Access to camera and microphone

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Level 1

17 points

Access to camera and microphone

When I try to do videoconferencing on my Macbook (e.g., Zoom, Google hangouts), my computer asks me to provide permission to use the camera and microphone. I go into Security and Privacy to give it permission, but the window that says "apps that have requested access to your camera will appear here" is completely empty, so I can't choose an app to give it permission.

I've updated to the most recent version of Catalina. I denied permission to the camera once, and I think it has just stopped requesting access anymore. I have tried deleting and re-installing Zoom, to no effect. I tried resetting permissions for camera in Terminal, but it said "failed to reset."

Anyone with any ideas? It would be really helpful to be able to use my computer for video chatting right about now...

MacBook Pro 13", OS X 10.11

Posted on Apr 17, 2020 3:47 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

chuck_3rd

Community Specialist

Apr 19, 2020 12:33 PM in response to poppurple

Hello poppurple,

Thanks for reaching out to the Apple Support Communities! I understand from your post that you're unable to use the camera and microphone on your MacBook with third-party video conferencing apps. I understand how important it is to be able to connect using video conferencing.

You've done a great job trying different apps, as well as removing and reinstalling those apps. Have you been able to try and see if the camera and microphone are working as expected with FaceTime or Photo Booth? This will help us determine if there may be a hardware related issue or if it's only with the software.

Let’s begin with some basic troubleshooting, if you haven’t done so already, and then work our way toward more complex ones. This will help us to isolate the issue further with the camera of your MacBook:

1 - Quit all apps. If it will not quit, follow these steps to force it to quit: How to force an app to quit on your Mac.

2 - Restart your iMac: Go to the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen > Restart. Launch FaceTime and see if the camera turns on, and if you can complete a call with video and audio. See if you can take a video or photo with Photo Booth: Take a photo or record a video in Photo Booth on Mac. If it works with FaceTime or Photo Booth, try one of the third-party apps.

If the MacBook works in FaceTime or Photo Booth, but not with a third-party app, continue with these troubleshooting steps:

3 - Quit all apps again

4 - Hold down the shift key on the left side of the keyboard as you click on one of the third-party apps to launch it. This allows the app to bypass the last saved state for the app. When the app begins bouncing in the dock, you can release the shift key. Once the app is up and running, see if the app requests access. If it does, follow these steps: Control access to your camera on Mac and Control access to your microphone on Mac.

If you're unable to allow access, or if you do not receive the request, continue troubleshooting

5 - How to reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac.

6 - Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac.

7 - Restart in safe mode and test again: Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac.

8 - If still occurring in safe mode you’ll need to create a new user and test it out again. This article will show you how: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac.

All the best.

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Answer 2

raina_b22

Community Specialist

Apr 20, 2020 5:29 AM in response to poppurple

Hi poppurple,

Nice job working through those troubleshooting steps. Excellent information letting us know that the issue continued after you removed and reinstalled the apps in your user, and the apps are working as they should with the new user.

Based on this information the next step will be to Contact Apple Support for more assistance. Be sure to let them know that this is a user specific issue with these third-party apps.

Cheers.

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Answer 3

poppurple Author

Level 1

17 points

Apr 19, 2020 7:29 PM in response to chuck_3rd

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your reply. I should have said that the problem is only with third-party apps - I am able to use my camera and microphone with FaceTime, so the issue is not with the hardware, but with getting permission for apps to use the camera and mic.

I went through all your suggestions, including holding the shift key while opening Zoom, resetting SMC and NVRAM, and restarting in safe mode, but I had the same issue of not being able to give permission to camera/mic in System Preferences. When I made a new user, I opened Zoom and was asked to give permission, so I could use the camera and mic in the new user! So it seems to be a problem with the settings in my own account. The issue happens in Zoom and google hangouts, so it's not related to just one app.

Do you have any suggestions on what I can do next?

Thanks!

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Access to camera and microphone

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