Mac Camera Not Working After Update? 16 Proven Fixes for MacBook & iMac

Key Takeaways

Even though modern MacBooks come with high-resolution webcams, issues like the camera not working after a macOS update are still common—especially on older M1 or Intel-based models.
Core fixes include restarting the Mac, updating macOS, checking Screen Time restrictions, and adjusting camera permissions under Privacy & Security settings.
Additional troubleshooting steps include using Safe Mode, testing with Safari, closing background apps, running Apple Diagnostics, and checking for hardware damage, while legacy fixes like SMC and NVRAM resets apply mostly to older Intel Macs.

Most MacBooks come with a decent built-in webcam that gets better with each generation—especially the newer models that feature crisp 1080p resolution. However, older MacBooks like the M1 MacBook Air or the Intel-based 13-inch MacBook Pro still have cameras that look a bit flat, often producing grainy video with noticeable noise and no depth-sensing capability. While that’s usually fine for everyday video calls, things get frustrating when the webcam stops working altogether.

If your Mac camera isn’t working after a system update or suddenly stopped responding, don’t worry, this detailed guide will walk you through all the possible fixes.

Unlike Windows laptops, where webcam issues are less common, Mac users can occasionally run into problems with the default camera not being detected or apps failing to access it. There could be several reasons for this—from temporary glitches to permission settings or even hardware-level conflicts. Just follow the step-by-step solutions below to troubleshoot and get your Mac camera working again.

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How to Fix Mac Camera Not Working After Update

Your Mac camera might stop working due to several reasons—like an outdated macOS version, incorrect Screen Time settings, blocked camera permissions, temporary system glitches, or even hardware-related issues.

Thankfully, you don’t need to be a tech expert to fix it. You can go through each of the troubleshooting methods listed below one by one to resolve the problem and get your camera back up and running.

1. Restart the Mac

You should try restarting the Mac device manually by following the steps below to ensure there is no issue with the system glitch.

On your Mac, click on the Apple menu > Select Restart.
You can also deselect the app windows that you don’t want to relaunch when your Mac restarts.

2. Reset the SMC (Now Outdated for M1/M2/M3 Macs)

Depending on the Mac model, the old method of resetting the SMC (System Management Controller) may not apply anymore — especially if you’re using a newer Apple Silicon chip like M1, M2, or M3. So, here’s what you should know.

For Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3):

You actually don’t need to reset the SMC on any M1, M2, or M3 MacBooks because these chips don’t have a separate SMC. The Apple Silicon chips already handle all system management tasks internally.

That said, you can still try a quick workaround that sometimes helps clear temporary issues:

Shut down your Mac completely.
Wait for 30 seconds.
Then turn it back on.

This trick can help refresh the system in case something’s stuck in the background.

For Intel-based Macs (Pre-2020):

If you’re still using an older Intel Mac, the traditional SMC reset steps still apply — especially for Macs that have the T2 Security Chip. You can scroll down and follow the detailed instructions we’ve shared above for Intel models.

If you’re unsure whether your Mac has a T2 chip or not, you can check it easily:

Click the Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report > Controller.

3. Check the Camera Indicator Light

It’s also possible that the camera indicator light on the Mac next to the camera lens doesn’t flash a green color. The green indicator light means the webcam is active. But blinking the indicator continuously might be worrying in some cases. If so, you should contact Apple or an authorized Apple reseller for better assistance.

4. Update the macOS Software

Make sure your macOS software is up-to-date to the latest version which will allow the system to run properly as well as smoothly run other programs like webcam, microphone, drivers, and more.

Please Note: Before following the steps, it’s a good idea to take a complete backup of your Mac to avoid data loss in the worst scenarios.

Go to the Apple menu in the corner of your screen.
Click on System Settings (or System Preferences).
If you choose System Settings, click on General on the left side of the window.
- Then click on Software Update on the right side.
If you choose System Preferences, click on Software Update in the window.
- Click on Software Update then check for new software updates.
If in case, there is a new Software Update available, click on the Upgrade Now button to install it. Some users can find the Update Now or Install Now or Restart Now options.
You might also need to enter the administrator password to proceed further.
Now, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the software update process.
Wait for some time to boot the system again.
- If in case, the Software Update says that ‘your Mac is up to date’ that means there is no new software version currently available for your Mac model.

5. Check the Screen Time Settings

Some users reported that using macOS Catalina or later on the Mac machine might conflict sometimes with the Screen Time. Make sure your web camera is turned on and applications that you’re using the camera do have time available.

Go to the Apple menu.
Click on System Settings (or System Preferences).
Next, click on Screen Time.
Select Content & Privacy.
Then click on App Restrictions (or Apps).
Now, select the Camera checkbox.
Click on App Limits.
If you need to use your camera with an app in the list, ensure the app is turned off or not selected.

Well, this method might resolve the Mac Camera Not Working issue in most cases.

6. Allow Webcam Permissions

You can try allowing the webcam permissions on your Mac if your Mac machine is using macOS Mojave or later. Make sure to follow the steps below to do so for the built-in camera.

Choose the Apple menu and click on System Settings (or System Preferences).
Click on Security & Privacy.
Now, click on Privacy & Security (or Privacy).
Then click on Camera and make sure to Turn on any applications that you want to use your camera in.
You might get the prompt to quit and relaunch the specific application.

7. Try Enabling the Webcam with Terminal

Sometimes your web camera might have been in use by an application and didn’t quit properly for the new application to try and use the webcam. So, you might need to run Terminal to quit the process by following the steps below.

Go to Apple Finder and open Applications.
Click on Utilities and select Terminal.
Then type the respective command in the terminal and hit Enter to run:

sudo killall VDCAssistant

This command will stop the VDCAssistant process that allows the camera to run. If any prompt appears, enter the administrator password to proceed.
Next, you’ll have to type the following command in the Terminal and hit Enter:

sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant

Once done, reboot the Mac to change the effects.

Note: Although this method might be applicable to OS X and it might not be recognized on macOS Big Sur for some users.

8. Check the Activity Monitor for Rogue Applications

We should also mention that some third-party applications might be rogue enough to consume higher system resources or prevent some services for some specific apps such as camera permissions. It’s better to check the Activity Monitor by following the steps below to find out rogue applications and quit them all manually which might fix the Mac Camera Not Working issue.

Go to Apple Finder and open Applications.
Launch Activity Monitor and check for third-party applications or tasks.
Now, make sure to Quit all other running apps or utilities that might cause camera conflicts like Skype, FaceTime, Photo Booth, etc.
If you’re not sure enough to understand which applications might be accessing your camera, you might need to save your work progress first, and then close all the running apps to refresh the system.
Obviously, rebooting the Mac is always recommended after performing tasks completely.

9. Run Apple Diagnostics

Running Apple Diagnostics is still a great way to check if there’s a hardware issue with your camera — like a loose connection or failed module. But the way you access it has changed for newer Apple Silicon Macs.

For Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3):

Shut down your Mac.
Press and hold the Power button until you see Loading startup options.
Now click Options (gear icon), then press Command + D.
Follow the on-screen instructions to run diagnostics.

For Intel Macs:

Turn off your Mac.
Press the D key while turning it back on.
Keep holding the key until diagnostics begin.

If you get any of these reference codes — NDC001, NDC003, NDC004, NDC005, or NDC006 — it usually points to a hardware issue with your Mac’s built-in camera. In that case, it’s best to contact Apple Support or visit a service center.

10. Check for Any Physical Damage to Webcam

If there is something physically happened wrong with your webcam then make sure to check if the problem is appearing on the web camera or not. Any kind of damage or moisture/dust, etc might trouble you a lot. We’ll suggest you keep your MacBook and visit the service center to get it checked by a technician.

11. Reset the Mac’s NVRAM (No Longer Needed for Apple Silicon)

NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) is used to store certain local settings like audio volume, screen resolution, startup disk selection, and more. On older Macs, resetting the NVRAM sometimes fixed weird glitches — including issues with built-in components like the camera.

But here’s the thing:

On M1/M2/M3 Macs:

You don’t need to reset NVRAM manually. Apple Silicon Macs automatically reset NVRAM every time they boot up. So, this method is no longer required, and you can skip it completely.

On Intel Macs:

If you’re using an Intel Mac, especially pre-2020 models, you can still try the manual NVRAM reset:

Shut down your Mac.
Turn it back on and immediately press & hold:
Option + Command + P + R keys.
Keep holding the keys for about 20 seconds.
Release the keys after the second startup chime (or once you see the Apple logo appear and disappear again on Macs with a T2 chip).

That’s it. If you’re unsure which chip your Mac has, visit Apple menu > About This Mac and check the chip name.

12. Boot Your Mac in Safe Mode

Sometimes, background processes or login items might conflict with your Mac’s built-in webcam. Booting your Mac in Safe Mode can help diagnose and fix the issue by loading only the essential system extensions.

For Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3):

Shut down your Mac completely.
Press and hold the Power button until you see Loading startup options.
Select your startup disk, then press and hold the Shift key and click Continue in Safe Mode.
Now your Mac will boot into Safe Mode.

For Intel Macs:

Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
Once you see the login window, release the key.
Your Mac is now in Safe Mode.

Now try using the camera in any default app like FaceTime or Photo Booth to check if it’s working. If it works in Safe Mode but not normally, some third-party app or extension might be causing the conflict.

13. Test Webcam Using Safari Browser

If you’re unsure whether the problem is with your webcam hardware or with a specific app, you can try testing your Mac’s camera directly using Safari. There are safe online tools that let you check if the camera is working.

Here’s how:

Open Safari and go to https://webcammictest.com
Click on Test my cam.
When prompted, click Allow to let the website access your camera.

If you can see your webcam feed, it means your Mac’s camera is working fine and the issue is most likely with app permissions or software conflicts. If the camera doesn’t show up here either, it’s more likely a system-level or hardware issue.

14. Check App Permissions in New macOS (Sequoia & Later)

Apple keeps updating how privacy permissions work, especially for the camera and microphone. So, if you’re using macOS Sequoia (2025) or a recent version, it’s important to double-check that your apps are allowed to use the webcam.

Here’s how to do that:

Click on the Apple menu and go to System Settings.
Scroll down and select Privacy & Security.
Now click on Camera under the list of permissions.
Make sure the toggle is enabled for all apps that you want to use your camera in (like Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, Chrome, etc.).

If the camera still doesn’t work in a particular app, try turning off the toggle, restarting the app, and then turning it back on again.

15. Close Apps That Might Be Using the Camera in Background

Sometimes your camera might be in use by another app silently running in the background — like Zoom, Skype, OBS Studio, or even browser extensions. That could prevent other apps from using it.

Here’s what to do:

Open the Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities).
Search for any apps like Zoom, FaceTime, Google Chrome, Skype, or anything else that might be using your camera.
Select the app and click on the X button in the top bar to force quit it.
After that, reopen the app you actually want to use the camera with and see if it works now.

16. Try a New User Account on Mac

If none of the above methods helped, you can try creating a new user account to check if the camera works there. This helps figure out if the issue is related to user settings or system-wide.

Go to System Settings > Users & Groups.
Click on the Add User button and create a new standard user.
Log out of your current user and log into the new user account.
Open an app like FaceTime or Photo Booth and check if the camera works.

If it works in the new user account, something in your main user profile (like corrupted settings or preferences) might be causing the issue.

Note: On Macs with a T2 security chip, you’ll need to release all the keys after you see the Apple logo on the screen for the second time. (not the first time logo)

This is it for now. This full guide elaborates on all the required workarounds that can help you in fixing the Mac Camera Not Working issue irrespective of which Mac device you’re using. If you want to share any thoughts or ask any questions, make sure to comment below.

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