Top 13 Effective Solutions to Resolve Mac Camera Not Working Issue

ByJim Miller

So you've logged in to your Mac and were about to join an important meeting or a class. And then you realize that the camera on your Mac is not working. Don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we will explore the top 13 ways to fix the Mac camera not working issue. Let's dive in and get your camera back up and running!

1. Check Your Camera

The first thing you should do when your Mac camera is not working is to physically check it. Make sure that the camera is not blocked or covered by anything. This is also a good time to clean the camera with a fiber cloth.

2. Check the Green Indicator

You can also check the green indicator on your Mac near the camera. Whenever you are using an app that accesses the camera on your Mac, the indicator will light up green. Open an app and see if the camera is working or not and at the same time, check if the indicator is lighting up or not. This will help you determine if there's any fault with the camera or just the indicator.

3. Camera Being Used by Another App

MacBook's camera cannot be used by two apps at the same time. Check if you have any app or website open on Safari or Chrome that might be using the camera. If yes, quit the app or close the tab and then try to access Mac's camera again.

4. Continuity Camera

Mac also allows you to connect and use your iPhone's camera as a webcam. Apple calls it Continuity Camera. So if your Mac is connected to your iPhone, you won't be able to use your Mac camera at all. Here are the steps to disconnect your iPhone's camera from your Mac:

  1. Go to your iPhone and just tap on Disconnect. And now you can use your Mac camera.

5. Restart Your Mac

Sometimes a simple restart can fix a lot of small issues on your Mac. Here are the simple steps to restart your Mac if your camera is facing problems:

  1. Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar to access the Apple menu.
  2. Now click on Restart and follow the prompts to restart your Mac.

6. Allow Using Screen Time

If you or your parent is using Screen Time to limit screen time on your Mac, it might be causing the camera not to work. Here are the steps to allow camera usage from Screen Time:

  1. Open the Launchpad on your Mac and navigate to System Preferences and click on it to open it.
  2. Click on Screen Time.
  3. Click on Content & Privacy.
  4. Then click on the Apps tab.
  5. Click and allow the Camera from there.

7. Check Camera Permissions

If you mistakenly denied or have not enabled the camera permission for an app, it might be causing the problem. Granting that app camera permission can let you use your camera like normal. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Open System Preferences and click on Security & Privacy.
  2. Click on the Privacy tab and click on Camera.
  3. Enable the toggle next to the app in which you are struggling to access the camera.

8. Check Browser Level Permissions

Browsers like Safari and Chrome also need permission to access your Mac's camera. Check whether they have proper permissions or not. Let's take a look at the steps to do so on Chrome and Safari.

Chrome

  1. Open the website on which you are trying to use the camera on the Chrome browser.
  2. Click on the lock icon in the URL bar.
  3. Now enable the camera and microphone from here to access the camera in the Chrome browser.

Safari

  1. Open the website in Safari on which you are facing trouble accessing the camera.
  2. Right-click on the URL bar and click on Setting for that website.
  3. Click on Ask next to Camera.
  4. You can also allow Microphone permission from here.
  5. Click on Allow. And it should work like normal now.

9. Use Activity Monitor to Kill the Camera App

If the camera is not responding to any apps or browsers, you can try to kill it using the Activity Monitor app on your Mac. Here are the simple steps to follow:

  1. Open the Activity Monitor app on your Mac.
  2. Search for “VDCAssistant” and “AppleCameraAssistant”.
  3. Click on it to select it and then click on the quit icon.
  4. Now click on Force Quit to quit the Camera.

10. Update Your Mac

One more way to fix your Mac camera not working is to update your Mac to the latest macOS. If there's a software problem with your Mac's camera, an update may fix it. Here are the steps to update your Mac:

  1. Open the System Preferences on your Mac and click on Software Update.
  2. Click on Update Now to update your Mac if there's an update available.

11. Reset NVRAM (Intel Macs)

If your Mac's camera is not working properly due to a hardware issue, resetting NVRAM can work in your favor. Resetting the NVRAM restores the default hardware settings and can help you fix your Mac camera not working. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Shut Down your Mac.
  2. Turn on your Mac by pressing the power key.
  3. Immediately press the Opt + Cmd + P + R key on your keyboard, hold it for 20 seconds, and then release it.
  4. Let the Mac turn on, as the NVRAM has been reset.

12. Reset SMC

The SMC or System Management Controller manages power on your Mac. You can reset the SMC as it can help you with the camera issue on your Mac. But do note that resetting the SMC works only for Intel Macs. Let's take a look at the steps to do so.

MacBook:

  1. Shut Down your MacBook.
  2. Press and hold Shift + Opt + Control keys on the keyboard simultaneously. Meanwhile, press and hold the power button as well. Keep holding them for 10 seconds and release them.
  3. Now turn on your MacBook by pressing the power key on your keyboard as the SMC has been reset.

Mac Mini or iMac:

  1. Shut Down your Mac.
  2. Unplug the power cord and wait for approximately 15 seconds and then plug it back in.
  3. Once it is plugged back in wait again for 5 seconds, then turn it back on.

13. Run a Diagnostic Test

Whether it's Mac fans running loud or the camera not working properly, running an Apple Diagnostic Test can give you a more detailed insight into what exactly is wrong with the hardware of your Mac. Once the test ends, it will show you a reference code on the screen. You can look for more in the Apple Diagnostic reference codes to understand more about what that code means.

By following these effective solutions, you can troubleshoot and fix the Mac camera not working issue on your own. However, if you are still facing problems with the camera, it is advised to seek professional care. We hope this guide has helped you resolve the Mac camera not working issue.