No Camera Available Error on macOS Catalina

I just had this error after upgrading to 10.15.7

After some stress, I fixed it by:

1) opening Screen Time in System Preferences, then adding my browsers, FaceTime, Zoom, etc, to the section "Always Allowed"

2) restarting

3) tested things starting with FaceTime (I figure Apple is going to be the most relaxed about their own software).

The camera and microphone worked as normal in all the apps. I also noticed whereas before in Security & Privacy, the Camera and Microphone sections didn't allow me to add anything, those areas were now behaving as one would expect.

IrvLaskoe Said:

"Look at this setting in the Kaspersky Internet Security settings: I had this set to "BLOCK". As soon as I UnBlocked it the camera started working! Finally!!"

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Interesting Report:

I have my own way of disabling the camera - but your way makes it upfront. Thing is - it's something I would never install: Security Software

Reboot your computer

or

Try resetting NVRAM/PRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

Try resetting the SMC https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

AmacaC Said:

“No Camera Available Error on macOS Catalina: Hello, Please I just realized that my macbook camera isn't working for my applications (Photobooth and Facetime) after I updated to macOS Catalina.“

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Reinstall the macOS:

This seems to be a bug in the macOS or a glitch in either or both apps. Being that Photobooth and Facetime is built into the macOS, reinstalling the macOS would be the only way to fix this.

So, Try the Following in the Order Provided:

• Create a New Administrator User:

Create a new Administrator user and see what happens. If it does not occur, then it is something configured in your current user. Create this as the Administrator in:System Preferences > Users & Groups

• Boot into Safe Mode:

Try logging in using Safe Mode (Hold down shift key upon boot). See if you can log in. Items only load as they do by default, while you are booted into Safe Mode, because a caches are set aside.  Go Here: Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support

If of no success....

Move Ahead with Reinstalling the macOS:

Back Up your Mac:

Start by Creating a Time Machine Backupof my Mac. That way I could be assured that Incan recover my Mac, should I need the App back or if anything goes wrong due to the removal. So, Create a Time Machine backup of your Mac, so that you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall.

Reinstall the macOS:

Nothing would be deleted. It's just that items that have become corrupted or deleted, item would be placed back to where they should be. Go Here: How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

AmakaC Said:

”No Camera Available Error on macOS Catalina: Hello, Please I just realized that my macbook camera isn't working for my applications (Photobooth and Facetime) after I updated to macOS Catalina.“

———-

Visit this Post:

Macbook Pro Camera doesn’t work “No Video”

And then...

Try Apple’s Recommended Answer:

1. Unplug: ALL Connected Devices
2. Boot: into Safe Mode (Hold Down: shift upon boot)
3. Let: the Mac boot up.
4. Log In: as the same user
5. Restart: the Mac
6. Log in: as the same user
7. Verify if the issue persists

——-

As for Its Solution: Allow the apps below to control your computer.”... Well, don’t do that, as it’s pretty risky business — Zoom is listed there (which has reportedly been hacked recently) — So, contact Apple before proceeding with the post’s own solution. The Helpful Answer is just feedback on supposed solution.

Contact Apple Support:

Contact Apple Support, if Apple’s Recommend Answer does not work. Ask the Apple Rep on the phone about following through with an app controlling your computer.

Contact Apple:

--- Contact Us - Choose Locations

--- USA: 1(800)MY-APPLE

--- Proceed from there as Necessary

Note: Calls seem to be taking much longer than normal to get an Apple Rep to answer the call. And that makes sense, because many are at home at the moment (due to the Coronavirus Pandemic), hence they have more free time on their hands for a chance to call Apple Support.

Bad news folks: if you're experiencing this issue you're pretty much boned. Since I work at a big tech company that has an enterprise relationship with Apple I had the privilege of speaking with one of their highly knowledgable, very intelligent (and very kind) tech support specialists (not just "some guy" that's gonna tell you to turn it off and back on again).

The problem is likely due to the T2 security chip incorrectly serializing the serial number of the camera. Fixing it will require some fresh firmware which an Apple tech will have to do and it will also require wiping your hard drive (at least it will for me since mine is encrypted). It also will likely require a new logic board and/or display. If your machine is covered under warranty Apple should take care of this -- after all, it's entirely their issue since they make the hardware and the software and this issue occurs on a fresh install, which I did on a new partition -- but will probably entail wiping your hard drive in the process. If you can make a Time Machine backup beforehand you should be able to go right back to the way things were afterward though.

As I answered previously, "Look at this setting in the Kaspersky Internet Security settings:I had this set to "BLOCK". As soon as I UnBlocked it the camera started working! Finally!!"

I hope this helps.

ira199 is right!

Look at this setting in the Kaspersky Internet Security settings;

I had this set to "BLOCK". As soon as I UnBlocked it the camera started working!

Finally!!

Thanks ira199.

Thank you so very much! That solved the issue for me. It was Kaspersky blocking the webcam, what a simple fix and I was tearing my hair out.

Give Apple Feedback:

I don't have the issue - but, inform Apple of it - give them feedback. They won't get back to you directly on it, but, the more they hear about it, the more they will know what is going on, and what needs to be fixed. If it worked before the update installation, then one should be confident it's the software causing the issue - not the hardware.

Feedback:

1. Go Here: Feedback - macOS - Apple
2. Select: "Performance" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Select: "Peripheral/Device Support" for the "Feedback Area"
4. Select: "macOS Catalina 10.15.5" for "Which operating system are you running?"
5. Proceed from there as necessary.

There is a lot of topics on the internet about that:

https://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/fqp3zy/2016_macbook_pro_camera_stopped_working/

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

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

It's obvious that this is a problem with the Catalina version.

I solved the problem with video camera not working with Catalina operating system., Both the integrated camera in the machine and an accessory camera. When I checked the virus system, Koperski, I found aCheck area that had turned off the video camera. Yes no

I'm having the exact same issue after updating Catalina. Did all the steps on all the blogs (PRAM, SMC, another admin user, safe mode, etc. etc) and even spoke with Apple tech support. System report still says there's no camera found and it doesn't show up under USB.

I have a 13" MBP 2016 w/Touchbar.

Chat support determined it was a "hardware issue" and I'd have to make a tech appt. This seems incorrect as it was working correctly before updating to 10.15.4 (or possibly 3. I hadn't used the cam bw those updates, but it was def working before). This is really irritating to be told that suddenly my hardware has died coincidentally when I updated software.

Commenting on this thread to say I'm experiencing the same issue, I've tried everything suggested, and hopefully someone will reply with a fix.

Hi, have you found out a solution to this?

The issue: "No video. FaceTime has not received any video from the connected camera. Restarting your computer may fix this issue" seems to bye quite popular in the last few weeks:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251186757

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251196062

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8309582

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250327868

I tried almost everything without success.

I also tried to raise a bug report here https://www.apple.com/feedback/ maybe it could be a signal to Apple.

I agree this is software. I ran diagnostics and no issues with my scan. The tech I spoke to said it was likely software then and he advised me to reinstall OS. They issued a Catalina update (10.15.5) that mentions issue with built-in camera. I installed that and sadly still no luck.