M1 13” MacBook Pro Webcam Flickering

I have the same camera issue with my M1 Air. I found next workaround in order to make it work properly.

It seems that it is happening due to LED light pulsing. But not all of them causing flickering. I have changed LED lamps (which was 5 years old) in my room and flickering has gone. Seems that modern LED lamps has a less pulsing.

Anyway it's ridiculous that my old 2014 Air works absolutely fine with the any light sources and the brand new M1 Air needs such tweaks and tricks. It would be great if we as an early adopters can get a clear answer from Apple about this issue.

I reported the same issue here at the beginning of this month as well when I was still in London. Now I am back in Taiwan, the issue is gone. It seems users in Europe are mostly affected. If users in the States and Asia aren't affected so much, I doubt Apple would have it fixed as soon as possible. Fingers crossed...

Hi guys!

I so frustrated with the webcam flickering issue. I have had more than 6 years a MacBook Pro (middles 2014) with Intel engine and this Mac never reported problems. For Xmas I received the new Apple Brand M1 (MacBook Pro) and I can't believe the webcam flickering. I did a FaceTime videocall with natural light and all went well but the same videocall with led lights in my bedroom is not possible, the image is continuously flickering.

Overall, when I change a device is in order to improve the features or the performance. Currently, this is the first time that I have bought an Apple product which it have problems. I bought the Apple M1 mainly for improve the quality and the experience during video calls with my university students. However, I realised that the old MacBook Pro was better than Apple M1. Also, I have a iPad Pro (2nd generation) and the FaceTime camera is really better than the Apple M1. Therefore, I agree with all of you, the flickering problem on the FaceTime camera is very real. So, apple developers or engineers hurry up and solve this issue. This have not sense!!!!

Thank you very much, sles5 ! I installed OBS and followed the steps that you mentioned. For me as well, setting it to FPS=25 in OBS got rid of the flickering black lines in my video/FaceTime calls.

Most likely, 25 works since that is a "perfect-divider" / "perfect-multiple" of 50. Due to which, the sampling rate is "out-of-sync" of 60 Hz .. and thus, the black lines problem goes away.

For instance, I still have the problem if I set OBS to 30 FPS.

40DOMI, I used the OBS virtual camera with the Zoom and google meet apps and everything works fine. The problem is with FaceTime, because although OBS is active and minimized, when I answer the call FaceTime shows "call failed". I don't know why.

Thank you very much Sles5 for your advice. I have followed your instructions and the webcam flickering disappears. So the hypothesis about 50Hz/60 Hz (25 fps/ 30 fps) is true. Just change 30 fps to 25 fps to fix the flicker problem. Thank you very much Sles5. Great solution awaiting solution from Apple.

Looks like it is working for majority of video conferencing apps except FaceTime. This seems related: https://github.com/obsproject/obs-studio/issues/3967#issuecomment-751130735: FaceTime, like most other macOS system apps, does not support virtual cameras.

I think the problem is far simpler, the FPS is set at 30, the flickering stops when you use OBS software at 25 FPS, the problem is Face Time will not work with OBS...I have left 2 feed backs already and also with tech support, it seems apple have known about this problem since they changed the camera’s in 2018 or at least that’s what the tech support told me and it’s normal with LED lights

I do not understand why you cannot use OBS with FaceTime. That works smoothly for me. I even can change the FPS setting during the FaceTime call .. and show to my friends the effects of 25 FPS (no flickering black lines) vs 30 FPS (with flickering black lines).

Have you tried to kill FaceTime completely (Cmd+Q, and then kill from the "Activity Monitor" as well, if still present there)? Perhaps that will help you.

Thanks! I've created a "Bug Report" under apple.com/feedback as well, under the category MacBook Air.

I also strongly suggest that as many of us give our feedback to Apple directly, so that they can fix this in the OS itself.

Hi zeGenius,

I appreciate all the support you provide, since apple is in deep silence.

I've already tried the OBS solution which solves the flickering, but I can't make a FaceTime call either.

If the OBS runs the camera works fine e.g. using the FaceTime, but I can't make or receive any call, I have "call failed" error message. If I close the OBS (command + Q) FT works properly but with flickering camera picture.

Do you have any suggestion what else to set/check?

Just for the records, my son just bought a ASUS Vivobook S15 where there was the same camera issue, but on the win10 platform you have option to fine tuning the camera settings and change the power line frequency from 60Hz to 50Hz which solves the flickering.

This kind of issues should have been solved very fast and shouldn't be the case neither with the newest MBA 2020, M1 nor the few years old MBA/MBP.

I've also submitted a bug report under apple.com/feedback.

i mention the problem to customer care in Greece. I send them logfile and video. The call me back a day later telling me that "the problem is been investigated" but i can't return the pro m1 and take my money back because it's "software and not hardwaer issue"! I'ts my layer's turn now i think...

Hi zeGenius,

I have MacBook Air 13" M1, 2020 (8 GB memory) with the latest iOS version, Big Sur 11.1.

I properly applied all the OBS settings as per above, at least I hope :) since the flickering disappears in FT and Photo Booth when I start the virtual camera, BUT I can't make and receive calls, I have error message "Call failed".

Any suggestion?

I have this issue too, on Teams (and other apps using the camera). It's extremely irritating as I use the camera in my profession on a daily basis.

Hopefully there is a fix coming. I have made a bug report.

Hi zeGenius,

I literally followed the steps, with no success.

The OBS works fine with e.g Teams without any flickering, also shows perfect picture with FaceTime, but still can't make/receive any video call. If I close OBS FT video calls also works but with the flickering way.

I counting forums readings till Apple steps in and finally fixes this issue.