Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

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 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

Oct 28, 2020 12:39 PM in response to Simonron

update: I picked up my laptop from Genius Bar few hours ago, went back to my car, sat in there for a couple hours while talking to apple themselves, and was told I'd get covered the expense of labor and parts if I am ok with mailing my mbp with the box they'll ship to me. I said of course! and that's what I'll do. ~$1000 or free and wait MAYBE 7-10 days without having my mbp? lol 1st world problems. thanks apple

Oct 28, 2020 1:50 PM in response to abe120

So you guys are now at the spot the rest of us have been for weeks and months.

I did buy an external webcam. It worked for two times. Then was not recognized any more. This is a hardware issue. A design flaw. It will not be fixed with new software or a patch or anything other than a new machine.


I looked into a new machine, but I don't want to get the same type with the same problems in the hinge of the machine. I did check the trade-in value, which will help off set the total cost. But you do have to send in your old machine before you can get the credit to apply to the new purchase. A real pain.


Oct 29, 2020 1:09 PM in response to lauri112

I GUESS THEY ARE RUINING OLDER USERS ABILITIES ON A PERFECT MACHINE WITH THEIR "UPDATES" THAT DISABLED EVERYONE'S FACETIME - PHOTO BOOTH - AND WEB CAM - They are also stopping Adobe on Safari....


I will never buy another Mac, that's for sure. A laptop should not be "obsolete" in four years! It was working PERFECTLY UNTIL THE UPGRADE and THEY WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY

Oct 29, 2020 2:20 PM in response to BRANDOPASSION

I don't want to offend anyone, because I really suffer with you although I was lucky to get my problem fixed. But do you really think that the hardware error that most people seem to have was caused by a software upgrade? Isn't it more likely that the quality of the camera is poor and maybe even the number of failures now are not more than at any point in time. Considering how many Macs that have been sold and how easy it is to find this thread when you google on broken camera, there may still be a low percentage that has this problem, which it may be at any time. Having said that, I still agree with all of you who think that Apple should act and provide a service program for this. Considering the premium image of Apple and the price of the Macbooks it is not acceptable that the cams break down so soon without any impact from the user, regardless of how many units are affected. Usually Apple have been very good at providing service programs to correct their design flaws. I was so lucky to get my camera problem solved by the program for replacing screens with backlight issues and at the same time I noticed the program for changing keyboard which also applied to my model. This was for a 13" Macbook Pro bought in 2016.

Oct 29, 2020 2:29 PM in response to lauri112

My camera stopped POSSIBLY on updating to 10.15.7 (19H2). It certainly worked before then. I'm not sure when the update came, but, it doesn't work now.


I bought a £13 webcam and it is vastly better than the EyeSight was - and it has a mic that I can move away from the industrial fan noise I have these days. The Mac is seven years old now though. Not many Windoze boxes last that long. I've got two other Macs ( three now I've fixed a 13 inch) and they all work fine ( except for the dead GPU board. My Wife has a 12 inch - the mic and external monitor HDMI out of the USBC never worked from day one - but we never had a chance to take it back.

Nov 6, 2020 10:14 AM in response to abe120

update: I called apple, got in contact with a senior advisor,


she said she managed to get approval for covering the expenses of fixing the laptop (labor and parts), ie I didn't pay anything. she said the only condition is I'd have to ship it. I said sure np. I received a box to ship it with fedex the next day, these guys at apple move fast. here I am typing this message first thing after I turn on my mbp late 2016 13inch model with the camera all working (FaceTime AND Photo Booth) ITS BACK


THANK YOU APPLE

Nov 8, 2020 7:48 AM in response to PAPERMOONER

I'm one of the lucky few who managed to replace the camera through the unrelated(?) screen replacement program for fixing a a backlight problem on some models including my 2016 Macbook Pro 13". I had not used my camera much before but now realize how bad image quality the InSight camera has. I can be sure to have the worst image quality of all when joining a Teams meeting and in particular it is very noisy at low light conditions my iPhone has a much better camera and so does my Lenovo laptop used at work. After some googling I was surprised to see that the same camera is used for the 2020 Macbook Pros, launched before the pandemic really caught on and everyone started to sit in Zoom and Teams meeting all the day. From this, I guess that my recommendation to you who struggle with a hardware issue would be to consider buying an external webcam if you spend much time in live meetings and want to have a decent image quality.

Nov 12, 2020 4:44 PM in response to lauri112

I wrote to Apple thru Developer Feedback Assistant, attached some logs. Here is answer:


These log messages indicate that camera module hardware has failed or has become disconnected. These software indications are consistent with a damaged, defective, or disconnected camera module.

In some cases, this can be caused by a loose camera connection cable; if that is the case, a field repair is possible by re-seating and confirming that the camera module's cable is correctly attached.

In other cases, this log is consistent with hardware damage. Unfortunately, there is no software fix for either condition.
here has been no camera software or firmware update that would affect these products for multiple development-years, so it is very implausible that the hardware damage has any relationship to the camera device software or firmware.



I answered that it is not possible for sure. I will keep you updated.

Nov 15, 2020 10:16 PM in response to igolka97

last week I've became one of you.

map pro with Touch Bar 2019

went to use all the beta versions of big cut, and in the last update , I've lost the camera.

I've tried all the process there are-

I've done a refresh install, and the cam had worked(install Mojave, upgraded to Big Sur and worked!), but than I've restored from time machine one backup(stupid me), and the cam sopped again.


later I've started again all the process but it never got to work again-


the cam is recognized by the computer, diagnostics tool is all right. everything is seem just right, but the web cam is not working...



apple care ended before two weeks(yes its only one year old)


if there isn't a recall program or a software or a firmware update that will solve it, than what are we are here? apple supposed to be an home, not another company.




Nov 21, 2020 7:56 PM in response to wiesd

So I gave up on this a few months ago and bought a cheap external web cam after the guy at the store told me it would be between 400-900 to fix.

I actually have been impressed with the superior quality with the web cam, especially with the built in light.

Imagine my surprise when I just gave my computer a quick clean wiping it down with some alcohol wipes and using compressed air in the nooks and crannies. When I fired it up I was curious if maaaaaaybeeeee my camera was back. Sure enough it showed up under system preferences and when I fired up face time the green light came on!

So maybe give a can of compressed air a shot? I guess it couldn't hurt.

Fingers crossed it stays connected.


(btw- Previously I had gone through every single hoop mentioned in this massive thread with no progress)

Nov 23, 2020 11:17 AM in response to julie_sd

Today, after I absentmindedly clicked 'yes' on some update or other, my wife's 12inch Macbook and it suddenly forgot it had a webcam.

Since day one it didn't think it had a microphone and it wouldn't connect to an external monitor. Recently it forgot how to type a full stop. OK it is rather old now, but it never work properly - but always worked enough for us not to be able to last the fortnight without it while Apple got it fixed. Basically, it was a half a computer at full price. It is wonderfully light though. I've had to replace the battery and the keyboard once in the last 5 years too. I always hated the keyboard ...

Dec 7, 2020 5:35 AM in response to lauri112

After updating from Catalina to Big Sur, my 2015 MBPR (A1398) camera does not work anymore. The green light blinks and no video in photo booth, face time and web cam applications. After I downgrade to Catalina, it still does work.


However after waiting for hours, the camera works!


Then I updated to Big Sur again, and the camera does not work again.


So I'm sure Big Sur somehow damage the camera in old MACs models.

Dec 9, 2020 10:49 AM in response to lauri112

so after i read every solution to fix and contacted apple support for another possible fixes- they were very helpful. but we had to get to the conclusion its an hardware issue. not quite sure if its contacted to the big sur beta ive installed or not.


apple support were just wonderful, helpful, and really understood the situation and made my day- now im waiting to the MacBook pro that will get back to me with a new screen on it. kinda excited to c it working again!



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

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.