A couple of users have reported that their camera has stopped working after updating to macOS Big Sur. This goes for every application, including FaceTime, Zoom, Teams etc.
Apple MacBook and iMac have an excellent built-in camera that enables you to connect with your colleagues, friends, a family using FaceTime, Skype, Facebook, and more. But recently users are reported that their Mac camera is not working after updating to macOS Big Sur, Mac camera not working zoom, mac camera issue google meet, mac Camera Not working on Microsoft Teams or Mac camera won’t work in a Facebook video call, and many more.
This troubleshooting guide applies to“MacBook Pro 2020, MacBook Pro 2019, MacBook Pro 2018, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 2010, 2011”.
So after looking at all of the above issues, we have created a comprehensive list of potential solutions that can quickly fix Camera not working on Big Sur issue
See also: AirDrop not working on Big Sur
The following solutions will help you to fix Camera Won’t work on Mac: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac
These solutions will also help to fix problems such as: Omagel Mac camera not working, Mac Camera not working Skype or Camera no connected.
Is Your Mac Camera Restriction On?
macOS Big Sur comes with Screen Time restrictions control. Let’s have check-in details and Enable Internal Camera Use from screen time if it’s blocked. Follow the Below steps and Turn on Mac, MacBook camera for use installed Mac app or Third-Party Video Calling, Meeting Apps or Browser.
Click on the Apple Logo from the top Mac menu > System Preferences > Screen Time > Content & Privacy from the left side of the window > And Click on Apps Tab > Enable Check box for Camera. That’s it.
Now, also follow the App and Browser lever camera restrictions if it’s enabled. Normally, the Camera is blocked under the screen time then You can’t see the camera option under privacy showing in the next check.
Check Mac Camera Privacy for App & Browser
Now, you have to allow permission for the app and Browser that using Your Mac Internal or External camera. To access this setting, Open the System preferences from Top Apple Logo on the Mac menu > Click on Security & Privacy > Camera > And Select the App for Allow Camera access [Unlock the lock to apply changes].
Allow Permission to Access Camera, Microphone and Screen Share on Mac
In addition, Most of the Video Calling platform and Meeting Platform like Zoom, Webex, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams are available Web-based, so users can access it from the Browser, and Users have to enable From the Browser’s address bar.
Also, Google Chrome users have to enable “Use hardware acceleration when available” from Browser settings, In new Tap enter: chrome://settings/system in the Address bar, then Hit the enter.
Now, you will see, Use hardware acceleration when available, enable the toglge and Re-launch the browser. Now Your Browser can use more resources and RAM when requires.
Camera not working on Big Sur still? Let’s Jump into deep solutions one by one,
Fix #1: Restart Your Mac
Restarting Mac can fix the Camera not working on Big Sur if the problem is small. It is often found that this technique resolves undoubtedly every issue. In case your Mac problem may though then continue you to the next clue without worrying.
Click on Apple Logo () From Top Mac Menu.
Click on Restart, Hope it will fix after Restart your Mac.
If the problem is not fixed, check the next solution.
Fix #2: Potential Quick solutions to Fix Camera not working on Big Sur
For you, if rebooting Mac doesn’t work, then there are many solutions available to fix Camera not working after Big Sur update.
#1: Try using another application on your Mac like PhotoBooth, iChat. This, you will come to know that the Camera is not working in facetime only, or the issue is more prominent.
#2: Another troubleshoots is to log in with a different username if it works then the problem is with Apple ID.
#3: Remove the camera and FireWire cable from Mac and re-plug after few minutes to see if the Mac camera is not working on Skype.
#4: FaceTime camera is not working on MacIf. The issue is specific with FaceTime, then it might be possible that MacBook’s Camera got stuck on a built-in camera and unable to choose the display camera. Let’s fix FaceTime camera not working in macOS Big Sur
Step #1: Open “FaceTime” in Mac.
Step #2Step #3: Choose “FaceTime HD Camera (Display)”
Fix #3: Apply sudo killall VDCAssistant Command
Step #1: Quit every open tabs or App that uses Mac’s Camera like Zoom or Skype.
Step #2: Now, launch “Terminal” directly from Spotlight.
Step #3: Next, type in the command line below,
sudo killall VDCAssistant
Step #4: One more time type in code in the terminal,
sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant
Step #5: Type in the Administrative password to continue.
Step #6: Re-launch the FaceTime or Skype or whatever App which you were using.
NOTE: if you are entering both the commands in a single line then you have to follow the syntax below:
sudo killall VDCAssistant;sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant
Type in the admin passcode and complete the process.
Fix #4: Use Activity Monitor App [Worked]
Till now, you aren’t able to fix the Mac camera not working on a Facebook video call, then our last option is force closing the process from the Activity Monitor.
Step #1: Close the Applications which needed a camera like PhotoBooth, Zoom, or discord.
Step #2: Open the “Applications” and then click on “Utilities Folder.”
Step #3: Next, open “Activity Monitor.”
Step #4: Click on “Process Name,” it will organize the list in alphabetical order.
Step #5: Locate “VDC Assistant” and click to open it.
Step #6: Now, click on (X), which is located on the top left corner, and close the program.
Fix #5: Check for Software Update
the old version of software sometimes lack some function of the Mac, so consider checking for update and install the update if any available. Apple is continuously rolling free update with some bugs fixed. On Your Mac, you can enable automatic download software updates or Do it manually by following the steps below. Go to the Apple logo on Mac > System Preferences > Software Update [Wait for Check it] if any update is available then download it first and install.
Fix #6: Remove or Disconnect all Third-Party Peripherals
Disconnect all third-party accessories from your Mac system. That might be Bluetooth Wireless or Wired connection. Smart Bluetooth System of Mac automatically connect your Homekit accessories like Wireless bluetooth webcam for Mac, That’s we don’t know in most of the case. If bluetooth is not in use, then Turn off bluetooth under the System preferences [Apple logo from top right mac menu bar > System Preferences.. > Bluetooth > Turn off Bluetooth or Remove all bluetooth Devices manually] or From top mac menu.
Fix #7: Reboot your Mac in Safe Mode
Using safe mode that detects and fixes all isolated issues that happen on the startup disk of your Mac. This mode loads only the kernel extension of your mac. That delete font caches, Kernal caches, and Other system cache files. So we can identify the issues if the previous macOS is creating matters like this. Safe mode is not useful to use your Mac because this mode will disable some mac functionality like accessibility features, File sharing, USB functionality, etc.
To put your Mac in safe mode, Restart your Mac, Go to the Apple logo on the Mac menu > Restart option from Dropdown. Press and hold the SHIFT KEY from your Keyboard after your mac play startup sound. Release after your Mac show Mac login screen and Safe more label at the top right corner of Mac’s screen. Now check if your Camera is working perfectly. If it’s working, then you should repair your Mac drive or Reinstall/Clean install macOS because it’s a problem with the OS. The camera problem is not fixed in safe mode, then your mac’s camera hardware issues or software issues as well.
Fix #8: Create a New User Account: Try in New Account File System
Suddenly your mac has issues with the Camera after Big Sur update; You have no time to Repair your Mac drive or Reinstall/Clean install macOS. I recommended creating a new user account on your Mac. You can solve many problems when some third-party software is creating the macOS file system. Create an administrator account in the same mac, Go to the Apple logo on Mac menu > System Preferences > Users & Group > Click on lock to Unlock and add a new account > Now Click on + Sign to Add new account > Select a User role from DropdownDropdown [Administrator],
Give a name, Enter the password, and finally click on Create User. that’s it. Now Restart your Mac and login into another account to check your issues fixed or not.
Fix #9: Repair Disk No Data Loss and Quick
We can repair your Mac Drive without reinstall mac OS and Remove user data from Mac. First Aid takes action on a particular MacOS disk partition if your Mac is running dual boot macOS. So we need to open Disk Utility on your Mac. Use Spotlight Search [Command + Space] and try Disk Utility or Open it from the launchpad. Once it option, Select your macOS drive partition, Now Click on First Aid option from top tab > Click on Run button to run Fist Aid on Selected macintosh HD Drive.
Some macOS problems can’t resolve the First Aid disk repair option. So, you could fix using the install macOS. This process will download and install the latest version of macOS. Follow the next solution.
Fix #10: Reinstall a Copy of macOS To Fix Camera not working on Big Sur issue
The reinstalling process overwrites the existing file and replaces corrupted files and folders. Also, your Mac is updating the latest macOS version; then, you must try this solution. Before you proceed, make sure your Mac has an active internet connection Because of your Mac download macOS file during installation. Now, Restart your Mac [Go to the Apple logo on Mac > Restart]. After mac play, startup sounds quickly press and hold command + R key from the Keyboard. Until your Mac screen shows the macOS utility window on the screen. Now the second option in a window is reinstalled macOS.
Go with this option and follow the on-screen instruction. In this process, you have to select the mac drive that you want to repair or reinstall.
Fix #11: Install a New copy of macOS after Erase Drive: Clean install macOS
[This process doesn’t require a bootable USB drive of macOS] The clean install process is also easy and not time-consuming, I highly recommend fixing all types of software issues that affected by the Bad file system, Install Third-Party software, Slower mac, and more. Before starting this process, Keep a backup of your all-important Data from your Mac to an External Drive or Use the Time Machine Backup process.
Restart your Mac [Apple logo from top Mac menu > Restart]
Quickly Press and Hold command + R keys from the Keyboard after listening to startup sound from your mac. Release Keys after you see MacOS utility windows on the Mac screen.
Disk Utility on Mac
The last option on macOS utility windows is the Disk utility. Click on it. and Select the Drive from Sidebar, And click on Erase option from the top.
Once Drive has erased. Close this Disk Utility window. and Back to MacOS Utility windows. Now Click the install macOS.[Second Option]2 Disk Utility for Clean install MacOS Mojave
Your Mac will download the latest macOS version on Mac. Follow the on-screen instruction on Mac to install a new copy of macOS in the desired drive.
Fix #12: Camera Allow to Access by Third-Party Software
Your MacBook Camera privacy settings preventing the use of a third-party app or software installed on Mac. So on Newer macOS, you will find these settings under the Macbook system preferences.
Goto system preferences > security & privacy > privacy > camera, click the checkbox for allowing App like google chrome to access the Camera.
Fix #13: Use iSight Camera
In today’s market you have a good quality USB external Camera, that you can use any system like Mac, Windows, or Laptop as well. If your MacBook unable to wakeup the Camera and Your Mac is too old so you can’t get free service from the apple store. The repairing cost is very high in this case. So I recommend purchasing an external USB camera with Microphone.
Fix #14: Camera Hardware problem
If the above solutions did not fix your issue, then sorry for the inconvenience. Now the First check your MacBook is under warranty period and new that recently purchased. So don’t waste much time even 1 day. Because under warranty period you will get free service from apple sore or replacement in some cases after analyzing your Mac at the nearby app store.
You can also contact online support [Select your country and Device] to book your genius bar appointment or Get an official Apple repair program that is active for your Macbook Model.