How to Fix a Mac Camera That Is Not Working

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Force quit the camera process

   Open Terminal from your Utilities folder. Type sudo killall VDCAssistant and press Return. Enter your system password when prompted to terminate the background camera process.

   Note: The VDCAssistant process manages all camera hardware operations on macOS.
2. 1 min

   Check system camera permissions

   Navigate to System Settings, select Privacy & Security, and click Camera. Ensure the toggle switch is enabled for the specific application attempting to use the camera.

   Note: If the app is not listed, it has not yet requested camera access.
3. 1 min

   Verify Screen Time restrictions

   Go to System Settings and select Screen Time. Click Content & Privacy, then select App Restrictions. Ensure the Camera option is not set to off or blocked.

   Note: Screen Time settings can override individual application permissions.
4. 1 min

   Perform a hard system restart

   Click the Apple menu and select Restart. If the system is unresponsive, hold the power button or Touch ID sensor until the display turns black, wait five seconds, and power the device back on.

   Note: A hard reset forces the hardware drivers to reinitialize upon startup.
5. 1 min

   Confirm physical hardware integrity

   Ensure no physical obstructions cover the camera lens. Check for third-party privacy covers or security software that explicitly disables camera hardware input at the kernel level.

   Note: Some enterprise security profiles block the camera for compliance reasons.