It stays on even after I restart my computer, although I'm not using any software that uses the camera. Plus, this is creepy.
I've got a 2-yr-old mac air running os 10.8.5
macbook, Mac OS X (10.4.8)
It should only be on if there's an application using it. So someone is probably watching you if you say you have no applications open. Try restarting the MacBook Air into safe mode by holding shift during start up.
If you have more than one user account, you must be logged in as an administrator to carry out these instructions.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
sudo lsof -Fc +D /S*/L*/F*/*/*/VDC.plugin | sed '2!d' | cut -c2- | open -ef
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.
Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window by pressing the key combination command-V. I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, you may have to press the return key after pasting. You'll be prompted for your login password. Nothing will be displayed when you type it. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. You may get a one-time warning not to screw up. Confirm. You don't need to post the warning.
If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator. Log in as one and start over.
Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign (“$”) to appear.
A TextEdit window will open. If the command produced no output, the window will be empty. Post the contents of the TextEdit window (not the Terminal window), if any — the text, please, not a screenshot. The title of the window doesn't matter, and you don't need to post that.
Thanks Linc! Quick question: will this disable the camera indefinitely? Or just switch it off? The green light is on whenever I turn off or restart the computer now, but I can't get photo booth or Skype to connect to cam. But ideally I will be able to once this is resolved
The procedure I suggested won't change anything. It's just a diagnostic.
dcohen76 wrote:
It stays on even after I restart my computer, although I'm not using any software that uses the camera. Plus, this is creepy.
I've got a 2-yr-old mac air running os 10.8.5
Here is how I would "de-creepify" your Mac:
(1) Check for login items that use the camera. Remove any you find.
Then shut down your Mac. Do NOT merely use the > Restart... menu command.
(2) Power on the Mac. If the light still stays on, contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for service. If you get professional help, you can skip the following steps.
(3) If you want to try one more thing on your own before seeking professional help, backup your data files and then use Disk Utility's secure erase feature to zero your entire startup disk.
Writing zeros one time is sufficient to remove all files that could be causing trouble. This may take an hour or longer, so plan for some time.
(3) Then reinstall Mac OS X.
(4) If the camera light stays off now, reinstall any additional applications you need from their original sources. Do NOT restore applications or settings from a backup that may be contaminated. Now restore your data files from your backup.
If the camera light stays on after reinstalling OS X, you likely have a hardware problem. Contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for service.
How can I turn off my built-in camera?
