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Bilal_M Author

Level 1

7 points

Photobooth unable to use camera

Hey everyone,

I recently upgraded my MacBook (2017) to MacOS Big Sur 11.0.1

Everything is working perfectly fine except for Photo Booth. My camera works fine in other applications such as Microsoft teams, but it doesn't work in Photo Booth for some reason.

In the app, it shows a black screen and the take picture button is unable to be pressed. However, there is still a green light next to my webcam. All my privacy settings allow Photo Booth to use the camera and this only occurred after I updated my mac.

(red bar was added by me)

Are there any fixes to this problem?

Thanks,

Bilal

MacBook

Posted on Nov 15, 2020 8:32 PM

Top-ranking reply

Bilal_M Author

Level 1

7 points

Posted on Feb 1, 2021 9:24 PM

Update:

This problem was fixed for me until yesterday. I tried the established solution and it worked again!

For those of you not understanding the solution from the thread, here it is:

Quit photobooth (I'm not sure if this is necessary)
Locate to the applications folder and find Photobooth
Right-click on the icon and press "duplicate"
Check if the copy works (it should work)
Quit the copy, move it to the trash and now open the original app... it should be working fine now

If this doesn't work for you, I apologize. Try contacting Apple or refer to the solutions in the thread below.

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44 replies

johndore

Level 1

4 points

Feb 18, 2021 12:19 PM in response to fabnj

I'm glad to report that IrishCanadian's force quit solution has cured my problem. As I reported earlier, when I ran my McPaw, CleanMyMac X Version 4.7.4 app, Photo Booth stopped working again but was restored using IrishCanadian's force quit method. I reported this to McPaw and they provided a solution which involved excluding the User Cache files from the Smart Scan routine and adding Photo Booth to the Ignore List. Since following McPaw's solution Photo Booth has continued to work reliably after running the CleanMyMac app and after numerous reboots of my MacBook Pro. I hope this additional information may be of use to anyone else experiencing the same problem. Best regards and thanks again to IrishCanadian - stay safe!

iggipop

Level 1

14 points

Dec 17, 2020 12:01 AM in response to CreativeSmith

I had the same problem. it seems incredible, but throwing away the copy, the original starts working!!! 😃

Nov 18, 2020 6:21 PM in response to Bilal_M

I also have this problem. I hope they will have a fix for this soon.. Hoping for a patch for the new os. Also my battery drains quickly.

Nov 20, 2020 8:56 AM in response to Bilal_M

I have the identical problem on both my MacBook Air and iMac.

Nov 23, 2020 4:41 PM in response to dialabrain

SMC didn't help us.

Nov 28, 2020 12:13 PM in response to revlev

Small comfort in knowing that “it’s an issue,” rather than just some random quirk in an individual’s system.

Dec 17, 2020 4:50 AM in response to iggipop

After this latest macOS upgrade, PB worked correctly ONLY after first launch but not thereafter. Problem remains: not displaying camera output.

revlev

Level 1

9 points

Dec 17, 2020 9:18 AM in response to revlev

And I just updated Apple Support on this strange issue- they said thanks! So anyone have a cure for COVID while we’re on a roll?

Dec 17, 2020 9:54 AM in response to revlev

Am I the only one still having a problem with Photo Booth?

Dec 26, 2020 11:17 AM in response to iggipop

How do I get the original?

Dec 27, 2020 9:13 AM in response to Bilal_M

I also found the option-drag method works. both copy and original of PB fully operational now.

Dec 27, 2020 10:24 AM in response to sceloglaux

So frustrating. Can no longer get it to work on this system— neither the copy nor...

Dec 28, 2020 11:48 AM in response to sceloglaux

How do I do this? Please help

Dec 28, 2020 12:03 PM in response to ameera1010

Try selecting Photo Booth, then command+c to make a copy of the app, followed by command+v to paste the copy into the app folder. Then… launch the copy.

johndore

Level 1

4 points

Dec 29, 2020 3:47 PM in response to Bilal_M

I have had the same problem and have tried all of the suggestions without success. Glad to find it's not just me - seems a problem since the Big Sur upgrade. Hope Apple can fix it soon.

Photobooth unable to use camera