rlandersen

Q: MBA internal Camera does not work after El Capitan update

Ater updating my MBA mid 2011 to El Captan my camera is no longer working.

FaceTime does not detect a camera and it does not appear in  system profiler.

 

I tried SMC and PRAM reset with no luck. Do you know any solution to this problem? Thank you.

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11), null

Posted on Oct 18, 2015 4:47 AM

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Q: MBA internal Camera does not work after El Capitan update

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  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Oct 18, 2015 8:40 AM in response to rlandersen
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Oct 18, 2015 8:40 AM in response to rlandersen

    rlandersen wrote:...Do you know any solution to this problem? ...

     

    Your camera should work with EC.

     

    The built-in cameras in all my Macs, Including my mid-09 MacBook Pro,

    work with all my Apple camera apps including QuickTime Player:

    OS X El Capitan: Use the built-in camera

     

    Note that the video chat feature of Messages has not worked right

    since Mavericks. The camera works in Messages' A/V Preferences ...,

    just not the video chat connection.

     

    Other than the current Messages Video Chat connection problem, one of the following will fix your problem:

     

    (1) If restarting your Mac doesn't fix the problem,

     

    (2) use Apple's http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090.

     

    (BTW - The Troubleshooting article calls the camera an "iSight".  However, after the article was published, Apple has changed the built-in camera's name on newer Macs from "iSight" to "FaceTime" and then to "FaceTime HD."  Regardless of the name of your built-in camera, the same info and troubleshooting applies.)

     

    Be sure to test more than one Apple app (Photo Booth, FaceTime, iMovie, QuickTime Player, etc.) in more than one user account.  Do NOT use the "Guest" account for this test.  If you do not have more than one user account for the testing, create a new one now.  If you need help, how to do it is explained in http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201754.

     

    A "Standard" user account is all you need for testing.

     

    (3) If your cam won't work properly even with Apple apps, use OS X Recovery to completely reinstall your Mac OS.  Don't bother testing Skype or other third-party apps until you have your camera working with Apple apps.

     

    (4) If none of the above suggestions resolve your trouble, contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider to have your Mac professionally serviced. Be sure to backup your Mac and deauthorize iTunes before tendering it for service.

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

    Mac OSX 10.11

  • by rlandersen,

    rlandersen rlandersen Oct 18, 2015 9:17 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 18, 2015 9:17 AM in response to EZ Jim

    Hi EZ Jim,

     

    Steps (1) and (2) didn't solve the problem.

    I did reinstall OS X El Capitan, but not with a clean install.

    If I proceed to (3) I will loose all my applications, right? I didn't want to do it.

     

    Is there any other solution I could try?

     

    Curiously, my wife also has a Macbook Air Mid 2011, exactly the same as mine, she updated from Mavericks and her camera works.

    I updated from Yosemite and had this problem.

     

    Thank you!

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Oct 18, 2015 9:25 AM in response to rlandersen
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Oct 18, 2015 9:25 AM in response to rlandersen

    rlandersen wrote:

     

    Hi EZ Jim, ... If I proceed to (3) I will loose all my applications, right?...

     

    I have never lost any of mine.

     

    However, if you do lose any necessary app that is not installed by OS X, simply reinstall it from your original.

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

    Mac OSX 10.11

  • by rlandersen,

    rlandersen rlandersen Oct 18, 2015 12:03 PM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 18, 2015 12:03 PM in response to EZ Jim

    I just did an OS X Recovery (without erasing the drive) and it didn't work.

    Still no camera.

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Oct 19, 2015 9:16 AM in response to rlandersen
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Oct 19, 2015 9:16 AM in response to rlandersen

    rlandersen wrote: I just did an OS X Recovery (without erasing the drive) ... Still no camera.

     

    Then its on to 4). Be sure to backup your Mac and deauthorize iTunes before tendering it for service.

     

     

    Message was edited by: EZ Jim

     

    Mac OSX 10.11