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Macbook Pro camera doesn't work. "No Video".

For some months already, I have been facing a problem where I can't use the Mac built-in camera. It doesn't work with Facetime, Skype and either Photo Booth.


The message that I get after opening Facetime is "No video. FaceTime has not received any video from the connected camera. Restarting your computer may fix this issue". Only green light is blinking every couple of seconds.



I have been using this laptop for 2 months and it doesn't have any damages that could affect the hardware. Camera and other minor problems started in January 2020 after additional Catalina updates.


I have Googled solution for this problem and tried different solutions but none of them didn't work. Here is the list of solutions that I have tried:


  1.  Kill VDCAssistant in Terminal. It didn't work because I even can't find VDCAssistant from Activity Monitor which should control the camera.
  2. Simply restarting my Mac.
  3. Done all software updates.
  4. Run First Aid option in Disk Utility


Could anybody suggest any other solutions that can be done at home buy general user?


Thanks in advance!


MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Mar 15, 2020 9:06 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Mar 15, 2020 9:42 AM

Hello, Laurii112.


Sorry to know you're having this problem with your MacBook Pro.


If you haven't rebooted into safe mode anytime recently you should try that to see if it helps. Let the Mac OS do drive directory repair, cache clearing and other misc housekeeping. Often just booting into safe mode and logging in, then immediately rebooting normally will resolve an issue.  You should do this with all your external peripherals disconnected but the keyboard and mouse.


Booting into Safe Mode… 

Use safe mode to isolate issues - Apple Support


What Safe mode does:

  • Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed
  • Loads only required kernel extensions
  • Prevents startup items and login items from opening automatically
  • Disables user-installed fonts 
  • Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


Restarting in Safe mode can often eliminate a problem or help identify the cause.


You can verify that you have started in Safe mode by clicking the Apple () menu > About This Mac > System Report. Then find >Software< in the left column and look at >Boot Mode: Safe vs Normal< in the right pane.


Note– starting up in Safe mode could take 10 minutes or more. Be patient.


Does the problem persist while in Safe mode? 

Restart your Macintosh and re-evaluate the issue.

399 replies

Apr 16, 2020 3:47 PM in response to nrg162

I finally did an OS reinstall this afternoon. No joy. This issue is really ******* me off. What else I find interesting about this is that I cannot use the camera in my Bootcamp Windows 10 OS either. That makes me think it's a hardware issue, but like many others, I've done nothing to break my camera. It started happening after Catalina. Whatever function tells the OS to turn on the camera is broken.

Apr 17, 2020 2:40 PM in response to dbaum

What’s more frustrating than anything is that this forum and all the issues going on with the Mac cameras is on an apple website and they aren’t doing anything about it!!!! Either they don’t know the issue or don’t care about the issue, but just leaving people hanging with no viable explanation is ridiculous and shameful.

Apr 18, 2020 2:59 AM in response to lauri112

There are a variety of reasons which may cause the MacBook Pro/Air camera not working problem: likely- Software Conflicts/Connection Issues or physically damaged.

You can see more info here: https://www.starzsoft.com/mac-tips/macbook-camera-not-working/?utm_source=Quora&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=macbook



outdoor_life,

enjoying wildlife with spotting scopes

Apr 19, 2020 6:19 AM in response to lauri112

I had the same issue and Apple was quick to tell that it was a "hardware" issue. This was for my MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) unit of 2.5 years old and barely used.


The repair answer of Apple? - REPLACE THE WHOLE SCREEN AS THEY ARE IN ONE MODULE


Now, my screen is experiencing the stage light effect. And because of the faulty FaceTIme, i am not elligible for this program. In Singapore, I have to pay SGD800+ to have this repaired.

Apr 19, 2020 7:56 AM in response to ryfeliciano

Guys, it's not a hardware problem and even less you should replace your display. Read the whole conversation and there you can see how to check it. It's totally 100% Apple's own software conflict/issue/glitch or whatever which needs to be fixed by them. Also, I doubt that it's only a Zoom or any other application issue. I tried BenJam1990 solution at it worked for me once, everything was perfect and I already marked it as "Solved", but after I closed all applications and opened FaceTime again, the same issue occurred and the same steps didn't help me anymore.

Apr 21, 2020 11:23 PM in response to lauri112

All,

Reporting back - I restored from a backup before the last MacOS update, and it did not solve the problem. Camera still does not work - same symptoms. Nothing more here but a plea for help from Apple. PLEASE FIX THIS. Many people, including myself, have livelihoods depending on being able to videoconference with people. It is a basic functionality of a laptop to be able to do this. Please help. Thanks.

Apr 24, 2020 12:20 AM in response to lysandroc

I tried BenJam1990 solution at it worked for me once, everything was perfect and I already marked it as "Solved", but after I closed all applications and opened FaceTime again, the same issue occurred and the same steps didn't help me anymore.


Just for your information, I haven't been able to use my camera for 4 months already. However I believe that giving permission is a source of the clitch. How is it possible that I couldn't use my camera for months, added Facetime to "Privacy --> Accesability" list, then if worked once when I restarted camera and opened Facetime and after closing everything again, the problem came back.

Apr 24, 2020 1:29 AM in response to lauri112

I agree that it's so strange that "solutions" will work once or even twice but then nothing. So after the solution I first wrote about that lauri112 tried, I think I wrote then tried ringing the 1300 here in Australia and the Apple Technician had me set up a Test in my guest portal where we got the camera to work again. But the next day it was gone again! It just seems that as others mention, the software just doesn't acknowledge the camera. I still can't believe it's a hardware problem when we can get the camera to work without touching the hardware. Very strange!


Apr 25, 2020 2:55 AM in response to lauri112

I am really surprised on how Apple is managing this problem. As per today there are thousand of people experiencing this F****g problem with the Camera but is looks like it is just on us. Is this the way a customer service of the biggest company in the world works?

If I buy a £2400 laptop I am expecting the best, and not that after 3 years the Camera stop working without any reason. This is unacceptable.

Macbook Pro camera doesn't work. "No Video".

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