Update: Webcam picture terrible after update to OS Monterey

Question

Level 1

5 points

Update: Webcam picture terrible after update to OS Monterey

Webcam not working properly after update from Catalina to Monterey

Hello,

I posted this months ago and I only got one reply, from merlinapple, saying that it sounded like I needed help with Zoom. Unfortunately, that answer was not helpful. I use Zoom all the time, and the webcam issue is not isolated to Zoom-- it also happens with FaceTime. It is an OS/Monterey webcam issue and not a Zoom issue.

No one else replied, and I was hoping for some good insights. The web has many posts on other forums about problems with webcams following the update to Monterey. At this point I am considering reinstalling Catalina.

Here is my story below, reposted: Can anyone help?

I have since tried other things, and have added them to my backstory on this issue.

I had a livestream setup using a 2020 McBook Air (Intel core), a Depstech webcam and AUKEY CB-C71 hub. I was running OS Catalina and using Zoom for my meetings. I had great HD video and the Zoom Video controls worked great to automatically adjust lighting.

Following a Zoom update to 5.12.9, Zoom stopped finding the webcam, unless I ended the meeting, signed out of Zoom, restarted the laptop and signed back into Zoom. So I updated my OS to Monterey. Now the Zoom Video controls no longer work (picture is terribly washed out or too dark). I bought an adapter and tried plugging the webcam directly into the laptop. That has not helped.

I switched out the hub to a Belkin hub, no improvement. I switched to an iMiSES webcam, no improvement.

I have a fitness studio that has bright light during the day, and dim light at night. We had no issues and a really good picture for livestream classes when running OS Catalina. Once we updated to Monetrey, everything looks terrible and I can no longer offer good video to my livestream students. I met with Zoom tech support and so far they have not been able to figure out what is wrong. My Zoom tech person was running OS Monterey on

his laptop and said he is using Logitech C920 webcam with no problems, but he probably has a controlled lighting environment. Zoom tech suggested trying to update to OSVentura, but I hesitate because Zoom website says Zoom has not completed compatibility testing for Ventura. And since I'm having the same issue with FaceTime, I have to conclude it's not a Zoom issue.

I would like to know if anyone has suggestions about other equipment I can try, that can resolve this problem.

I am attaching screen shots of a class at the same location from mid-May 2023, 9:45am (Monterey, washed out) and mid-May 2022, 9:45am (Catalina, good quality), both taken at the same time of day, so you can see the difference in quality.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.6

Posted on May 14, 2023 9:51 PM

Reply

Answer 1

May 17, 2023 9:22 AM in response to macitall

Maybe you can try installing a clean Ventura on a separate drive or another APFS container, and test to see how well the camera works on it.

Or you could run Etrecheck and post its report here.

There is a chance that there is something else that is installed in your system and that causes a problem in Monterey.

You could also just install a clean Monterey and test that.

Often problems that occur immediately after an OS upgrade are actually due to old system extensions, sometimes years old, that don't work well on the new system. It is understandable to blame the new OS, and sometimes it can introduce bugs, but sometimes it is specific to what is installed in one's mac. That is one good reason to not just upgrade, but do a clean install when moving to a new OS.

I always do a backup, erase, install and migrate only the users. Thus I start with a clean new OS, and then gradually install the applications I need.

Reply

Answer 2

May 15, 2023 2:20 AM in response to macitall

I suppose you miswrote: the "9:30" shot is washed out, not the "9:45".

I would certainly try upgrading to Ventura. What you may have read or heard about Zoom in Ventura is old information now. Ventura has been around for over a half year now, and Zoom works fine with it.

I cannot say how it works with your specific setup, though.

You could try installing Ventura on a separate drive and test, before you commit to upgrading your internal drive.

Reply

Answer 3

macitall Author

Level 1

5 points

May 15, 2023 7:39 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Luis thanks for the reply--and yes, correct; the terribly washed out image is while running OS Monterey.

Do you know if the issue I described with OS Monterey and webcams has been addressed/resolved in Ventura? There's plenty of discussion about the issue on other forums, so I am guessing it was a known issue.

Reply

Answer 4

May 15, 2023 7:51 AM in response to macitall

I can't say if this is solved or not.

FWIW, I have only used with Zoom the built-in camera on my MacBook Pro, and I can't say that there is any notable difference across different versions of Zoom or of the OS.

However, I did use Zoom a lot more with Big Sur than with Monterey (or Ventura, for that matter). And my image was only ever shown as a talking head over the slides of my remote classes, so I did not care all that much about exposure, etc.

Maybe others who have used Zoom or other software more intensively in a similar situation can share their positive or negative experiences.

Reply

Answer 5

macitall Author

Level 1

5 points

May 17, 2023 9:05 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks for the reply, Luis. I'm puzzled that no one on the board seems to reply about this issue; I posted it months ago, and the same lack of answers. There are lot of other websites where people post "OS Monetrey broke my webcam" and other posts indicating that it is a known issue. I would love it if someone would reply and make suggestions for something else I can try; the video quality is awful since updating and I would so appreciate a solution.

Reply

Update: Webcam picture terrible after update to OS Monterey

Similar questions