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I followed the directions: System Preferences / Security & Privacy / Privacy. I clicked on Camera but no apps appeared. (I know to unlock to alter an apps permission). My web cam is active. Help please.
MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
Willing_Pupil wrote:
I followed the directions: System Preferences / Security & Privacy / Privacy. I clicked on Camera but no apps appeared. (I know to unlock to alter an apps permission). My web cam is active. Help please.
Reboot.
If no resolve —Try a SafeBoot https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
Takes noticeable longer to get to the login screen, does a 5-15 minute disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache, etc. Login and test. Reboot and test as caches get rebuilt.
In Safe mode third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled, it removes malware, etc hampering smooth operation, however a reboot will put it back to normal mode.
I use a light weight third party app to monitor camera/microphone:
https://objective-see.com/products/oversight.html
Willing_Pupil wrote:
I followed the directions: System Preferences / Security & Privacy / Privacy. I clicked on Camera but no apps appeared. (I know to unlock to alter an apps permission). My web cam is active. Help please.
Reboot.
If no resolve —Try a SafeBoot https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262
Takes noticeable longer to get to the login screen, does a 5-15 minute disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache, etc. Login and test. Reboot and test as caches get rebuilt.
In Safe mode third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled, it removes malware, etc hampering smooth operation, however a reboot will put it back to normal mode.
I use a light weight third party app to monitor camera/microphone:
https://objective-see.com/products/oversight.html
That interface is to allow/deny an app's use of Camera, not for disabling the camera altogether.
Under Catalina, developers must embed entitlements into the apps to access many of the privacy-related things. When the app asks your permission, it is added to that pane. You can't add/remove them yourself.
If an App asks permission to use the Camera (it must), then the app will appear in that list.
FaceTime and Photo Booth do not ask, nor can they be put in that list as the camera is the primary purpose of the apps. I'm not sure if third-party apps are treated the same.
The camera is active when using an app that uses the camera, like FaceTime or Photo Booth. What apps do you have open?
Thank you Barney-15E, leroydouglas, and QuickTimeKirk.
Barney, I don't use FaceTime or Photo Booth, not even on my iPhone 8. The only apps I frequently open are Firefox, Pages, Numbers, Mail, Messages, and Stickies. I'm a new user of Mac, switching over last fall after 25 years of Windows.
QuickTimeKirk, I used black electrical tape over the lens on my Windows laptop, but thought I might try disabling the camera on the Mac. Guess I'll use the tape again.
leroydouglas, thanks for your reply. I'm hesitant to attempt a reboot as everything else is humming along, not like the constant struggle I had with Windows.
The only apps I frequently open are Firefox, Pages, Numbers, Mail, Messages, and Stickies. I'm a new user of Mac, switching over last fall after 25 years of Windows.
Web pages can request access to the camera, but by default they must ask in Safari. No idea about FireFox, but the OS would ask if you want to allow FireFox to use the Camera.
But, what you use frequently wasn't the question. The camera doesn't just turn on. An app must be using it. So, what app did you start up when it turned on.
Oh, I'm sorry. I clicked on FaceTime because I saw the number 14 in a red circle on top of the app. I'm guessing that some calls originated in FaceTime even though I don't use it. When a live shot of me appeared on the screen I yelped. I've read to cover the lens of the camera when not in use for security reasons.
Put a small piece of electrical tape over the lens.
The calls didn't necessarily originate in FaceTime. When you have your iPhone set up to handoff to your Mac for phone calls, they are recorded in FaceTime on the Mac as there is no other "phone" app.
Unable to disable web cam
