Apps not showing up in Microphone/camera access list in system preferences

Try opening Finder and Go to ~/Library/Preferences, locate and delete the com.apple.systempreferences.plist file, restart your computer, and then try opening the App you need to add and hopefully it will send you to the Privacy Settings to enable it. (Detailed Steps for Deleting .plist files: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4301)

I work as a Help Desk Technician and one person just reported a similar issue and the steps above worked.

They had no option to enable the application they needed to use in the Privacy settings.

I noticed the "+" button was missing on my machine as well (Catalina 10.15.4).

From my experience if System preferences is acting wonky, deleting the .plist file may fix the issue. Trying to create a new user account is another good troubleshooting step to test if it's a profile issue. If no resolve then I might try wiping and reinstalling MacOS and start from scratch.

OMG I have been having this issue for WEEKS and I completely erased everything and started over and it STILL DID NOT WORK.

*****HOWEVER I found on another thread that resetting the PRAM works AND IT WORKED!!! Here's how: Restart your Mac and hold down CMD+OPT+P+R as it boots. That's it! IT WORKS!!!

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

I think the answer here varies but I was having the same issue on my iPhone 10X and finally realized it was because of settings I had in my Downtime. (Ex. Apps I downloaded wouldn’t show up in the microphone permissions, people couldn’t hear me on speaker phone etc.)

settings —> downtime —> content and privacy restrictions —> if you have this enabled, scroll down and ensure you have “allow” as the status selected for “microphone”

Incredibly annoying but I fixed it by uninstalling and reinstalling the app that I wanted to grant access to. It appears that if you don't give it permission the first time around then you can't add it back for some reason. Anyway, it's a quick fix and it worked for me!

Hello. I have just ironed out the same bug - Zoom was not appearing in the list of apps asking for a microphone access. Search for Restrictions in Settings and make sure, that the apps can "Allow change" in the Microphone (and Camera) subitem. Then the Zoom can add itself to the Privacy/Microphone list.

I had the same problem on my ipad, and I realized that I had restricted camera access for my kids using the "Screen Time" settings long ago. So here's how I fixed it: Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps > then toggle Camera to "On". That fixed it!

Are you running the laptop closed?

It may seem like a silly question, but I just had the same issue and it turns out that, if you open the laptop then the apps will prompt you to use your microphone like you would expect (and appear in the security preferences list).

This is true, even if you are using an external microphone (Airpods, for example).

I had this issue with GoToMeeting. Requesting access to the Microphone was easy, and the app showed up in the list so I could add it to the preferences, but trying to add the camera navigated to preferences without adding the app to the list.

Tried rebooting, uninstalling, deleting preferences, etc. Eventually I left the meeting and opened the app preferences (app name > preferences in the toolbar), and when I went to change the video settings the request popped up again to update privacy settings, only this time it added the app to the list in preferences (previously it would go to the list, but no app, no box to check).

Seems like there is something keeping the app from requesting access to the camera and adding its name to the list, given the range of apps that experience the issue. Eventually I was able to add it to the list, but it took over an hour of troubleshooting before the app finally showed up, and I don't believe any of the common troubleshooting (reboot, uninstall) had any impact.

My solution was actually different. Apple support asked me if there was an update to the application. There was. When I updated, I got a dialog asking if I wanted to grant access to the microphone. I said yes, and the app appears with permission. Of course, the app doesn't work and save a file now, but that's a different issue.

Well I solved this problem but the cure is definitely painful. Erased the hard rive on my 2017 MacBkPro, clean installed and all the web based videoconference apps now install just fine. Now for rebuilding the drive without contamination is the next step.

Well I had the same problem with Catalina. I tried everything even reinstall CatalinaOS. The unique think that work for me was uninstall zoom completely, clean (I used cleaner), open macOS Catalina in safe mode, and reinstall the app again. I hope it work for you as well.

Can you not use the + sign an add them in(?)

Change Privacy preferences on Mac - Apple Support

Change Security & Privacy General preferences on Mac ...

I had this happen to me, but for screen sharing. The zoom.us app wasn't showing up as an option in System Preferences > Security & Privacy. I performed an NVRAM reset and now it's there.

If it doesn't work the first time for you, try it again. I had to reset twice before it finally showed up. Hope this helps!

Please refer to this Support article for steps on how to do an NVRAM reset - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

yes, but how do I add the camera icon to the list of editable functions? OS X Yosemite version 10.10.5 only allows for the following function to be editted: Diagnostics&Usage, Accessibility, Facebook, Reminders, Calendars, Contacts, and Location Services (see picture below). Ultimately, I want to configure particular apps to have/not have access to my audio and camera and there is not a way to easily modify this in the System Preference > Security tab. I have seen youtube videos describing making changes within "terminal" ... but I am not a coder and it seems like this is an elementary function that should already be built into OS X Yosemite, like it is in the Cantalina/newer macbooks... Am I missing something?

yes, but how do I add the camera icon to the list of editable functions? OS X Yosemite version 10.10.5 only allows for the following function to be edited: Diagnostics&Usage, Accessibility, Facebook, Reminders, Calendars, Contacts, and Location Services (see picture below). Ultimately, I want to configure particular apps to have/not have access to my audio and camera and there is not a way to easily modify this in the System Preference > Security tab. I have seen youtube videos describing making changes within "terminal" ... but I am not a coder and it seems like this is an elementary function that should already be built into OS X Yosemite, like it is in the Cantalina/newer macbooks... Am I missing something?