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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

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.



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 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 8:17 AM in response to Davidmoracampos

thank you for your sharing. You have a good luck.

After thumbing through the webpage you shared, I think Apple would Change the display assembly for your “black display” issue which is FLEXGATE.

As far as I know the camera cable is also integrated together with the display cable, which would also be affected by the flexgate issue. But unfortunately, apple doesn’t list this “camera no find” issue as a production defect.

Jun 3, 2020 12:09 PM in response to lauri112

Hi guys!


So here is a major update from my side. So today I was contacted by AppleCare because they saw this thread and I have once sent official feedback to them about this as well. I had an hour-long call with a lovely technician from Apple's engineering team and we went through everything on my laptop. She could see my whole screen and after showing, explaining and sending different reports about my laptop, she is sure that it's Apple's own software issue. The issue is not known yet but it's probably related to some kind of driver(s). As it was the first call today, they will work through everything I will have sent to them after the second call. Hopefully, I am smarter after that.


So everybody whose Mac recognises the camera and are identified that it's not a hardware issue in another way, be known that from today I am actively working with Apple engineering team to solve this issue. I have another call scheduled already to tomorrow and hopefully, we will get it fixed soon!


So if you are sure that it's not a hardware issue, please don't go to your local Apple store to fix your display. Of course, there are cases in this forum which are related to hardware and I encourage everybody to let their laptop to be checked by a professional technician. I will keep you updated.

Jun 3, 2020 12:23 PM in response to lauri112

I too was contacted by AppleCare based on my interest in this feed. I am still waiting to hear back from them as I did not answer my phone when they first called (suspected it was SPAM).


This is fantastic news! Thanks for sharing. You are now the official voice for all of us :)


Make sure they are aware that this is affecting many, many, many users. If they provide you with any sort of fix, be it settings or a software upload/update, please share it with us.


David

Jun 3, 2020 1:48 PM in response to dbaum

Edit from earlier:


Apple Tech called me back and ran several diagnostic tests and submitted multiple screenshots. I let him know that the camera issue was also happening in Bootcamp (which he had not heard that yet from anyone). He basically said to sit tight and let the engineers parse through the logs and try and make sense of what was happening. He could not give any sort of ETA on a resolution or answer, but rest assured they are aware and looking into it.

Jun 3, 2020 3:49 PM in response to lysandroc

FYI I'm experiencing the same issue on an iMac. I get the "no camera found" message in Photo Booth. Nor can the camera be detected in any other apps (by Apple or 3rd party like Zoom). It is interesting to note that there is only one user account affected by this problem on the iMac. Other users (including the guest user) can use the camera without issue. So this is definitely a software issue, at least in my case.

Jun 3, 2020 6:17 PM in response to dbaum

hello all,

Apple Tech also long distance called me yesterday as well to ask about the cam issue. I told him I had Genius Bar to diagnose and replace the screen with cam module under warranty. Problem solved!

However I popped up another issue back to him that I could not buy Apple Care as the decision call was changed from 12-month after purchase to 60-day without notification to me since 2019 March (Apple Care+ enforcement). The rep said would follow it up with local Apple shop to reach me...

Put the story short, Apple does care and the channel here is a vital feedback from loyal customers. Keep up fellas!

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

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