Fix MacBook Pro webcam not working

Quick answer

On a MacBook Pro, a webcam that is not working is most often caused by the camera being used by another app, missing Camera permission for the app you are using, or macOS showing a disabled camera indicator. The essential first step is to quit other apps that may be holding the camera, then check the app you are trying to use and confirm it has permission.

Check which layer is causing the symptom

Run these checks in order. Each result narrows the cause without testing unrelated components.

• Close other camera apps: Quit FaceTime, Photo Booth, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet in a browser tab, or any screen-recording tool. If the camera starts working afterward, another app was holding exclusive access.
• Check the camera permission: Open System Settings, select Privacy & Security, then Camera. Confirm the app you are using is enabled. If it is off, enable it and quit and reopen the app.
• Look for the green camera light: If the green indicator light is on but the app shows a black screen, an app is likely using the camera. Identify and quit that app.
• Test in a built-in Apple app: Open Photo Booth or FaceTime. If the camera works there but not in a third-party app or website, the issue is specific to that app, browser permission, or site setting.
• Restart the Mac: If no app shows video and the camera light does not turn on, restart the MacBook Pro. A restart can clear a stuck camera service.

The built-in camera test in Photo Booth or FaceTime checks video capture only. It does not test the microphone, external cameras, or a website’s permission settings. A working result in Photo Booth does not prove that browser permissions or third-party app settings are correct.

Remedies and how to confirm they worked

Apply the remedy that matches the finding from the checks above, then retest the original symptom.

• If another app was holding the camera: Quit that app or browser tab completely, then reopen the app you want to use. The camera should show video immediately.
• If Camera permission was off: Enable the app in System Settings, then fully quit and reopen the app. The green light should turn on and the preview should appear.
• If a browser tab blocked access: Check that the site is allowed to use the camera in your browser. The result varies by browser, so verify the site-specific camera setting in that browser. After allowing access, reload the page and retest.
• If the camera works in Photo Booth but not in a specific app: The issue is with that app, not the MacBook Pro camera hardware. Check that app’s video input selection and choose the built-in camera if available.

Start with reversible changes only. These steps do not reset the Mac or erase data. If the camera still does not work in Photo Booth or FaceTime after a restart, stop changing settings and contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. That remaining failure may indicate a hardware or system-level issue that requires official diagnosis.

Know the limits of these checks

These checks cover video capture from the built-in camera. They do not test microphone audio, external webcams, or specific versions of every browser or conferencing app. If your symptom is about sound rather than video, treat microphone troubleshooting as a separate path and check the microphone permission and input selection.

Also distinguish between the camera being detected, having permission, and being selected as the active input. An app may detect the MacBook Pro camera but still show no image if another app is using it or if permission was not granted.