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

You seem to be having the same issues as me. I resolved mine by going to Sys Preference on the Mac, then Screen Time, click on Content & Privacy, make sure it is off if you do not use it. Else, leave it on but go on to the "Apps" tabs within the Content & Privacy, then sure there is a tick beside "camera".

Try your FaceTime or Photo Booth app and see if the camera works.

Well funny story Paolombana

We don't really know any solution right now.

If you go trough this thread of answers, you will find some people who have had some form of succes with getting their camera's working again…

You will find some idea's of what could be the problem of our camera's not working, whether it could possibly be hardware or software, but we haven't really figured it out yet.

Right now, I would say that it looks like there is something wrong with Apple their software (MacOS, iOS is for the iPhones, MacOS is for the Macs 😉) but the problem is behind a secure layer, and more deep in MacOS and how it operates.

That means that, unless some of the possible solutions which can be found in this thread end up working for you, we can't really do anything about this right now.

Some of us have been contacted by Apple already and are probably still having talks with them, but for now there isn't really a solution, apart from waiting it out.

I will put some of the troubleshooting tips from this thread down here. These are quite basic, and don't do anything bad to your Mac, but if you have the exact same experience as the rest of us in this thread, these troubleshooting tips won't work for you.

To reset the "SMC" of your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

To reset the "NVRAM" or "PRAM" on your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

You might also want to try and boot your Mac up into safe mode to see if the problem also is present there: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

(For safe mode, please note that it is normal that your Mac might work / react a bit slower)

Hope this informs you a bit on the current situation, and if these tips / tricks don't work then I guess…

Welcome to the waiting room ☹️

PS. In your post you say that you updated to the last Sierra update. I do want to ask if you could possibly tell us what OS version you are on (for example 10.15.1), because Apple recently released a update to MacOS with the number 10.15.5

They say in the update notes for this version that it:

"Resolves an issue where the built-in camera may not be detected when trying to use it after using a video conferencing app".

If you are currently on a form of MacOS 10.15, you might want to consider if you want to update to this version, although I want you to know that so far, I don't think I have seen anyone in this thread whose camera started working again after this update.

If you are not on a form of MacOS 10.15 (so for example you are on MacOS 10.14 or 10.13) you might want to try and do some more research on how and if you want to update to 10.15.

PPS. In case you don't know, you can find your MacOS version by going to the top left of your screen, open the  top-down menu, and select "About this Mac". Also, you can use this page to help you with that: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201260

PPPS. If you try to go to the helpful reply's in this thread, you can see another summary of what we found so far (you can go there when you press on the button above all these messages saying "All replies" and click on "Helpful answers").

My camera on my one year old Mac Air stopped working 2 days ago. I have spent hours troubleshooting with Apple. On my first try, before doing any resets they had me check System Report to see if the computer was recognizing the camera. It was, and she said that was a good sign. But after the first round of resets it said no video devices were found! Then they had me upgrade the os to Catalina, which took 3 tries and 6 hours of downloading. Still no camera. Tried doing a test user. Tried EVERY POSSIBLE FIX I have read about other than going back in time, which is not an option for me. Apple is telling me now that it's a hardware issue and to bring it in for repair (the nearest authorized Apple dealer is 300 miles away!) I've heard they replace your screen to the tune of $500. Is that even worth it in a $900 laptop? Apple, please help us!

Hi, I am facing the same issue. Tried all the possible things. The Apple Customer Care even made me make a new partition , install Catalina OS again on the newly created partition, just to end the talk with we are sorry, please take it apple service center and do as they tell you. The apple service center told me there is an issue with the display. All this while I didnt use my camera, and during this lock down when I want to use it, it isn't working. I say Apple should offer a free display repair. There is no chance we pay half the Macbook's price for a new display.

I've had this exact same problem since March. I've tried every idea that's popped up on this thread to no avail. It's kind of ridiculous that during the time I need a camera the most, it hasn't worked and there still hasn't been a fix after nearly half a year! Apple is supposed to be renowned for their reliability, and I've been buying super robust computers from them for years, but I am starting to have doubts after how they have been handling this situation. If I can't get this problem sorted out I might have to get a new computer but I don't know if it will be a Mac. Apple we need your help on this one!!! #covidcatalinacam

Hello all,

I have the same problem with my MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports). After updating to macOS Catalina version 10.15.6, my camera stopped working. I have never dropped my MacBook, and I am confident that there is no physical damage. Unless the update they released caused my camera to fail or something. Is that even possible? I am not a computer engineer, but I am saying I have not done anything on my end to cause physical damage on my laptop. The built-in camera is not recognized at all, and I have been on the phone three times for hours with apple customer service with no solution. I have tried everything, including reformatting my disk drive and reinstalling the original macOS High Sierra that came with my MacBook. It still does not work. I have a friend that she has the same model, and she has precisely the same issue. The most infuriating thing is that Apple promised to call me back (scheduled call), but they never did. I am hugely disappointed with the way Apple is handling the whole issue. I hope that Apple reads my comment here and offer to take in my MacBook Pro and exchange it with a functional model.

I have found a temporary solution that might be useful for all users who want to attend their zoom meetings. There is this application called NeuralCamLive-installer. You can find it on apple store for your iPhone and iPad and your MacBook. If you install it for free, you can use your iPhone or iPad as an external camera for zoom meetings, Skype video calls, or anything compatible with the google chrome browser. It is not compatible with the Safari browser, and it does not work with FaceTime or PhoneBooth. I hope this is helpful. If you have any questions, let me know. Cheers!

Hi guys,

Months ago I contributed to this tread reporting a not working camera after Catalina install. So, I think my experience may help some of you to identify the problems with your MacBook pro.

In my case, it was a hardware problem and I could use the Display Backlight Service Program to get my screen and keyboard fixed, actually they replaced all the exterior of my laptop (I think they just put my hardware into a new case).

I would like to call your attention to a few points:

- I believe my camera was malfunctioning before I updated it to Catalina, but when I did it, it stopped to be recognized by the system report, so a problem that I was not aware of became evident.

- I bought my mac in 2017, but I started to use it frequently only after the pandemic started. Then I believe the problems were latent.

- I was skeptical that Apple would accept my case into the service program because they don't say specifically that not recognized camera is a symptom related to the backlight problem (However, a guy told me here that in his case the backlight started to show problems a few weeks later than the camera).

- I used an external webcam without any problem for almost five months literally waiting for the screen starts to fail so I could run to an Apple-authorized service. I did it and I got everything fixed in one week without any cost and without need for many explanations as my model fitted right into the problematic ones.

- I did not know the fact that my keyboard was failing sometimes was related to it, but it was replaced too as I said.

- Before that, I tried everything described here, including a complete clean install and downgrade to Mojave.

So, I suggest that those that are experiencing these problems to pay attention to all small signals of malfunctioning of your MacBook and go to an Apple service provider to check if you can call for a fix through the program.

That's the end for me

I hope you all get a solution, hardware or software.

I also recently lost the ability to use video and now after reading through this thread I followed all the recommended steps. I just checked the system report and it says no video capture devices found! How is that even possible!?!

I've just had a similar problem. Zoom meeting two weeks ago was ok, today sound only, no video. Tried Photo-booth - no camera connected ! Spent an hour on the phone to a very helpful Apple guy in Portugal (!). I think he was coming to the conclusion it was Apple's latest Catalina update when we took a look at my Kaspersky settings - webcam blocked !!! This must have happened when Kaspersky updated last week. Probably not going to help many people on here but worth mentioning anyway.

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.

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.

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

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)