You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Camera not working in Big Sur

Hey Apple,

After updating to OS X Big Sur my camera has stopped working. This goes for every application, including FaceTime, Zoom, Teams etc.

I have tried rebooting to no avail.

Can you please help?

Regards,

Jacob

-MacBook Pro 2016

-OSX 11.0.1

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Dec 6, 2020 8:12 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 18, 2020 7:16 AM

This worked for me:


Route 1 - verify that "camera is allowed" for your user account:


System Preferences (window)

Screen Time (icon)

Content & Privacy (left panel)

Apps (tab)

Allow (section): Camera


Route 2 - Update to Big Sur 11.1


Tip: update in Safe Mode (hold Shift key while booting). Don't rely on the "15 minutes install time", it will take 1+ hour, if you have an encrypted disk, be patient :-)

531 replies

Oct 7, 2021 1:37 PM in response to Jacob_974

I haven't needed a webcam until now... and I updated to Big Sur weeks ago. Imagine my surprise when I found out that through an epic, 'Pooch-Screw' level oversight the something so simple as a webcam was screwed up in their new code.


Umm... it's now 10 months into this mess and it looks like Apple has decided to use Superglue for lubricant, making a bad situation worse.


This is happening just as my last Apple is ready to become the backup computer, and I am shopping.


I have been a steady Apple customer, buying some pretty serious hardware since 2004. On average a 'Rocketsled_On_Rails' every 2-3 years... I was a reluctant Windows convert, singing Apple's praises. It was like Saul to Paul...


However, I now have to question my commitment, since Steve died things aren't the same


Does anyone see a webcam fix on the horizon?



Oct 25, 2021 8:34 AM in response to Jacob_974

Recently updated my MBP to the latest system after the notification, but failed to use zoom for the video call.

Big Sur 11.6 and my model is MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports). I can see the FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in) in my System Report and when opening up the Facetime, the green light lasts for several seconds and end up showing the error of "No Video" to me.


I found this thread and tried everything i could get from the thread but not fixed anything yet.


Also brought the Mac to Genius Bar before i came across this thread, they wanted to charge me $130 for an evaluation and indicate that it will quote extra $$$ to fix the issue found from the evaluation. I felt this is not reasonable and just took back my Mac and left. Even from their initial diagnosis report, there is nothing wrong with my hardware.


Cannot believe this is how Apple makes money from a 5-year MBP owner and this reminds me of their slowing down the iPhone purposely few years ago just to sell more new devices.


Btw, I am sending this message from the Huawei Notebook 14 I bought just now.


Hope the issue can be fixed with the next patch or release.


Thanks,

BigSurWebCamIssueReporter

Oct 29, 2021 7:46 AM in response to bigSurWebCamIssue

Was so excited to see a new iOS update on my Macbook Pro today. Quit everything I had planned, got a cup of coffee, installed Monterey...still broken.

Have a new system engineer at Apple "working on the case". He said he hasn't heard anything about this yet. I told him that I found that impossible to believe and sent him a link to this thread. I also made him look at it in screenshare so that I could prove they saw it. Now that I know for a fact Apple has been made aware, the "plausible deniability" and radio silence seems harder to continue. They're gonna have to own what they did. And if I don't get a new machine, I'm out. To me, the fact that they've said nothing for 9 months is neglect. In my house in the last 10 years I've bought 2 iMacs, 1 Macbook, 5 ipads, and 12 iphones.

Why wouldn't I switch to android at this point?

Nov 9, 2021 4:20 AM in response to Jacob_974

I've had this problem on my Mac Book Air for year (2018 model). Upgraded to Monterey and was initially happy to see my camera working although was cautious. I was right to be cautious since a few days after it started working fine... I get a black screen when I use any application that uses my camera. Have tried everything including terminal commands etc with no luck. Honestly it is ridiculous.

Nov 9, 2021 5:18 AM in response to psnow85

Here's the best part of my story so far.

For those of you who are new here to this thread, or to everyone who has been following along, this issue started for me in March (2018 MacBook Pro) and every 4 weeks or so I try to get a new resolution from above.

Recently I tried again. My recent Support Specialist Carlo said he hadn't heard of this problem, so during a screen share session I showed it to him, and I sent him the link to this thread. They ran another diagnostic test on my machine (3rd one to date) and at the conclusion of that they told me that they would be in touch with me once it was reviewed by senior level engineer(s). In between that review I updated to Mojave. I was like "OMG please let this be the solution!" No such luck.

Here comes the best part: the diagnostic review came. back with the following info and I'm going to cut and paste it:

Hi James,


Thanks for your patience. I tried to contact you by phone but was unable to reach you.


I received an update about your case. The Apple Engineer who is in charge of your case have reviewed the information that was provided and concurred that this would appear to be a hardware issue with the MacBook Pro camera.


We recommend servicing the MacBook through one of our Apple Retail Stores or to an Apple Authorize Service Provider. You also have the option to request it to be mailed to the Apple Repair Center if you choose to have it sent it.


You may set up a repair request at: https://getsupport.apple.com


Please let me know if you have questions.



Thanks,



Carlo

Apple Support


So, that would be cool, if they were going to accept responsibility, but they're not. My machine is out of warranty, so to fix it I have to pay for it. There has never been a hardware issue with my camera in any of the diagnostic tests that were done previously, and my camera worked fine without any issue prior to the Big Sur update in March. I'm so angry right now that I'm beyond words. I will never, ever buy another apple product. Since 2012 when I made the switch to apple I've purchased 15 iPhones, 5 iPads, 4 iMacs, and 2 MacBooks. I'm shopping for a new machine, and when my contract is up a new phone for everyone in my house and business. I've never seen such blatant disregard for consumer loyalty. The proof of Apple's responsibility is crystal clear in the radio silence from them in this thread. Find any other thread here with a technical issue and you'll see an Apple rep respond within 3 or 4 comments. But not here.

I honestly don't see why anyone would buy a product from this company moving forward if they can disable your hardware (especially at a time when so many of us are working remote) and put the responsibility on the consumer.

Good luck everyone

Camera not working in Big Sur

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.