How to Use a Profile to Disable the iSight Camera in macOS 26 Tahoe
How to Use a Profile to Disable the iSight Camera in macOS 26 Tahoe:
IMPORTANT NOTE: In macOS 26 Tahoe, the Camera app is not a standalone application.
Upgrade with a Profile Already Pre-Installed:
For starters, know that Apple Configurator is required to perform this, as the only available versions macOS 14 Sonoma and later (Requirements for Apple Configurator for Mac - Apple Support) are installed. Upgrade from a pre-macOS 26 Tahoe (macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 15 Sequoia) installation, that already has this profile installed. Having been installed, the MacOS camera will be inaccessible from all apps on your Mac after you install this. After the upgrade back up to macOS 26 Tahoe, all that will show in System Settings is third-party applications.
Steps To Take:
Create a Time Machine Backup, just prior to upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe...
I. Verify: macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 15 Sequoia, and macOS 26 Tahoe compatibility of your Mac(see Compare the Results below).
II. Back Up and then Restart: the Mac to an external drive, using Time Machine Backup. Then, restart your Mac (choose Apple menu > Restart).
III. Downgrade(if necessary): from macOS 26 Tahoe to either macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 15 Sequoia.
IV. Create and Install the Profile: of the current macOS install, via the steps provided in the previous step.
V. Back Up and then Restart: the Mac to an external drive, using Time Machine Backup. Then, restart your Mac, (choose Apple menu > Restart).
VI. Upgrade: to macOS 26 Tahoe
VII. Verify: this is created by opening System Information and FaceTime and Accessibility and System Settings (See my three screenshots*** provided below)
VIII. Toggle Off: all apps seen in System Settings.
IX. Back Up and then Restart: the Mac to an external drive, using Time Machine Backup. Then, restart your Mac (choose Apple menu > Restart).
X. Use: macOS 26 Tahoe from here.
***Screenshots:
A. Screenshot 1: Message from FaceTime in macOS 26 Tahoe:
To use FaceTime, connect a camera.
B. Screenshot 2: Message from System Information in macOS 26 Tahoe:
No video capture devices were found.
C. Screenshot 3: Managing App-Specific Camera Access:
With this removed, you will only see the option to control the camera for third-party apps, which is most likely be a glitch, as of this post.
- Open: System Settings
- Click: Privacy & Security
- Click: Camera
- Verify: that only third-party apps are seen (i.e. Parallels Desktop, in this case), if installed
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These Steps Described In-Depth:
I. Verify: macOS 14 Sonoma or macOs 15 Sequoia, and macOS 26 Tahoe compatibility. First reveal the model of your Mac. Because a Profile needs to be created installed, you need to have either of these two macOS versions installed prior to the upgrade: macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 15 Sequoia. Being you are logged in while verifying this proves that you can use the GUI (Graphical User Interface) to install these updates, if compatible. To verify that your macOS is compatible with macOS 14 Sonoma or later...
First, Reveal the Model of your Mac:
1. Go to: Apple menu
2. Click: About this Mac
3. View: [Second Line-Down]
then...
Compare the Results: See if the model of your Mac is shown here:
- macOS 14 Sonoma is Compatible with these Computers - Apple Support
- macOS 15 Sequoia is Compatible with these Computers - Apple Support
- macOS 26 Tahoe is Compatible with these Computers - Apple Support
If incompatible with at least macOS 14 Sonoma or later, the following does not apply, and you can end here. If compatible, you can proceed from here to step II..
II. Back Up and then Restart: the Mac to an external drive, using Time Machine Backup. Then, restart your Mac (choose Apple menu > Restart). IMPORTANT: As always, I recommend backing up your Mac with Time Machine Backup prior to upgrading to, or downgrading from, any macOS, whatsoever --and the same goes for when it comes to installing security updates and software installs. With a Time Machine Backup, you will have something to restore it from, should anything go wrong afterwards. NOTE: The hassle of troubleshooting errors and other issues may come about after manipulating, installing or uninstalling, or updating or downgrading software. Preventing loss of data a pure example as to why it is extremely important to back up your Mac prior to performing any macOS changes, whatsoever.
III. Downgrade(if necessary): from macOS 26 Tahoe to either macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 15 Sequoia. To create an install a profile to disable the iSight Camera in-full, you need to have either of these two pre-macOS 26 Tahoe versions installed on your Mac: macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 15 Sequoia. Once either is installed, back up your Mac, then downgrade to either one. Note: Downgrading Without a Time Machine Backup takes some extensive effort and may or may not involve lots of troubleshooting (i.e. reinstalling licensed software and system updates, and configuring Accessibility settings).
IV. Create and Install the Profile: Having performed the downgrade to either macOS Sonoma or in macOs Sequoia, create and then install the profile. NOTE: The method of creating this profile is different between these two macOS versions; so, use the link that pertains the your macOS you need to downgrade to.
V. Back Up and then Restart: Once installed, back up the Mac to an external drive, using Time Machine Backup. IMPORTANT: As always, I recommend backing up your Mac with Time Machine prior to upgrading to macOS 26 Tahoe. In doing so, you will have something to restore it from, should anything go wrong afterwards. Then, restart your Mac (choose Apple menu > Restart), having just created the Time Machine Backup).
VI. Upgrade: to macOS 26 Tahoe, having just installed this profile with macOS 14 Sonoma or macOS 14 Sequoia.
VII. Verify: this is created by opening FaceTime and System Information(See screenshots A. and B. above, respectively).
VIII. Toggle Off: all apps seen in System Settings, all of which will be third-party apps.
IX. Back Up and then Restart: the Mac to an external drive, using Time Machine Backup. Then, restart your Mac (choose Apple menu > Restart).
X. Use: macOS 26 Tahoe from here.