/cap_ffmpeg.cpp
+++ b/modules/videoio/src/cap_ffmpeg.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@ public:
     {
         open(filename, params);
     }
+    CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(int index, const cv::VideoCaptureParameters& params)
+        : ffmpegCapture(NULL)
+    {
+        open(index, params);
+    }
     CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(const Ptr<IStreamReader>& stream, const cv::VideoCaptureParameters& params)
         : ffmpegCapture(NULL)
     {
@@ -127,6 +132,13 @@ public:
         ffmpegCapture = cvCreateFileCaptureWithParams_FFMPEG(filename.c_str(), params);
         return ffmpegCapture != 0;
     }
+    bool open(int index, const cv::VideoCaptureParameters& params)
+    {
+        close();
+
+        ffmpegCapture = cvCreateFileCaptureWithParams_FFMPEG(index, params);
+        return ffmpegCapture != 0;
+    }
     bool open(const Ptr<IStreamReader>& stream, const cv::VideoCaptureParameters& params)
     {
         close();
@@ -161,6 +173,14 @@ cv::Ptr<cv::IVideoCapture> cvCreateFileCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(const std::string &f
     return cv::Ptr<cv::IVideoCapture>();
 }
 
+cv::Ptr<cv::IVideoCapture> cvCreateCameraCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(int index, const cv::VideoCaptureParameters& params)
+{
+    cv::Ptr<CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy> capture = cv::makePtr<CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy>(index, params);
+    if (capture && capture->isOpened())
+        return capture;
+    return cv::Ptr<cv::IVideoCapture>();
+}
+
 cv::Ptr<cv::IVideoCapture> cvCreateStreamCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(const Ptr<IStreamReader>& stream, const cv::VideoCaptureParameters& params)
 {
     cv::Ptr<CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy> capture = std::make_shared<CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy>(stream, params);
@@ -272,13 +292,15 @@ CvResult CV_API_CALL cv_capture_open(const char* filename, int camera_index, CV_
     if (!handle)
         return CV_ERROR_FAIL;
     *handle = NULL;
-    if (!filename)
+    if (!filename && camera_index < 0)
         return CV_ERROR_FAIL;
-    CV_UNUSED(camera_index);
     CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy *cap = 0;
     try
     {
-        cap = new CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(String(filename), cv::VideoCaptureParameters());
+        if (filename)
+            cap = new CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(String(filename), cv::VideoCaptureParameters());
+        else
+            cap = new CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(camera_index, cv::VideoCaptureParameters());
         if (cap->isOpened())
         {
             *handle = (CvPluginCapture)cap;
@@ -308,14 +330,16 @@ CvResult CV_API_CALL cv_capture_open_with_params(
     if (!handle)
         return CV_ERROR_FAIL;
     *handle = NULL;
-    if (!filename)
+    if (!filename && camera_index < 0)
         return CV_ERROR_FAIL;
-    CV_UNUSED(camera_index);
     CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy *cap = 0;
     try
     {
         cv::VideoCaptureParameters parameters(params, n_params);
-        cap = new CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(String(filename), parameters);
+        if (filename)
+            cap = new CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(String(filename), parameters);
+        else
+            cap = new CvCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(camera_index, parameters);
         if (cap->isOpened())
         {
             *handle = (CvPluginCapture)cap;
diff --git a/modules/videoio/src/cap_ffmpeg_impl.hpp b/modules/videoio/src/cap_ffmpeg_impl.hpp
index 6d7749d21c..7834c59111 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/src/cap_ffmpeg_impl.hpp
+++ b/modules/videoio/src/cap_ffmpeg_impl.hpp
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ inline static std::string _opencv_ffmpeg_get_error_string(int error_code)
 
 struct CvCapture_FFMPEG
 {
-    bool open(const char* filename, const Ptr<IStreamReader>& stream, const VideoCaptureParameters& params);
+    bool open(const char* filename, int index, const Ptr<IStreamReader>& stream, const VideoCaptureParameters& params);
     void close();
 
     double getProperty(int) const;
@@ -1043,7 +1043,7 @@ static bool isThreadSafe() {
     return threadSafe;
 }
 
-bool CvCapture_FFMPEG::open(const char* _filename, const Ptr<IStreamReader>& stream, const VideoCaptureParameters& params)
+bool CvCapture_FFMPEG::open(const char* _filename, int index, const Ptr<IStreamReader>& stream, const VideoCaptureParameters& params)
 {
     const bool threadSafe = isThreadSafe();
     InternalFFMpegRegister::init(threadSafe);
@@ -1145,16 +1145,6 @@ bool CvCapture_FFMPEG::open(const char* _filename, const Ptr<IStreamReader>& str
         }
     }
 
-#if USE_AV_INTERRUPT_CALLBACK
-    /* interrupt callback */
-    interrupt_metadata.timeout_after_ms = open_timeout;
-    get_monotonic_time(&interrupt_metadata.value);
-
-    ic = avformat_alloc_context();
-    ic->interrupt_callback.callback = _opencv_ffmpeg_interrupt_callback;
-    ic->interrupt_callback.opaque = &interrupt_metadata;
-#endif
-
     std::string options = utils::getConfigurationParameterString("OPENCV_FFMPEG_CAPTURE_OPTIONS");
     if (options.empty())
     {
@@ -1180,7 +1170,53 @@ bool CvCapture_FFMPEG::open(const char* _filename, const Ptr<IStreamReader>& str
       input_format = av_find_input_format(entry->value);
     }
 
-    if (!_filename)
+    AVDeviceInfoList* device_list = nullptr;
+    if (index >= 0)
+    {
+#ifdef HAVE_FFMPEG_LIBAVDEVICE
+        entry = av_dict_get(dict, "f", NULL, 0);
+        const char* backend = nullptr;
+        if (entry)
+        {
+            backend = entry->value;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+#ifdef __linux__
+            backend = "v4l2";
+#endif
+#ifdef _WIN32
+            backend = "dshow";
+#endif
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+            backend = "avfoundation";
+#endif
+        }
+        avdevice_list_input_sources(nullptr, backend, nullptr, &device_list);
+        if (!device_list)
+        {
+            CV_LOG_ONCE_WARNING(NULL, "VIDEOIO/FFMPEG: Failed list devices for backend " << backend);
+            return false;
+        }
+        CV_CheckLT(index, device_list->nb_devices, "VIDEOIO/FFMPEG: Camera index out of range");
+        _filename = device_list->devices[index]->device_name;
+#else
+        CV_LOG_ONCE_WARNING(NULL, "VIDEOIO/FFMPEG: OpenCV should be configured with libavdevice to open a camera device");
+        return false;
+#endif
+    }
+
+#if USE_AV_INTERRUPT_CALLBACK
+    /* interrupt callback */
+    interrupt_metadata.timeout_after_ms = open_timeout;
+    get_monotonic_time(&interrupt_metadata.value);
+
+    ic = avformat_alloc_context();
+    ic->interrupt_callback.callback = _opencv_ffmpeg_interrupt_callback;
+    ic->interrupt_callback.opaque = &interrupt_metadata;
+#endif
+
+    if (stream)
     {
         size_t avio_ctx_buffer_size = 4096;
         uint8_t* avio_ctx_buffer = (uint8_t*)av_malloc(avio_ctx_buffer_size);
@@ -1231,6 +1267,13 @@ bool CvCapture_FFMPEG::open(const char* _filename, const Ptr<IStreamReader>& str
         ic->pb = avio_context;
     }
     int err = avformat_open_input(&ic, _filename, input_format, &dict);
+    if (device_list)
+    {
+#ifdef HAVE_FFMPEG_LIBAVDEVICE
+        avdevice_free_list_devices(&device_list);
+        device_list = nullptr;
+#endif
+    }
 
     if (err < 0)
     {
@@ -3447,7 +3490,22 @@ CvCapture_FFMPEG* cvCreateFileCaptureWithParams_FFMPEG(const char* filename, con
     if (!capture)
         return 0;
     capture->init();
-    if (capture->open(filename, nullptr, params))
+    if (capture->open(filename, -1, nullptr, params))
+        return capture;
+
+    capture->close();
+    delete capture;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static
+CvCapture_FFMPEG* cvCreateFileCaptureWithParams_FFMPEG(int index, const VideoCaptureParameters& params)
+{
+    CvCapture_FFMPEG* capture = new CvCapture_FFMPEG();
+    if (!capture)
+        return 0;
+    capture->init();
+    if (capture->open(nullptr, index, nullptr, params))
         return capture;
 
     capture->close();
@@ -3462,7 +3520,7 @@ CvCapture_FFMPEG* cvCreateStreamCaptureWithParams_FFMPEG(const Ptr<IStreamReader
     if (!capture)
         return 0;
     capture->init();
-    if (capture->open(nullptr, stream, params))
+    if (capture->open(nullptr, -1, stream, params))
         return capture;
 
     capture->close();
diff --git a/modules/videoio/src/cap_interface.hpp b/modules/videoio/src/cap_interface.hpp
index bb1e0b4ec9..ba50f6dcad 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/src/cap_interface.hpp
+++ b/modules/videoio/src/cap_interface.hpp
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ protected:
 //==================================================================================================
 
 Ptr<IVideoCapture> cvCreateFileCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(const std::string &filename, const VideoCaptureParameters& params);
+Ptr<IVideoCapture> cvCreateCameraCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(int index, const VideoCaptureParameters& params);
 Ptr<IVideoCapture> cvCreateStreamCapture_FFMPEG_proxy(const Ptr<IStreamReader>& stream, const VideoCaptureParameters& params);
 Ptr<IVideoWriter> cvCreateVideoWriter_FFMPEG_proxy(const std::string& filename, int fourcc,
                                                    double fps, const Size& frameSize,
diff --git a/modules/videoio/src/videoio_registry.cpp b/modules/videoio/src/videoio_registry.cpp
index a84258ad90..9c599d2c71 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/src/videoio_registry.cpp
+++ b/modules/videoio/src/videoio_registry.cpp
@@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ static const struct VideoBackendInfo builtin_backends[] =
     DECLARE_STATIC_BACKEND(CAP_V4L, "V4L_BSD", MODE_CAPTURE_ALL, create_V4L_capture_file, create_V4L_capture_cam, 0)
 #endif
 
+    // FFmpeg webcamera by underlying backend (DShow, V4L2, AVFoundation)
+#ifdef HAVE_FFMPEG
+    DECLARE_STATIC_BACKEND(CAP_FFMPEG, "FFMPEG", MODE_CAPTURE_BY_INDEX, 0, cvCreateCameraCapture_FFMPEG_proxy, 0)
+#elif defined(ENABLE_PLUGINS) || defined(HAVE_FFMPEG_WRAPPER)
+    DECLARE_DYNAMIC_BACKEND(CAP_FFMPEG, "FFMPEG", MODE_CAPTURE_BY_INDEX)
+#endif
 
     // RGB-D universal
 #ifdef HAVE_OPENNI2
diff --git a/modules/videoio/test/test_camera.cpp b/modules/videoio/test/test_camera.cpp
index f11fa3f251..30592b2932 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/test/test_camera.cpp
+++ b/modules/videoio/test/test_camera.cpp
@@ -327,4 +327,18 @@ TEST(DISABLED_videoio_camera, waitAny_V4L)
     }
 }
 
+TEST(DISABLED_videoio_camera, ffmpeg_index)
+{
+    int idx = (int)utils::getConfigurationParameterSizeT("OPENCV_TEST_FFMPEG_DEVICE_IDX", (size_t)-1);
+    if (idx == -1)
+    {
+        throw SkipTestException("OPENCV_TEST_FFMPEG_DEVICE_IDX is not set");
+    }
+    VideoCapture cap;
+    ASSERT_TRUE(cap.open(idx, CAP_FFMPEG));
+    Mat frame;
+    ASSERT_TRUE(cap.read(frame));
+    ASSERT_FALSE(frame.empty());
+}
+
 }} // namespace
diff --git a/modules/videoio/test/test_v4l2.cpp b/modules/videoio/test/test_v4l2.cpp
index 6ea1f67e6d..d560e718bd 100644
--- a/modules/videoio/test/test_v4l2.cpp
+++ b/modules/videoio/test/test_v4l2.cpp
@@ -158,6 +158,20 @@ inline static std::string param_printer(const testing::TestParamInfo<videoio_v4l
 
 INSTANTIATE_TEST_CASE_P(/*videoio_v4l2*/, videoio_v4l2, ValuesIn(all_params), param_printer);
 
+TEST(videoio_ffmpeg, camera_index)
+{
+    utils::Paths devs = utils::getConfigurationParameterPaths("OPENCV_TEST_V4L2_VIVID_DEVICE");
+    if (devs.size() != 1)
+    {
+        throw SkipTestException("OPENCV_TEST_V4L2_VIVID_DEVICE is not set");
+    }
+    VideoCapture cap;
+    ASSERT_TRUE(cap.open(0, CAP_FFMPEG));
+    Mat frame;
+    ASSERT_TRUE(cap.read(frame));
+    ASSERT_FALSE(frame.empty());
+}
+
 }} // opencv_test::<anonymous>::
 
 #endif // HAVE_CAMV4L2