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We can’t imagine our Macs without cameras anymore. But as any tech customer support specialist will tell you, they also create the most common issues customers complain about. Although Mac camera not working is no doubt upsetting, it’s luckily quite easy to fix on your own in most cases.
Most Macs today come with a built-in front-facing camera, often referred to as the FaceTime camera. It’s located near the top edge of the screen and turns on when you open an app that is able to take pictures, record videos, or make video calls. Since FaceTime activates automatically, there’s no need to wonder how to connect camera on Mac. However, the activation process sometimes fails and it’s good to know what to do to get the connection back.
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Possible Reasons For Webcam Not Working On Mac
When you have your MacBook camera not working properly, it’ll say disconnected or unavailable. The “There is no connected camera” error might surprise you anytime with any app if it finds your camera not working on MacBook. But don’t rush to assume that now you need to somehow “connect” the camera back on or that there’s a hardware issue that requires warranty service:
- macOS doesn’t come with a camera settings app. Most apps that use the Mac camera come with their own configuration options, so there’s no on-and-off switch — neither physical nor software.
- Even if you think it might be a hardware issue, you can usually resolve the problem of Mac camera not working quite quickly on your own with the help of a few little tricks
Below is a comprehensive guide to the tips you can use to get your camera back up and running should it misbehave.
Check for apps using the camera simultaneously
We know that Mac camera is turned on automatically by the apps that use it. But what’s also important to note is that only a single app can utilize the camera at the same time. So when you have your Mac webcam not working, make sure you’re not being denied access to the camera because some other app is using it at the moment:
- Launch Activity Monitor from Applications
- Quit all other open apps or utilities that might be using the camera (e.g. Skype, FaceTime, and Photo Booth)
- If you’re not sure which applications might be accessing your camera, save your work and close all the open apps to rule everything out
Simply restart your Mac
Tableau mac. If quitting apps didn’t help, there might be a chance that some processes are using the camera in the background. A restart will almost certainly resolve the issue, giving you full access to the camera once again. To restart your Mac:
- Select the Apple icon in the top menu bar
- Click Restart…
Use Force Quit with FaceTime not working on Mac
As effective as restart is, it takes time and halts everything you’re doing. Which might not be an option when you’re in the middle of an important FaceTime call. Fortunately, for FaceTime not working on Mac, there’s another trick that doesn’t require a reboot and fixes the problem immediately. That is using a command line to Force Quit the process:
- Go to Applications ➙ Utilities ➙ Terminal
- Click inside the terminal window and type sudo killall VDCAssistant
- Hit Return on your keyboard and enter your admin password if prompted
Relaunch the app to see if the issue of webcam not working on Mac is resolved.
Fix Skype camera not working on Mac
If you’re wondering why is my camera not working on my Mac when making Skype calls specifically, chances are that Skype is the app to blame here. Here’s what to do with your Skype camera not working on Mac:
- Make sure that you have the latest version of Skype
- If you do and there’s still no connected camera on MacBook — reinstall the app
- Still experiencing the problem? Apply the same fix as described above for FaceTime not working on Mac. Then restart your computer and test Skype again.
Finally, check that you’re connected to the internet and your speed is sufficient enough (at least 128 kbps, or 1 mbps for HD FaceTime video calls). In case you do have problems with the internet connection, try WiFi Explorer, a network analyzer that helps identify and fix common network problems with your connection without involving a costly professional.
WiFi Explorer scans your network environment (band range, signal quality, security status), identifies channel conflict and coverage issues, and gives you quick recommendations to improve your WiFi.
Visual graphs in WiFi Explorer make it easy for you to assess the situation at a glance without diving deep into the numbers.
Reset your Mac’s system controller
If you find the camera on Mac not working still and nothing of the above seems to help, you may try resetting what's known as the System Management Controller (SMC). The SMC manages a lot of hardware functions on your Mac and rebooting it may serve as a solution to your problems.
To reset the SMC on MacBook (2017 or earlier):
- Shut down your computer
- Plug in your power adapter
- Hold down Shift + Control + Options keys and the power button at the same time
- Allow 30 seconds to pass before releasing the keys, which will boot the Mac back up Kingdom rush frontiers hd 1.4.
Resetting the SMC on modern MacBook Air or Pro with the T2 security chip is different and involves a two-step process. Sometimes simply completing the first step will resolve the problem, but proceeding with both is generally a more solid approach for fixing the camera not working on MacBook issue.
The first step required to reset the SMC on MacBooks (of 2018 or later):
- Shut down your Mac
- Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds
- Release the power button and wait a few more seconds
- Turn the Mac on again
Check to see if you still have the Mac webcam not working problem. If the issue persists, proceed to the second part below.
The second step required to reset the SMC on MacBooks (2018 or later):
- Shut down your Mac
- After the computer is turned off, press and hold the right Shift key, and the left Option key, and the left Control key for seven seconds
- While still holding the keys, press and hold the power button for seven more seconds
- Release all and wait a few more seconds
- Press the power button again to turn the Mac on
Assuming the problem with MacBook Pro camera not working was with the SMC, whatever the issue was it should now be resolved.
Optimize your general system performance
Reading through the what to do with the MacBook camera not working guide, you have to remember that your camera should work flawlessly most of the time. Unless your Mac tends to accumulate all kinds of useless files that might slow it down. No wonder then you might experience the Mac webcam not working.
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Best advice here is to perform regular system cleanups — automatically. Use apps like CleanMyMac X to clean, protect, and optimize your machine’s performance to bring it to the state it once used to be.
Macbook Pro With Camera Software
CleanMyMac X optimization and maintenance tools sort through the old unused files, random app caches, and help you uninstall unnecessary apps completely without leaving behind the leftover bits on your drive. The app also scans for thousands of malware threats and neutralizes them in seconds, takes care of gigabytes of disk space taken by the email attachments you’ve never even downloaded, as well as removes histories, cookies, and caches from all the browsers you use. All in a single click.
If none of the proposed solutions can fix your Mac camera not working on MacBook, find an Apple Store or authorized Apple technician to have your Mac serviced. Or contact Apple’s telephone support. Remember that there also remains a possibility for mechanical or hardware problems with your camera, which are impossible to fix with software tweaks.
In all other cases, MacBook camera not working should no longer be a problem for you. Best of all, you can use both WiFi Explorer and CleanMyMac X mentioned above for free during a 7-day trial of Setapp, a platform of more than 150 apps that can fix just about any Mac problem in no time. Never miss your FaceTime call again!
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Many of Apple’s desktops and laptops include a built-in webcam, which the company calls a FaceTime camera. However, if your mac webcam is not working, and displays as disconnected or unavailable when attempting to access it, it can be disappointing.
This is what happened to Mac users who found that they cannot use their Mac’s camera for some reason. Whether it’s taking pictures or doing a video, these affected users found that their MacBook Pro camera is not working. And this problem only seems to affect the built-in camera on Mac. When you try to plug in an external camera, it works just fine.
Mac users who complained that their camera in MacBook Pro is not working reported that they have tried using it on apps such as Facetime, Skype, Photo Booth, and others, but they either get a blank screen or the camera light just blinks and then goes out.
In the case of FaceTime, users who are having this problem encountered this error message:
No video. FaceTime has not received any video from the connected camera. Restarting your computer may fix this issue.
When this message appears, the green light on the camera just blinks every couple of seconds but does not reflect anything on the screen. This problem can be frustrating, especially for users who are often doing a conference or video calls, either for personal or work purposes.
Why Camera in MacBook Pro is Not Working
Aside from hardware damage, one of the most probable reasons is corrupted software. Either the driver for the built-in camera has been corrupted or is missing, that’s why there’s no video in MacBook Pro.
Some users also noted that this error has started after installing some updates for macOS Catalina. This could mean that there might be an incompatibility issue between the installed updates and the software for the built-in camera. It is also possible that the updates installed broke something in the camera’s software, causing the MacBook Pro camera not to work.
How to Fix Camera Not Working in MacBook Pro
macOS does not have a camera settings app. Most applications that use the Mac camera come with their own configuration settings, so there’s no on-and-off switch. There is also no physical nor software. So if your camera is not working for some reason, here are the things that you can do:
Fix #1: Restart Your Mac.
You can do a restart by clicking the Apple menu found in the upper left-hand corner of the screen and choosing the Restart option. If any apps or processes are using the Mac’s camera in the background, a restart should fix the issue, giving you full access to the camera once again. Once the computer has restarted, check to see if your camera is now functioning normally.
Fix #2: Check for Other Apps Using the Camera.
We know that the web camera is switched on automatically by the programs that use it. Generally, only one app can use the camera at a time. So make the application you are trying to open is not being denied access because something else is using the camera simultaneously.
To close any apps using the camera, follow the steps below:
- Launch Activity Monitor from Applications.
- Quit all other open apps or utilities that might be using the camera (e.g. Skype, FaceTime, and Photo Booth)
- If you’re not sure which applications might be using your camera, save your work then close all the open apps to rule everything out.
Fix #3: Use Force Quit with FaceTime.
As effective as a reboot is, it takes some time and quits everything you’re doing. This might not be an option when you are in the middle of a critical FaceTime call. Fortunately, if the FaceTime camera is not working on Mac, there’s a trick you can try that does not require a restart and fixes the problem immediately.
To force-quit FaceTime without restarting, here’s what you can do:
- Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- In the terminal window,type in: sudo killall VDCAssistant.
- Hit Enter on your keyboard and type in your admin password if prompted.
- Relaunch the app to see if the webcam issue has been resolved.
Fix #4: Reset Your Mac’s System Controller.
If your Mac’s webcam is not working as it should, you can reset the System Management Controller (SMC). The SMC manages many of the hardware functions on your Mac, and resetting it may serve as a fix to your problems.
If you have a MacBook, here is how you can go about resetting your SMC:
- Start by shutting down your MacBook.
- Make sure your MacBook’s power adapter is connected to the computer.
- On your MacBook’s keyboard, hold down the Shift + Control + Options keys simultaneously, then press the power button to start the computer.
- After turning on the machine, keep the Shift + Control + Option keys pressed down at the same time for 30 seconds before them. This should allow the Mac to boot as normal.
- Once your computer starts up, check your apps to see if you now have access to your camera.
Wrapping Up
Most camera problems on Mac are related to software. A little cleaning up and tweaking usually resolves the issue quickly. But if these steps do not work, then you might have a hardware problem on your hands. If this is the case, find an Apple Store or an authorized Apple technician to have your computer serviced. Apple Stores also offer free technical support via the in-store Genius Bar. You can make an appointment online at the Apple’s support website so you have a shorter waiting time when you arrive at the store. You can also talk to Apple’s telephone-based support to find a solution without having to leave your home.
If you’re running into errors and your system is suspiciously slow, your computer needs some maintenance work. Download Outbyte PC Repair for Windows, Outbyte Antivirus for Windows, or Outbyte MacRepair for macOS to resolve common computer performance issues. Fix computer troubles by downloading the compatible tool for your device.
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