Q: after recent update of El Captain my built in camera is not working

Try resetting the SMC

On Mac notebooks with non-removable battery

Mac notebook computers that have a battery you should not remove include: MacBook Pro (Early 2009) and later, all models of MacBook Air, MacBook (Late 2009), and MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015).

To reset the SMC:

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Plug in the MagSafe or USB-C power adapter to a power source and to your computer.
3. On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
4. Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
5. Press the power button to turn on the computer.

On MagSafe power adapters, the LED might change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.

veekay srirangam wrote:...The hardware also says no scanner or camera ...

(a) If this means that neither the "Camera" nor the "USB Device Tree" section

of your Mac's Finder > Go > Utilities > System Information shows any camera,

you likely have a hardware problem that requires professional resolution.

(Over time, Apple has changed the built-in camera's name on newer Macs

from "iSight" to "FaceTime" or "FaceTime HD" camera.  Regardless of the

name displayed for your Mac's built-in camera, this info applies.)

You may need to click "reveal" triangles as shown in this image to see the camera:

There are no user serviceable parts of the camera.  For hardware help,

contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider to have your Mac

professionally serviced.

Be sure to backup your Mac and deauthorize iTunes before tendering the Mac for service.

(b) However, if your Mac's System Information does show the camera, one of these will resolve your camera problem:

(1) If restarting your Mac doesn't fix the problem,

(2) use Apple's http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090.

(BTW - The Troubleshooting article calls the camera an "iSight".  However, after the article was published, Apple has changed the built-in camera's name on newer Macs from "iSight" to "FaceTime" and then to "FaceTime HD."  Regardless of the name of your built-in camera, the same info and troubleshooting applies.)

Be sure to test more than one Apple app (Photo Booth, FaceTime, iMovie, QuickTime Player, etc.) in more than one user account.Do NOT use the "Guest" account for this test.  If you do not have more than one user account for the testing, create a new one now.  If you need help, how to do it is explained in http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201754.

A "Standard" user account is all you need for testing.

Don't bother testing Skype or other third-party apps until you have your camera working with Apple apps.

(3) If your cam won't work properly even with Apple apps, use OS X Recovery to completely reinstall your Mac OS from the Recovery System stored on your startup drive.

(4) If none of the above suggestions resolve your trouble, contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider to have your Mac professionally serviced. Be sure to backup your Mac and deauthorize iTunes before tendering it for service.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Mac OSX 10.11.3