How to fix camera error on Mac does not work

MacBooks and Apple Mac computers often have a built-in webcam. You can also connect an external webcam to your Mac via USB. If the camera doesn't work, or suddenly disappears in macOS, follow the steps below to fix it (and hopefully it can help).

Check if the lens is not covered

Remember to check the most basic thing first. It sounds funny, but if the webcam is not working properly, it is most likely they are being hidden or blocked by something. Many people often hide the webcam when not in use to protect privacy.

If you see no errors and all you see is black, see if there's anything covering the camera. Sometimes you may forget that you covered it a few days ago.

Check access permission for webcam

When you open an application that needs to access your webcam for the first time, the Mac will ask you first for camera access. You may initially refuse access, but then some problems will occur when the application makes video calls or video recording.

You can allow the application to access the camera via System Preferences> Security and Privacy> Camera . Any apps that need access will be listed here. If any application has been marked, it already has access. If not then the opposite.

Apps that need camera access

You can change any settings by clicking the lock icon below the screen, then confirming your account with a password (or Touch ID, Apple Watch). Then, tick or uncheck the application and try again.

Turn off VDCAssistant and AppleCameraAssistant

There are two processes related to the webcam running in the background on a Mac: VCDAssistant and AppleCameraAssistant. Like any other process on Mac, they can stop working at any time. Normally, when a process is stopped, the system will automatically restart.

You can manually disable the process with the Terminal. To do that, open Terminal by searching in Spotlight or going to Applications> Utilities .

Type the following command and press Enter:

sudo killall VDCAssistant;sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant

Type the admin password to confirm, then try checking the camera again. macOS can play back any process related to the camera function.

Restart the Mac

If disabling such processes doesn't work, try shutting down the operating system as well. It's possible the problem with the camera is caused by using too many apps at once. The error can be solved by restarting the computer, not reopening the previous applications during the boot process.

Uncheck the Reopen option

To do so, click on Apple menu > Restart . When that window appears, uncheck the 'Reopen Windows When Logging Back in' box. Click Restart then wait for the machine to reboot. Turn on the previous applications again and see if the problem is resolved.

Reinstall the application you are about to use

If you have a webcam problem with an application, an error may occur because of the app itself.

Occasionally, the application stops working. Older apps do not work well on new macOS operating systems. Try deleting the application from the Applications folder by dragging the file to the trash or using the Command + Delete key combination . Next, download and install the application again, check if the problem with the camera is resolved.

If the application is outdated and no longer compatible with macOS's new operating system, use an alternative software.

Check Screen Time

Screen Time is a feature on Apple devices that helps you keep track of your time spent using your device. Sometimes, Screen also controls the applications that have access to the camera, causing a problem with the webcam.

To check if limiting Screen Time is an issue, go to System Preferences> Screen Time> Content and Privacy> Camera . Make sure Camera is turned on in the Apps tab. If not, you can change the settings, or ask the person who set the limit to remove those rules.

The application is limited on Screen Time

See if the device's webcam is turned on

MacBook and iMac both have built-in webcams. You can check if the computer has this feature turned on. To find out, click Apple menu > About .

Click on System Report and select Camera in the sidebar. You can see things like "FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)", along with lots of numbers and IDs. Check both USB and see if your webcam appears here.

Check if the camera has been detected yet

If your device's webcam is not listed here, it is likely that a hardware failure has caused it to stop working. In this case, please bring the device to a service center for technical review to help you. However, replacing a webcam will be painful, so consider buying an external camera.

Reset the System Management Controller

If you've tried everything (or the webcam listed in System Report), try resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) of the Mac. SMC is responsible for hardware installations on machines such as fans and LEDs.

Last attempt

If you can't get the webcam to work, reinstall macOS to make sure the problem is with your hardware. However, before reinstalling the operating system, back up all data with Time Machine.