M1 13” MacBook Pro Webcam Flickering

It is not a problem with just MacBook Air, I have the same problem with my MacBook Pro. Apple told me they have been aware of the problem since 2018 when the camera's were upgraded, (It is the same camera in both) and it is expected as far they're concerned 😡

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.

It's a known issue with UK electrical frequencies. Here's a tweet from a journalist in the UK "PS if anyone saw annoying flicker on my camera on @SkyNews yesterday *finally* figured out how to get rid of it. Turns out it’s a glitch caused by the new MacBook M1 chip interacting with UK electrical frequencies/LED lights, plus Mac OS not letting you change camera frequency.

You should read the whole thread. Replacing your laptop won’t fix the issue because it’s not a hardware issue. It’s software. And apparently someone tested the next beta of the Big Sur update and it has fixed it. So fingers crossed!

Just download the latest beta macOS and the problem will be fixed.

Brand new MBA M1 here. I unpacked the device from the box on THU 10-dec-2020. Immediately, I noticed in the self-cam that the webcam flickered when I sat in the kitchen, under the light there. The people whom I called using Facetime could see this issue with flickering black lines too, which rolled from the bottom of the screen to the top, and that too with extremely poor pic quality. They even sent me a video of the same .. showing this phenomenon.

The strange part is that I did not have this flickering issue when I sat in my main room (which has a different lamp overhead). Also, this problem does not seem to occur with daylight. The overall quality of the cam remains poor no matter what light is used.

It is really sad that Apple has sold me a "brand new" device which has this failure in it. Video calls are essential for almost all of us nowadays .. and we just cannot accept a cam quality that is not only hazy, but also with this "rolling black lines" issue.

@Apple .. how / when do you plan to fix this?

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 tibor72,

Interesting that the workaround does not seem to be working for you.

Just to be clear, could you please let us know:

1. what device you are using? Is it a MacBook Air M1 / MacBook Pro M1, or some other device?
2. what is the OS version on your device? You can find that by clicking on the Apple > About this Mac. It should say something like : "macOS BigSur 11.x" ..
3. how much memory is in your device? Also to be found in Apple > About this Mac : Memory
4. are you sure that you created a virtualCam in OBS, as per the instructions above?
5. I know it sounds like a cliche, but have you tried to shutdown your MacBook completely and start it up again? Does that help?

There will be no announcement of a fix until the day the relevant MacOS update is released. Apple doesn’t talk about forthcoming features until they are released (with good reason, in case the timeline slips during testing).

Make your complaint at https://www.Apple.com/feedback/

• Dec 23 2020, I ordered Macbook Air M1 chip on
• Jan 13 2021, Macbook was delivered, I had the exact same issue . I spoke to customer care executives for hours. In the end Applied for replacement
• Jan 31 2020, I got the Macbook replacement. And guess what it has the same issue. Again I spoke to customer care executives for hours and ended up placing second request for replacement
• And now I am still waiting to get a Macbook without defect..............

A huge disappointment. I am student and taking classes online, Without a laptop I facing lots of difficulties. All apple does it send me another macbook with the same defect.

I had a questions to others who faced similar issues in the past...What did you guys do to resolve? did you send it for replacement? did the replacement work without defect?

In Apple store it works fine because of the lighting. If you take it home

you will understand for what we are talking about.

I have the same problem but it is definitely something to do with the new Hz setting being locked as if you go outside in natural light it work fine. Inside with indoor lighting it is unusable.

I am experiencing the same issue as well. Accordingly I can't really do remote meetings or interviews at this moment since the flickering situation will definitely be difficult to the other end. What is going on with the webcam?