MacBook camera not working? What to check
14 November 2026 · Mac guides
You join a video call and your MacBook shows a black box, a "no camera available" message, or a picture of the ceiling from your iPhone. A camera that has stopped working is usually a settings or software problem, not a broken part. These checks take a few minutes and will tell you which one you have.
First, which symptom do you have?
- One app can't see the camera, but others can. This is almost always a permission or app setting.
- No app can see the camera at all. This could be software, a Screen Time setting, or hardware.
- The green light comes on but the picture is black. Check for a cover or tape over the lens before anything else, then look at the hardware checks below.
- The picture is there but blurry, dark or patchy. Often a dirty lens, sometimes damage to the top of the lid.
Safe checks to try at home
1. Test with Photo Booth or FaceTime
Open Photo Booth or FaceTime, both built into macOS. If the camera works there, the Mac's camera is fine, and the problem is with the app you were using, such as Zoom, Teams or your web browser. If it fails there too, carry on down the list.
2. Check camera permission
macOS only lets an app use the camera if you have allowed it. Open the Apple menu, then System Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Camera. Make sure the switch next to your video app or browser is on. If the app isn't listed, open it and try to start the camera again, which should bring up the request. Browsers also have their own camera permission for each website, usually found by clicking the icon at the left of the address bar.
3. Quit other apps that might be using it
If another app is holding on to the camera, the one you want may not get a picture. Quit every video app you have open, including ones running quietly in the background, then try again. A restart clears this up in one go, and fixes a surprising number of camera problems on its own.
4. Check which camera the app is using
Recent versions of macOS can use a nearby iPhone as a webcam, a feature Apple calls Continuity Camera. If your app is showing the view from your iPhone, or a camera you plugged in once and forgot about, open the app's video settings and choose the built-in FaceTime camera. In FaceTime and Photo Booth this is under the Video menu.
5. Check Screen Time
If the Mac is shared, or was set up for a child, Screen Time can switch the camera off for everyone. Go to System Settings, then Screen Time, then Content & Privacy, and check that the camera is allowed.
6. Take covers off and clean the lens
Look closely at the black strip above the screen. A sticker, tape, a sliding cover or a smear of fingerprint can all spoil the picture. Clean it gently with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Apple advises against fitting camera covers to MacBooks, because the gap between the screen and keyboard is so small that closing the lid on a cover can crack the display. If you want privacy, close the lid or use the camera permissions above instead.
7. See whether the Mac can find the camera
Hold the Option key, click the Apple menu and choose System Information. Click Camera in the list on the left. If your FaceTime camera is listed, the Mac can see the hardware and the problem is very likely software. If the list is empty, the camera is not being detected at all, which points to a hardware fault.
8. Try safe mode and updates
Starting in safe mode stops many third-party apps and extensions from loading, which helps rule out software that has interfered with the camera. Apple's instructions differ between Apple silicon and Intel Macs, so search Apple Support for "start up your Mac in safe mode" for your model. While you are at it, install any waiting macOS updates in System Settings, then General, then Software Update.
Signs it is a hardware fault
If the camera does not appear in System Information, does not work in Photo Booth, and none of the settings above help, the fault is probably physical. The camera sits in the top edge of the lid and connects to the logic board through the cable that runs through the hinge. The usual causes are:
- Damage to the lid. A drop, a knock to the top edge or a lid that has been forced back too far can damage the camera or its connection.
- A worn display cable. On some models, years of opening and closing wear the cable at the hinge. If the camera has stopped working and the screen also flickers, goes dark at certain angles or shows lines, the cable is a strong suspect.
- Liquid. A spill that reached the top of the keyboard or the hinge can affect the camera as well as the keyboard.
- A fault on the logic board. Less common, but possible, especially after liquid damage.
On many recent MacBooks the camera is built into the display assembly, so the fix can involve the screen as well. A proper diagnosis tells you whether it is the camera, the cable or the board before any parts are ordered. Our full diagnostics page explains how we test.
Is it worth repairing?
That depends on the fault and on the rest of the Mac. A cable or camera fault on an otherwise healthy MacBook is usually worth fixing, especially if you rely on video calls for work. If the screen is damaged too, the repair is bigger, and it is worth weighing up against the age of the Mac. Our pages on MacBook Air repair and Mac screen repair explain what is involved. If you need a camera this week and the repair can wait, a USB webcam or your iPhone will do the job in the meantime.
Before you send it in
Back up your files with Time Machine or iCloud before any repair. Write down when the camera stopped working and anything that happened around then, such as a drop, a spill or a macOS update. It helps us find the fault faster.
Get a quote
If your MacBook camera still won't work after these checks, call 020 7394 2525 or bring it to 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY. We are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, with bike collection in London and courier collection across the UK.