Level 1

115 points

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:

Kill VDCAssistant in Terminal. It didn't work because I even can't find VDCAssistant from Activity Monitor which should control the camera.
Simply restarting my Mac.
Done all software updates.
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

Top-ranking reply

D.I. Johnson

Level 8

44,715 points

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.

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399 replies

lauri112 Author

Level 1

115 points

Apr 10, 2020 6:57 AM in response to BenJam1990

Holy ****!

I tested your option and it worked for me once! I already clicked "helpful" and "solution" after everything worked perfectly but then I closed it and the second time the same problem occured and it's still not 100% permanent solution.

What's the logic behind it that you have to give app access to control your computer? At least I think that's the way how we could get it work... Hope to hear from you soon.

Old Toad

Level 10

218,348 points

Apr 10, 2020 11:59 AM in response to BenJam1990

You don't add items to the Camera privacy section. When an app wants to use the camera it will ask you to let it and when you agree the app will be added to that preference pane. You can then go there and check the checkbox beside it.

So it's probably not the privacy issue but some software glitch in upgrading to Catalina. Do you have a laptop and, if so, does it have the Touch Bar? This problem seems to hit laptops more than desktops from what I can see.

lauri112 Author

Level 1

115 points

Apr 11, 2020 2:14 AM in response to Old Toad

@Old Toad,

Do you have any clue what else I could try? As I explained above, I added Facetime to "Accesabilities" under "Security & Privacy", after that, I restarted my Macbook, opened Facetime and everything worked. After that, I checked Photo Booth as well and everything was perfected. I already started to write that it worked but apparently, after I opened Facetime (and other apps) again, the same problem occurred.

I tried to repeat all the steps, shut down my Mac and the second time it didn't work anymore. Also, the third time didn't work out. What kind of weird glitch is that? I think that at least we know that it's not the hardware problem 100% and nobody needs to replace their display or camera.

dbaum

Level 1

10 points

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 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.

lauri112 Author

Level 1

115 points

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 19, 2020 8:36 PM in response to apple3-433

My issue is with the Macbook Pro 13 inch Oct 2016 2 TBT model. All of a sudden, the FaceTime won't work. And Apple was quick to claim that it was a hardwayre issue. And since I was out of warranty (2.5 years old and I did not get Apple Care), I had to pay the replacement for the whole screen, since they all come in one module.

Apr 23, 2020 2:31 PM in response to BenJam1990

What you said is required in Catalina to have permissions, just it. It is not the same problem that we are reporting!

A lot of people having the same problem.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251156772

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251289154

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251270174

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251224506

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251249215

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251242556

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251272380

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251222774

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251194697

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251200984

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251254202

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251235200

Zoom, QuickTime and Photo Booth neither are working.

I started thinking it could be related by a firmware problem. That's because my Camera is not being recognized.

Giu53pp3

Level 1

13 points

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

You problem with the cameras is different from the one related to post, even if I think are more or less linked ins somehow.

This is the error message many people are getting as well:

"FaceTime has not received any video from the connected camera. Restarting your computer may fix this issue."

The Camera of my Macbook Pro is not working. When I start the Facetime for example it shows a black screen for about 30 seconds and then displays this message:

The camera seems to be correctly installed

The camera also does not work with any other apps. When I start these apps, the green light does come on, but turns off after about 30 seconds and the camera never works.

I have tried the following methods to fix the issue, but none have worked:

Installed OS software update (10.15.4)
Made sure all appropriate apps have access to the camera in preferences > privacy > camera
Given all of these apps permission to control the computer in preferences > accessibility
Rebooted in Safe Mode
sudo killall VDCAssistant and sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant in terminal
Logged into the other user account on the computer, and the problem persists.
Checked to see that System Report recognizes the camera

I have been told to bring the laptop in assistance because it could be an hardware issue, but I am not really convinced of this. Too many users are having the same issue at the same time.

Is Apple aware of this issue? Are they working on it?

I have raised Aldo a bur report here https://www.apple.com/feedback/

In the current time, it is really frustrating having a laptop without the camera and I am wondering if and when this will be resolved.

May 4, 2020 6:31 AM in response to nataliaccar

Guys, all we need to do is open a feedback issue, in the previous pages there is a comment explaining how to do it.

I think this could be related with firmware issue, this is not a hardware issue!

Apple needs to be aware of this problem, this is where we act!

a brody

Level 10

85,664 points

May 20, 2020 3:43 AM in response to lauri112

Hi Lauri, Unfortunately this has become an 11 page thread, and I’m unsure if you will get the response here. If system settings software solves your problem, but only once, you may have a malware that is rewriting caches. Mackeeper, Advanced Mac Cleaner, macpaw software and zeobit software can all do this. Please start your own thread, and ask how to get Etrecheck results posted if you don’t know.

May 25, 2020 3:56 PM in response to lauri112

Okay. So I've been following this chain which felt like to go on forever! Tonight I wanted to FT which I did a couple of days ago fine. I've followed everyone's steps. Noticed someone say if you close the lid slowly it comes back on. It worked. I opened the lid to the max too. It stayed on. Then I changed sides where my charger was connected and I've kept the screen open as normal. I've turned it on 6 times now and they've worked as normal. Not sure what's going on there, but maybe something to try?

lauri112 Author

Level 1

115 points

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.

Triple-E

Level 1

8 points

Jun 11, 2020 12:53 AM in response to lauri112

I've just updated to 10.15.5 tonight and came to realize the camera is still not functioning properly. I reckon this must be an Apple software issue as the built-in camera on my macbook pro was still working fine about two weeks ago before I updated it to 10.15.4.

This is indeed very very frustrating, I wonder what sort of support I could get as my warranty is already over.

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