That can close down apps that are controlling it in the background, stopping you from using it elsewhere. Sometimes, just restarting your Mac is enough to fix problems with its camera. Open FaceTime again - the camera should now be working Restart your Mac in safe mode Enter your password in the pop-up windowĤ. This command force-quits all applications that use the camera and resets itģ. Type in the command sudo killall VDCAssistant and press Enter. To open Terminal, go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal in FinderĢ.

How to use Terminal to restart your Mac camera:ġ. But if that doesn’t happen, you might be able to restart your Mac camera manually via Terminal. It just happens automatically when you open an application that uses the webcam - like FaceTime or Photo Booth, for example. Manually start your Mac camera using TerminalĬameras on Apple devices like MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, and iMacs can’t usually be turned on manually.

If you’re using a non-Apple camera, check you have all the relevant software installed.

If your Mac camera isn’t instantly recognized, try plugging it into a different port.

Make sure the cable fits tightly when you insert it.

Make sure the cable and the port are clean and not covered with dust - these can interfere with the connection.

How to check an external Mac webcam connection: If you have an external camera connected to your Mac, there might be a physical problem with that connection. So you can get back to your important video calls without disruption. And then you get the dreaded “There is no connected camera” error.įollowing the steps in this guide, you can fix problems of either kind. The most common issues with Mac cameras are related to video quality - things like blurry images, choppy frame-rates and on-screen artifacts.īut in the worst cases, you may find your Mac doesn’t recognize your webcam at all. What kind of Mac camera problems are there?

Quitting other apps that may be using the camera.

Making sure you're connected to the internet.

You get one free fix, so give it a whirlįixes for a Mac camera that’s not working include:

Look through the login items, and select anything that might be using your Mac’s camera.

Start MacKeeper, then select Login Items.

MacKeeper makes it easy to find and remove them. Sometimes, problems with your Mac’s camera can be caused by login items - some of which may be hidden. Luckily, it’s usually a problem that’s easily fixed - both for built-in and external cameras. So when your Mac camera isn't working, it can be a major hassle. You use them when you’re talking to friends and family. Webcams have become an everyday part of life in recent times.

Mac webcam setup