Camera not working in Big Sur

My iMac is less than 6 months old and I purchased AppleCare. If they can’t resolve this with an OS update, I’ll have to use the warranty I guess. I’ve yet to understand how the camera can display MY image in FaceTime but does not project it to other callers. Does not sound like a hardware issue.

Even after every update, they still can't seem to fix the camera issue. I took my MacBook pro to the apple store and they said they can't find the issue. They said my MacBook may be going bad. I was horrified as my MacBook is not that old. It is a 2017 model. What is worse, they quoted me approximately $800 to have it fixed. I asked why that much if you don't know what is wrong. I was angry. They said they must replace the screen. The screen was replaced about a year prior due to a faulty leaky screen which Apple took care of. This tells me that Apple products are not as they use to be. I own a Macbook pro, iMac, IPAD, iPhone, and Apple Watch. After this, I will not be purchasing any more MacBooks. They have ruined it for me!

Hi, I see that this problem happened to you last December, have you been able to resolve it? It happened to me last week after updating BigSur and the Apple Support online was not able to help. If you did find a solution, please let me know. Thank you very much!

Interesting thought.

If the act of turning off Norton Antivirus fixes this issue (as is being suggested), might it be worth non-Norton users installing Norton (is there a free version?) and then turning it off?

The_Knowledge_Seeker:

It’s an interesting thing to try. I do not have Norton Antivirus installed, however my thought process tells me that there are multiple root causes to this issue. If by disabling Norton the issue fixes itself instantly, and the issue never comes back, then that means I have a different root cause. I possibly have a root cause that is related to the Big Sur firmware upgrade and the issue can randomly start at any moment. Normally it happens overnight when I haven’t used my laptop [and I never put it to sleep](which some users are saying can trigger the problem). It’s hard to sort the weeds from the wheat when thousands of users land on this discussion when their camera doesn’t work. I still think Apple needs to fix software to resolve the problem I am having for good.

I have done a clean install and have the "no camera issue"

The only cause that could be is the BIG SUR update.

Spent ages with them telling me to do all the steps.

Tried EVERYTHING!

No camera since BIG SUR

crazy!

Yes. It’s a web of issues. This simple solution seems to have worked for me but again, I only tested it once using a family member. Also, Norton had been operational since Nov ‘19 and there was no problem until I updated to Big Sur in 1/21.

Same for me. After update to Big Sur my camera doesn't seem to exist anymore. Not in apps, not in hardware list.

Macbook pro 2016 13"

Tried everything i could find on internet, including smc reset, p+r combi etc...

Also the haptic feedback stopt working. No clicks anymore..

Some update....

Hi All,

I am facing same issue from last few months after updating software. I took Macbook Pro 2018 to apple support but they were not able to resolve issue and told me it may be a hardware issue. They told me they need to change the whole display which will cost me somewhr near 700 $. Too costly so denied it.

I tried all possible solution available online but no use. Not sure if apple is looking into this issue.

Thank You,

Nik

Hi Everyone,

So, I have just spent time going through this whole thread because I too have a similar problem with my 2017 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. The camera suddenly stopped being recognised/working in any application and I have not found a solution yet. Like many of you I too have been 'assuming' that Apple will resolve this and send out an update to fix the issue ~ I cannot believe this is a hardware issue either. Thank you all for your suggestions so far and if I find a solution I will let you all know.

Hi,

Any update so far? I think that those who fixed this issue by changing the screen are being stolen. It should be fixed with a firmware update, or, if they broke the hardware with the last OS update they should give us a solution.

Is there another communication channel to push this issue up?

Thanks all. If anyone finds a solution, please share. Looking at similar chats, the problem has been going on since November last year, I cannot believe a company like Apple hasn't fixed it yet, not even acknowledged it. I'm so disappointed, it really makes me question their products (which I've always loved), and the company itself. What a huge let down.

Hi Everyone, so I went online with Apple Support last week and they took me through the whole process of creating an additional volume on my MacBook and installing Big Sur again...which I did, to no avail. Camera is still not working. I think the purpose of doing this was to eliminate any possibility that a third party app is causing the issue. So, now it seems it is either a hardware issue ~ which coincidentally is affecting a large number of people...or still an issue with Big Sur. As ever grateful for any other suggestions and will update further if I get anything more from Apple Support.

I'm having the same issue but mine started when I upgraded to 11.4. I checked the screen time settings, app permissions, reset the SMC, created a new admin user, boot up in safe mode. Nothing works. I get the green light for about 10 seconds then it goes away. Zoom and FaceTime both say they are not receiving a video signal. This is very disappointing. Had issues with my apple watch recently as well. I hope apple isn't losing touch with their customers.

Hi all,

I have no idea whether this is significant at all, but has anyone else noticed that when FaceTime is open the bar at the top where the 'red, yellow and green' options to close, minimise or maximise fades out when placing the pointer tool at it. This doesn't make sense to me and makes me question the idea that this is a hardware issue. Something about FaceTime isn't working correctly aside from the camera issue, and that suggests to me a software problem. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it but it isn' working as it should.

Thoughts welcome.