com.apple.cmio.AppleCameraAssistant constantly respawning

A few reboots later I found out, that it the infinite logging starts immediately after I launch Skype! I also tried out other apps using the external webcam like Teams, OBS etc. - no logs.

jmechnich wrote:

The launchd.log is spammed by output of the AppleCameraAssistant every second.

Example:

...

2023-05-22 21:48:59.801689 (system/com.apple.cmio.AppleCameraAssistant) <Notice>: service state: spawning

...

I am using an Electron app (Signal Desktop Client) as the WhatsApp client was mentioned as a possible culprit, but even uninstalling Signal and rebooting the Mac did not fix the issue. I also created another "clean" dummy user but could still see the problem.

As I understand the constant logging will not necessarily produce a significant wear on the SSD as the launchd log files are supposedly kept in a ramdisk. However, I would still like to be able to either prevent the service from being started at all, or at least reduce the log verbosity. Apparently, this will require me to disable SIP completely which is not a great thing.

The integrated camera is working flawlessly, by the way.

Can you verify your software is up to date…

The current stable release of Ventura including bug fixes, security updates is macOS Ventura 13.4

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

I'm encountering the same problem (in my case only after starting WhatsApp). I tried everything Apple Support recommended, including repairing the disk and reinstalling the OS. The only thing that worked was a temporary fix: using launchctl to bootout and disable the daemon in question. After doing this and rebooting, the system attempted to load that daemon, but the log reported it as "not found". Problem solved. However, as soon as I re-enable SIP, rebooted and started up WhatsApp, the issue returned (even after I close WhatsApp).

When I had the issue escalated to a "senior advisor", I was informed that this wasn't a consumer-related issue and so was nothing she could assist me with. Best she could suggest was to contact the Apple Developer community -- but there's nothing on this issue there.

Has anyone else found a solution?

Rick

Thanks for the update.

I do have a Dell monitor, as it turns out. But I never installed their Display and Peripheral Manager. So, alas, no easy fix for me.

Unfortunately I can't do without WhatsApp (or at least not without expecting some contacts to make the same substitution on their end). So "eternal logging" it shall be.

I have zero hope for an update that fixes the issue, as Apple Support didn't seem to be aware of the issue or care anything about it once I brought it to their attention. If the issue wasn't preventing me from running any particular end-user application, their view was "no harm, no foul". The glitch does make life difficult when I'm trying to find something in my log files. But there aren't enough users with that problem to make it worthwhile for Apple to pay any attention to it.

I might try opening up the .plist file, see if I can't diagnose what's causing the daemon to fail, and then change the offending setting(s). If I have any luck with that, I will report back here.

I'm having the same issue using the latest version Ventura 13.5 (22G74) on Mac Studio M2, but I do not have any of the apps Electron or WhatsApp installed. I plugged in and removed an external webcam. No change.

But how to find out, which app causes the AppleCameraAssistant instantly logging? I have a huge number of apps installed. Do I have to uninstall one by one including reboot after each uninstall? This may take a long time …

Thanks for any ideas,

Oliver

Searching for a solution to this log spam led me here. This is on a M1 Max Studio (base), macOS 13.5.1, never SnapChat, Skype, a Dell monitor, etc., etc., etc.. Camera access is deny/deny and no log of any app asking for access.

Installed Safari extensions: Kaleidoscope, Magic Lasso, Quiet, Stop The Madness and Super agent.

It's a mystery