Mac Camera Not Working? 12 Easy Ways to Fix It

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: September 14, 2024

Expert verified

Nothing’s worse than needing your Mac’s camera, and it just won’t turn on. Luckily, I’ve got some quick solutions to help. Follow along, and you’ll have your camera back up in no time.

How to Test the Camera on a Mac

Here’s how to check your Mac camera’s functionality:

1. Navigate to the Applications folder in Finder.

2. Here, search for the Photo Booth app and launch it by double-clicking its icon.

3. Upon opening, your Mac’s camera should activate automatically.

4. If you spot your face on the screen, congrats! Your Mac’s camera is up and running.

How to Fix a Mac Camera Not Working

I found these twelve methods to be the most effective in fixing a Mac camera:

1. Check the Mac Camera Permissions

Ensure the apps have permission to access your camera by adjusting your Mac’s privacy settings. Here’s a step-by-step guide for checking the Mac camera permissions:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.

2. Look for the Privacy & Security tab in the left sidebar and click it.

3. In the right pane, scroll down and click Camera.

4. You’ll see a list of apps that have access to your camera. Toggle on the app(s) you want to allow access to use the camera.

After ensuring the correct permissions, test the camera again with the desired app to see if the issue is resolved. If not, you might want to explore further troubleshooting methods.

2. Check the Running Apps Using the Mac Camera

Close any background apps that might be using the camera, preventing other apps from accessing it. Follow these steps to check and close any running apps that use your Mac’s camera:

1. Open the Activity Monitor from your Applications folder or by using Spotlight search (press Command ⌘ + Space and type Activity Monitor).

2. In the Activity Monitor, you’ll see a list of active processes, including apps that use your Mac’s camera.
3. Select the camera-using app you want to terminate by clicking its name.
4. Click the X button in the window’s top toolbar.

5. Click Quit on the pop-up to terminate the process.

3. Force Quit Conflicting Apps

Force quit apps that may prevent the camera from allowing other apps to use it. Follow these steps to force quit these potentially conflicting apps on your Mac:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select Force Quit from the dropdown menu.

3. A window will appear with a list of active applications.
4. Select the application you want to terminate.
5. Click the Force Quit button at the bottom of the window.

6. Confirm that you want to force quit the application, and it will be terminated.

4. Restart Your Mac

If you haven’t already tried this basic but effective step, here’s how to restart your Mac:

1. Save any ongoing work and close all applications on your Mac to prevent any data loss.
2. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
3. From the drop-down menu, select Restart.

4. A confirmation dialog will appear, asking if you’re sure you want to restart your Mac. Click the Restart button in the confirmation dialog to initiate the reboot process.

5. Allow your Mac to shut down completely. It will then power back up on its own.

Once your Mac restarts, open the camera app to check if it is working or not.

5. Select the Correct Camera in the App’s Settings

Verify that the correct camera is selected in the app’s settings if multiple cameras are connected. Here’s how to double-check if you’re using the right camera:

1. Launch the app where you face camera issues.
2. Navigate to the app’s settings or preferences.
3. Look for a section labeled Camera, Video, Hardware, or something similar, depending on the app.
4. In this section, there should be a dropdown menu or a selection list showing available cameras.
5. From the list, ensure the desired camera (typically FaceTime HD Camera for built-in Mac webcams) is selected.
6. Save the changes and restart the app to check if the camera is now working correctly.

6. Restart Mac Camera-Related Processes

Restart background processes that control the camera to resolve any issues. Here’s how to restart camera-related background processes:

1. Open the Terminal application. You can find it in Finder > Applications > Utilities or by using Spotlight (Command ⌘ + Space) and typing Terminal.

2. Once the Terminal window is open, type the following command and press Enter:

sudo killall VDCAssistant

3. You’ll likely be prompted to enter your Mac’s password to execute the command with administrative privileges.
4. After entering your password, press Enter again.

7. Adjust Mac Camera Settings

Check and adjust the camera settings within specific apps like Zoom or Skype. Below, I’ve shared the steps to adjust Mac camera settings on Zoom and Skype:

To test and tweak camera settings in Zoom:

1. Launch the Zoom app on your Mac.
2. Navigate to the Zoom menu and choose Settings.
3. Click the Video tab in the sidebar.
4. This section lets you verify if Zoom can access your camera. If using an external webcam, you can pick which camera to activate.

For Skype camera testing and adjustments:

1. Open Skype.
2. Head to the Skype menu and pick Audio & Video settings.
3. This section lets you select the inbuilt or an external webcam.

8. Check if Your Mac Detects the Webcam

Occasionally, your Mac might not even recognize its own built-in webcam, making it essential to verify if the system detects it. Here’s a straightforward method to check this:

1. Click the Apple logo and select About This Mac.

2. In the pop-up window that appears, click More Info.

3. Scroll down the About window and click the System Report button.

4. Under the Hardware section in the left sidebar, click Camera or USB (based on your Mac model).
5. On the right side of the window, you should see a list of devices. Look for FaceTime HD Camera.

If the camera is listed, your Mac recognizes it, and the issue is likely software-related. If it’s not listed, it might indicate a hardware problem, and you should contact Apple support.

9. Update Your macOS

Updating macOS can resolve bugs, introduce new features, and improve system stability. Often, an outdated macOS can cause issues like the camera not working. To update, go to the Apple menu, select System Settings, then General, and check Software Update. If available, click Update Now to install.
You can learn more about updating macOS issues here.

10. Reset SMC on Mac

The System Management Controller (SMC) manages low-level functions like battery and camera performance on Intel-based Macs. If your camera isn’t working after other fixes, resetting the SMC might help. To do this, shut down your Mac, hold down specific keys depending on your Mac model, and restart it.
Check out my guide on resetting the SMC for further issues here.

11. Reboot Your Mac in Safe Mode

Rebooting your Mac in Safe Mode can help identify software conflicts that might affect your camera. Safe Mode disables unnecessary software and drivers, allowing you to test if the camera works. Hold the Shift key during startup to enter Safe Mode, and see if the issue persists.
For more details on Safe Mode and troubleshooting, click here.

12. Scan Your Mac for Malware

Run a malware scan to ensure no malicious software interferes with your camera’s functionality. You can use tools like MacKeeper to detect and remove any threats easily. Here’s how to run a virus scan on your Mac using MacKeeper:

1. Download and install MacKeeper.
2. Launch MacKeeper and navigate to the Antivirus tab in the left sidebar.

3. Initiate an instant virus scan by clicking the Start Scan button.

4. If any viruses are detected during the scan, click the Fix Items button to resolve the issues.
5. If your system is threat-free, you’ll see a No threats found message. You can tap the Restart button to run the scan again.

6. Enable real-time antivirus protection to safeguard your Mac from future threats by clicking the Enable button.

Once you have configured your security settings, MacKeeper will continue to operate in the background, diligently scanning for threats and actively blocking any

Get Your Mac’s Camera Working Again

From the simple steps of checking app permissions and restarting your Mac to more advanced techniques like resetting the NVRAM or running Apple Diagnostics, there are plenty of ways to fix a Mac camera that doesn’t work.

Here are a few more tips for you:

• Recording a quick video on your Mac might help confirm if the camera is working properly.
• Troubleshoot FaceTime issues to see if they’re affecting the camera.
• Fix Bluetooth issues first, as they can sometimes interfere with your Mac’s camera.

Frequently Asked Questions