Start here: Photo Booth, then the browser
Apps that come with your Mac, such as Photo Booth and FaceTime, have camera access automatically. That makes them a clean first test.
- Open Photo Booth. If you see yourself, the camera works.
- Then open our webcam test in your browser.
What you see points to the cause:
- Photo Booth works, but the test or your call app doesn’t: a permission is missing. Go to fix 2.
- Photo Booth is black or shows another camera: check fix 1 and fix 3 first.
- Nothing works anywhere: go to fix 5.
1. Check which camera the app is using
With Continuity Camera, your iPhone can act as your Mac’s webcam. When the iPhone is mounted in landscape near your Mac, apps can choose it automatically, so the picture may come from the phone instead of the Mac.
- In the app, open its video or camera menu and select the Mac’s built-in camera. In FaceTime, this is the Video menu.
- If you never use your iPhone as a webcam, you can turn it off on the iPhone: Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity (on some versions AirPlay & Handoff), then turn off Continuity Camera.
The same applies to an external webcam or a display with a camera. Each app keeps its own choice, so check the menu in every app you use.
2. Give the app permission
Third-party apps and browsers need your permission before they can use the camera.
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Privacy & Security in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
- Click Camera.
- Turn on the app you need. For a website, turn on your browser, such as Chrome or Firefox.
- Quit the app and open it again.
The list only shows apps that have already asked for the camera. If your app isn’t there, open it and start a video call or preview once so it asks.
For Safari, websites have their own setting: choose Safari > Settings, click Websites, then select Camera, and set the site to allow.
3. Check Screen Time limits
Screen Time can turn the camera off, or limit the app you need. If you or someone else set up Screen Time on this Mac:
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Screen Time.
- Click Content & Privacy, then App Restrictions (on some versions Apps).
- Make sure Camera is allowed.
- Go back and click App Limits. If the app you need is listed, make sure its limit is off.
4. Quit apps that might be holding the camera
When you open an app that can use the camera, the camera turns on. It turns off only when you quit every app that is using it. If the green light next to the camera stays on with your call app closed, quit other apps that use video one by one until the light goes off, then try again.
5. Update and restart
- Make sure macOS is up to date.
- Restart your Mac. On a Mac with Apple silicon, a restart is enough. On an Intel-based Mac, Apple also suggests resetting the SMC.
When it might need repair
The green light beside the camera glows while the camera is on. If the camera still doesn’t work after these steps, or the green light flashes, Apple says the Mac may need service. Contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Check that it worked
Open the webcam test again. A live picture with a measured frame rate means macOS is delivering video to your browser. Then start a preview in your call app and make sure the camera chosen in fix 1 is still selected.