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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

Reply
Question marked as Best answer

I, too, was having problems with my camera recently after it worked for me for the last 9 years. I tried all the things mentioned above and then I tried a mixing a few of the information. I went to Settings, then Privacy, clicked on the unlock button, then clicked on Accessibility and then at the bottom of the right hand column that says Let the Apps Below To Control Your Computer, there is a plus (+) sign. I clicked that, which opens the Applications file. Then I just clicked on Facebook, WebEx Teams, and Zoom. Clicked on the lock on the bottom lefthand corner and restarted the computer. And that worked for me.

Good luck to the rest of you, as I can completely sympathize with what you're going through.

Posted on Apr 10, 2020 5:00 AM

399 replies

May 27, 2020 11:45 PM in response to lauri112

I'm having the same issue as everyone here. Just updated to 10.15.5 but did not fix the problem. I also tried a few suggestions found across a few threads but nothing has worked for me.


I realised the issue only came up after using a video conferencing tool for an online medical consultation (2 weeks ago). I was running 10.15.4 for awhile before that with no camera issues. Could this be a similar trigger for anyone else?


I also noticed my screen going "cloudy" occasionally after that, where the black appeared slightly grey. Turning off auto adjust brightness got rid of the issue but this only came up when the camera issue started for me.


Really hope they review the latest update and come up with a fix asap.

May 28, 2020 7:29 AM in response to dbaum

Given up the fight I'm afraid - took the suggestion of going 'back in time' on my mbp > wiped the whole thing, went back to mojave and time machined to Feb, when I didn't have any issues (have all my current work on my other macs). I now at least have a computer I can conference with. Won't update anything until Apple come clean and get this fixed.


As for trying to get Catalina 'video' working properly on my other Macs - one minute it see everything and connects but then won't connect to the call or video starts/ microphone doesn't or... or...


Good luck everyone.

May 30, 2020 8:42 AM in response to lauri112

Hey all - update on "no video" camera issue.


I experienced a camera that would turn on when the screen was nearly closed and froze as the screen was opened. The green light would show up when turning on the camera.


I went through all the recommended troubleshooting. Nothing worked to permanently fix the camera to make it operational in any camera accessing program.


When I discovered that it would work when the screen was downward facing and then froze as the screen was opened, I deduced that it was a hardware issue and not a software issue.


I have apple care+. So I made an appt at Genius bar, they sent my computer to apple care for servicing. Upon receiving it back (2 days later!!!! Wow fast) the description of the repair was:


"We replaced the part(s) listed below: Display Assembly."


So if you try all the trouble shooting, it could be a hardware issue despite no visible hardware damage.


Hope that helps.



Question marked as Helpful

May 30, 2020 9:08 AM in response to mceagon

Summarizing the issues in this thread is becoming quite difficult. There are some who are experiencing definitive hardware issues due to age and/or defect and others that have newer machines (not included in the Flexgate issue) who lost access to FaceTime & external cameras due to a software issue.


I refuse to believe the issue I encountered was due to failed hardware. Since it seems I'm likely the only in this thread to successfully re-initialize my FaceTime & external USB cameras with a fresh install of 10.15.3, a successful data migration after many failed attempts; I think continuing to have a mixed conversation (hardware vs. software) is going to continue to cause convolution.


If you have a hardware issue with your FaceTime camera, try an external USB camera to see if you can initialize video in a FaceTime call or other conferencing application. If you don't have access to a camera, try downloading EpocCam on your phone and installing the Mac driver from their website. The iPhone/Android app is free. There is also a paid version. Failed hardware doesn't necessarily mean your MacBook Air/Pro, Mini, iMac can't still recognize an externally powered device. EpocCam also enables the ability to bring the camera feed into video applications. I use it for my purposes.


If you have a software issue, none of the above will work. What I encountered, regardless of what the system reports, is shouting very angrily at your computer screen in order to shame it into subjection. Restart your Mac, try all your applications again, then escalate your anger into using expletives. If you first resorted to expletives, then your anger must escalate into throwing items towards various surfaces in an effort to abate the frustration you are inevitably feeling. After that, realize it is Apple's fault. They won't admit it but they will push out a useless update to "address" the issue without "addressing" the issue. Evidenced by 10.15.5.


Sigh. Move on. Change your Zoom name to "Reconnecting...". Imbibe your choice of adult beverage. Kick back, relax.

May 30, 2020 11:45 PM in response to lauri112

*CAVEAT - My problem is still pending Apple Support to resolve it, below is to help you understand your issues a little more*


Hope I'll be able to bring clarity to anyone facing the same issues.. Just bought a MacBook Pro last week and it came with 10.15.4 where the built-in camera was working fine for video conferencing and all until I updated it to 10.15.5 where it stopped working. Like some of you, I believe it is a more of a software rather than a hardware issue.


I have tried virtually everything that is posted online such as reinstalling Mac OS, resetting SMC, booting into Safe Mode and reinstalling all application that utilises the camera but to no positive results. Chatted with Apple Support thrice and the last method kinda worked, or at least proved that the camera works under certain scenarios:


Steps:

  1. Open System Preferences and click Users & Groups.
  2. Click the lock in the bottom left if it's not already unlocked.
  3. Click the + icon in the bottom left corner.
  4. Select the type of account (standard, admin, managed, etc.)
  5. Enter the account details, click Create User.
  6. Use fast user switching menu (top right hand corner of your screen where it shows your name/current user - click on it) to select the newly created account.
  7. Once inside the new account, try using FaceTime/ photo booth/any applications that utilises the camera.
  8. If it works, then your camera is fine.


Next, Apple Support suggested a callback from a senior advisor to advise on uploading the error logs from my system for the engineers to troubleshoot. While I have a hunch its the new updates which is causing the issue, I'll update back here when it is resolved.

May 31, 2020 5:44 AM in response to lauri112

689 people marked "I have this same problem." Apple ships over half a million of these notebooks over the course of the year.

I would not say that's a majority, even though not everyone who has the problem is aware of this thread. Even so, the more who report it to AppleCare, the more that increases the chance of Apple finding a solution for it.

Jun 3, 2020 7:30 AM in response to ekrall

Hi everybody


after ten days , Technical service has solved my problem (no camera recognized & black display) changing my laptop’s display due to a factory production issue


I recommend all of you to double check your MacBook serial number at this link In order to look for a free of charge new display


https://support.apple.com/13-inch-macbook-pro-display-backlight-service


good luck you all



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

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