Top 6 Ways to Fix Built-in Camera Not Working on Mac

let you Apple Mac camera Compact (MacBook and iMac) Make video calls easily. Using FaceTime becomesVideo calls It's very convenient for talking to loved ones or for professional purposes. The camera works flawlessly with third-party apps like Zoom Or Microsoft Teams, or even Skype. But sometimes users are unable to make calls because the camera on their Mac stops working. This post covers all possible solutions to fix the built-in camera not working on your Mac.

1. Check the app's permission to use the webcam.

We sometimes install apps in a hurry and often skip setting the appropriate permissions, especially those for video calls. If you're unsure whether you've denied camera permissions to any app you want to use, it's best to check. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Click on Command + Space bar To reveal Spotlight Search , And type System Preferences , then press Return.

Step 2: Click Security and privacy.

Step 3: Click an option Camera from the left menu.

You'll see a list of all the apps that can access the camera on your Mac.

Follow these steps to allow an app to use the built-in camera.

Step 1: tap on lock icon at the bottom left.

Step 2: Enter Touch ID Or Password.

Step 3: Enable Camera access By clicking checkbox located next to The name of the application.

Step 4: Click Unlock code to save the changes.

2. Remove screen time restrictions for your webcam

Screen Time has arrived with macos catalinaThis tool helps you track, manage, and restrict app usage on your Mac. With Screen Time, you can also restrict your webcam for a specific period of time. If the built-in camera isn't working on your Mac, you should check your Screen Time restrictions. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Click System Preferences icon or press Command + Space to start Spotlight Search , And type System Preferences And press Return to turn it on.

Step 2: Click Screen Time.

Step 3: In the list Screen Time , Click Content & Privacy.

Step 4: Locate Applications tab.

Step 5: Check if camera use is allowed. If not, tap checkbox to enable it.

3. Quit and restart applications using the webcam.

You can try force-quitting and restarting apps that require use of your Mac's built-in camera. For example, if another app, such as FaceTime, is already accessing the camera, you can force-quit and restart those apps. If you're using a website that requires you to click a photo through your webcam, you can force-quit and restart your browser as well.

Follow these steps.

Step 1: Click Apple logo in the upper left corner.

Step 2: Locate Imposing termination from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: of Force Quit tab , Locate The application Who is using your webcam and click ForceQuit.

Step 4: Restart the application Try using your webcam again.

4. Reset SMC for INTEL-based MACs

If you're using a Mac with an Intel processor, you can try to fix the problem by resetting the SMC (System Management Controller). This is a chip that controls and stores important details for various hardware functions on your Mac. One of these is the built-in camera. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Click Apple logo and select Shut Down.

Step 2: Wait a few seconds and then Restart your Mac.

If the above steps don't help you, here is an alternative method.

Step 1: Shut down your Mac again.

Step 2: Press and hold Shift + left Option + left control keyPress and hold. start button Also.

Continue holding all four keys for another 7 seconds. If your Mac turns on, the startup chime will play again while you hold down the keys.

Step 3: freedom All four keys Restart your Mac.

5. Restart the built-in camera using the device.

Your Mac's built-in camera will automatically turn on whenever you use an app that requires it. But if that doesn't happen for you, you can try turning the built-in camera back on manually using the Terminal app. Here's how.

Step 1: Click on Command + Space bar To open Spotlight Search , And type Bus Terminal And press Return.

Step 2: in Terminal app , write sudo killall VDCAassitant And press Return.

This will force quit all applications using the webcam.

Step 3: Enter Mac password your own and press Return.

Open the app or website and try using your webcam.

6. Check the camera ID and model name in the system report.

If none of the above methods work, there's a possibility that the built-in camera hardware is damaged. To check this, you can go to the System Report menu on your Mac. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Click Apple logo and select About This Mac.

Step 2: Click System Report.

Step 3: Locate Camera from the left menu.

The built-in camera model ID and unique ID should appear on the screen.

If this doesn't happen, your Mac camera is damaged or unavailable.

In this case, you should visit the nearest Apple Authorized Service Center.

Fix your MAC's built-in camera

These solutions will help you fix the built-in camera not working on your Mac. It's always recommended to opt for an AppleCare+ plan when purchasing a new Mac. Also, the camera may become unresponsive if you use your Mac in a particularly harsh environment (temperature).*ù!