Find webcam software for Mac

The short answer

Most people do not need to install extra software to use a webcam on a Mac, including its built-in microphone. macOS includes apps that can record from an external camera and microphone, and video-conferencing apps let you choose both devices in their own settings. The main condition is that the webcam must work with macOS as a standard USB device. Many webcams do, but compatibility varies by model. If you want to adjust microphone features that only the manufacturer's app exposes, you also need a version of that app that supports your macOS release.

For audio, the most important point is that software treats the camera and the microphone as separate devices. Choosing the webcam as your camera does not necessarily make its microphone your audio input. An app may keep using the Mac's built-in microphone, a headset or another input until you change it.

Software already on your Mac

• QuickTime Player: choose File > New Movie Recording, then open the options menu next to the record button to pick the camera and the microphone. This makes it useful for short test recordings of your voice.
• FaceTime: the Video menu lists the available cameras and microphones, so you can confirm that both webcam devices are recognised.
• Photo Booth: suitable for a quick check that the camera works. Use QuickTime Player when you need to choose a specific microphone.
• System Settings > Sound > Input (System Preferences on older macOS versions): sets the default audio input for the whole system and shows a live input level meter.

Conferencing apps and permissions

Desktop conferencing apps and browser-based meeting services usually have their own audio settings, which can override the system default. Before a call, open the app's audio or device settings and select the webcam's microphone from the microphone list. Many of these apps include a microphone test you can use to check the level.

macOS also requires each app to have permission to use the camera and the microphone. You can review these permissions under System Settings > Privacy & Security, in the Camera and Microphone sections. If an app has not been granted microphone access, it may record silence or show no usable input, even when the webcam is connected and working.

Manufacturer companion software

Some webcam makers offer companion apps for firmware updates, image settings and, on some models, microphone options such as gain or noise reduction. These apps are optional for basic use. No model-specific information was available for this guide, so check the manufacturer's support page for your exact model. Confirm that the app supports your macOS version and that it actually controls the microphone, not only the image, before installing it.

Identifying the webcam's microphone input

A Mac can have several audio inputs at the same time: the built-in microphone, a wired or Bluetooth headset, a display microphone, an iPhone used through Continuity Camera, or a USB microphone. In input lists, a webcam's microphone usually appears under a name based on the camera's brand or model. The exact label varies by model and is not documented here, so confirm it rather than assuming.

• Unplug test: open System Settings > Sound > Input, note the list, then disconnect the webcam. The input that disappears belongs to the webcam.
• Level meter test: select a candidate input, speak normally and watch the input level meter. Movement that follows your voice confirms the device is receiving sound.
• Audio MIDI Setup: this app, in the Utilities folder, lists every audio device and its input settings, which helps you tell similarly named devices apart.
• Documentation: to find out whether a webcam has a microphone at all, or where it is on the casing, check the manufacturer's specifications. An opening or grille on the casing is not proof of a microphone.

Checking how your speech sounds

• Record the same short passage in QuickTime Player with each input you are considering, sitting at your usual distance from the camera.
• Listen back on headphones so the Mac's speakers do not mask problems.
• Listen for clipping, which is harsh distortion on loud syllables caused by an input level set too high, and for speech that is too quiet compared with the background.
• Compare background noise and room echo. A webcam microphone is usually farther from your mouth than a headset microphone, so as a general principle it picks up more of the room. How much this matters depends on the model and the room.
• Repeat the check using your conferencing app's own test feature. Many of these apps apply their own noise suppression and echo cancellation, so a call can sound different from a plain QuickTime recording.

Limits of this guide

This guide describes general macOS behaviour. It does not include compatibility data, microphone specifications, input labels or measured voice quality for any particular webcam. For those details, rely on the manufacturer's documentation for your model and on test recordings made on your own Mac.