When using FaceTime on my mac, the camera turns off during a call and stays black. I can get it to turn back on by hitting the camera button off and on again, but in a few seconds it turns off again. I have the most recent OS. I have tried restarting the app, restarting my computer. I even saw a thread from 2018 that said to delete the plist files, all my camera settings are correct. What else am I missing?
MacBook Pro
Hi there EL000,
If the camera on your MacBook Pro isn't working as expected, start by working through these steps:
Check the camera indicator light
If the camera indicator light next to the camera flashes green on your Mac notebook, contact Apple.
Update your software
Make sure your software is up to date.
Check Screen Time settings
If your Mac is using macOS Catalina and you use Screen Time, make sure your camera is turned on and apps that use the camera have time available.
1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
2. Click Content & Privacy in the sidebar, then click Apps.
3. Make sure the checkbox for Camera is selected.
4. Click App Limits in the sidebar. If you need to use your camera with an app in the list, make sure the checkbox for Limits is not selected.
Give apps permission
If your Mac is using macOS Mojave or later, choose which apps can use your built-in camera:
1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy.
2. Click the Privacy tab, then click Camera in the sidebar.
3. Select the checkbox next to the apps that you want to use your camera in. You might be prompted to quit and reopen an app before it can use your camera.
Try another app
Try to use your camera in another app. For example, if you can't use your camera in FaceTime, open Photo Booth.
Reset the SMC
If you still can’t use the built-in camera and you have an Intel-based Mac, resetting the SMC might help. Learn how to reset the SMC on your Mac.
You'll find these steps here: If your built-in camera isn’t working on your Mac - Apple Support
If the issue with your camera persists only in FaceTime, try these steps:
If your camera or microphone doesn’t work
One of these solutions might help:
- Quit FaceTime, then open FaceTime again.
- Restart your Mac (Apple menu > Restart).
- Make sure that FaceTime isn't open, then see if your camera works in another application, such as Photo Booth. If it doesn't, you know that the issue isn't related to FaceTime.
- If you have multiple cameras or microphones connected to your Mac, check the Video menu in the FaceTime menu bar to make sure that you have the correct camera and microphone selected.
Learn more here: If FaceTime isn't working on your Mac - Apple Support
Take care.
Hi there EL000,
If the camera on your MacBook Pro isn't working as expected, start by working through these steps:
Check the camera indicator light
If the camera indicator light next to the camera flashes green on your Mac notebook, contact Apple.
Update your software
Make sure your software is up to date.
Check Screen Time settings
If your Mac is using macOS Catalina and you use Screen Time, make sure your camera is turned on and apps that use the camera have time available.
1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
2. Click Content & Privacy in the sidebar, then click Apps.
3. Make sure the checkbox for Camera is selected.
4. Click App Limits in the sidebar. If you need to use your camera with an app in the list, make sure the checkbox for Limits is not selected.
Give apps permission
If your Mac is using macOS Mojave or later, choose which apps can use your built-in camera:
1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy.
2. Click the Privacy tab, then click Camera in the sidebar.
3. Select the checkbox next to the apps that you want to use your camera in. You might be prompted to quit and reopen an app before it can use your camera.
Try another app
Try to use your camera in another app. For example, if you can't use your camera in FaceTime, open Photo Booth.
Reset the SMC
If you still can’t use the built-in camera and you have an Intel-based Mac, resetting the SMC might help. Learn how to reset the SMC on your Mac.
You'll find these steps here: If your built-in camera isn’t working on your Mac - Apple Support
If the issue with your camera persists only in FaceTime, try these steps:
If your camera or microphone doesn’t work
One of these solutions might help:
- Quit FaceTime, then open FaceTime again.
- Restart your Mac (Apple menu > Restart).
- Make sure that FaceTime isn't open, then see if your camera works in another application, such as Photo Booth. If it doesn't, you know that the issue isn't related to FaceTime.
- If you have multiple cameras or microphones connected to your Mac, check the Video menu in the FaceTime menu bar to make sure that you have the correct camera and microphone selected.
Learn more here: If FaceTime isn't working on your Mac - Apple Support
Take care.
FaceTime Camera on Macbook Pro Turns off seconds after launching a call
