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Mac Camera Not Working? How to Fix Your MacBook Webcam

Last reviewed · fixmic team

A Mac or MacBook camera that shows a black screen, won't turn on, or displays a 'no connected camera' message is usually caused by a permission mismatch, a frozen system daemon, or a Screen Time restriction. Since macOS has strict privacy controls, a single disabled toggle can block your camera system-wide. This guide walks through the exact steps to restore your video.

The 5-second fix for most macOS webcam issues

Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera. Make sure the toggle next to the app you are using (or your browser) is enabled. If you had to switch it on, you must fully quit the app (press Cmd + Q) and reopen it for the change to take effect — closing the window is not enough.

1. Turn on macOS system-wide and app permissions

macOS blocks camera access by default until you explicitly grant it. Major system updates can sometimes reset these permissions.

  1. System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera

    Ensure the global toggles are active, and specifically allow the application (e.g., Zoom, Teams, Discord) or browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) you want to use.

  2. Relaunch the app completely

    macOS does not apply privacy setting changes to running applications. Press Cmd + Q to quit the app, then launch it again.

2. Restart the macOS camera service (VDCAssistant)

If the camera is busy or displays a black screen across all apps (FaceTime, Photo Booth, Zoom), the system process managing the camera hardware has likely hung. Restarting it resets the camera bus.

  1. Open Terminal on your Mac

    Press Cmd + Spacebar to open Spotlight, type 'Terminal', and press Enter.

  2. Terminate the camera daemons

    Copy and paste this command and press Enter: sudo killall VDCAssistant. (On some macOS versions, you may also need to run: sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant). Enter your Mac password when prompted.

  3. Verify the reset

    macOS restarts these processes automatically in the background. Open Photo Booth — the green camera indicator light should turn on and show your feed within a few seconds.

3. Check Screen Time restrictions

If the camera is disabled in Screen Time, it is blocked at the system level and will not even show up in your app settings list.

  1. System Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy

    If Content & Privacy is enabled, click on 'App Restrictions' (or 'Allowed Apps' on older versions).

  2. Enable Camera access

    Ensure the toggle for 'Camera' is enabled. If this was locked by a parental passcode, you will need the passcode to change it.

4. Verify Safari or Chrome browser permissions

When using browser-based meeting tools like Google Meet or Zoom Web, the browser acts as a secondary gatekeeper.

  1. Safari: Settings → Websites → Camera

    Open Safari, click Safari in the top menu → Settings → Websites tab → Camera in the left sidebar. Set fixmic.com (and your meeting sites) to 'Allow'.

  2. Chrome/Edge: Click the tune (sliders) icon in the address bar

    Click the sliders icon next to the URL → Site settings → set Camera to 'Allow', then reload the page.

5. Reset the SMC (System Management Controller) on Intel Macs

On Intel-based Macs, the SMC manages hardware routing, including the built-in webcam. Resetting it clears hung hardware locks.

  1. Intel Notebooks (MacBook Air / Pro)

    Shut down the Mac. Press Shift + Control + Option on the left side of the keyboard, then press the Power button. Hold all keys down for 10 seconds, release them, then turn the Mac back on.

  2. Intel Desktops (iMac, Mac mini)

    Shut down, unplug the power cord for 15 seconds, plug it back in, wait 5 seconds, and power on.

  3. Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3)

    Apple Silicon Macs do not have an SMC. Simply shut down the Mac fully, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on — the system performs equivalent hardware resets automatically.

Mac camera still not working?

If VDCAssistant was restarted and permissions are on, but video remains black:

  • Open Photo Booth. If the green light next to the camera turns on but the screen is black, make sure there is no physical sticker or privacy slide covering the lens.
  • Disconnect any external monitors or USB hubs to see if there is an underpowered USB bus conflict.
  • Update macOS. System updates regularly include firmware patches for built-in FaceTime cameras.
  • If the camera is completely undetected ('no connected camera' in Photo Booth), run Apple Diagnostics (hold D at startup on Intel Macs, or hold the Power button on Apple Silicon Macs) to check for a physical hardware disconnection.

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