{"id":5250,"date":"2026-04-09T23:09:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T21:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/?p=5250"},"modified":"2026-04-09T23:09:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T21:09:16","slug":"mac-webcam-not-working","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/webcam-mac-ne-fonctionne-plus\/","title":{"rendered":"Mac camera"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"article-blog\">\n\n<h1>MacBook camera not connected: 8 solutions to the error message<\/h1>\n\n<div class=\"article-meta\">Reading : 10 min | Troubleshooting<\/div>\n\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/webcam-mac-doesn&#039;t-function-anymore.webp\" alt=\"Mac webcam no longer working: message no camera connected\" title=\"Solutions to the problem of a Mac webcam that no longer works\" width=\"1200\" height=\"568\" loading=\"eager\">\n\n<div class=\"answer-box\">\nTo sum up: if your Mac displays \u00abNo camera connected\u00bb or the webcam no longer works, open Terminal and type <code>sudo killall VDCAssistant<\/code> then enter your password. This will restart the camera management process and resolve 80 % cases. If this is not enough, check the Privacy, Screen Time and Application Conflicts permissions. Hardware failure is rare but possible - especially after a fall or liquid damage.\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"toc-box\">\n<strong>Contents<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#causes\">Why the Mac camera no longer works<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#vdcassistant\">The Terminal solution that works in 80 % of cases<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#autorisations\">Check camera authorisations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#temps-ecran\">Deactivate screen time restrictions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#conflits\">Conflicts between applications<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#redemarrer\">Restart and safe mode<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#materiel\">When it's a hardware failure<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"causes\">Why the Mac camera no longer works<\/h2>\n\n<p>The \u00abNo camera connected\u00bb or \u00abNo camera available\u00bb error message is one of the most frustrating on the Mac, as it typically occurs at the worst possible time - just before an important Zoom call. The good news is that, in the vast majority of cases, this is a software problem that can be resolved in less than five minutes.<\/p>\n\n<p>The most common causes are: a frozen VDCAssistant process (the component that manages the internal camera), authorisation denied to the application requesting the camera, Screen Time restrictions that block access, a conflict between two applications trying to use the camera simultaneously (the camera can only be used by one application at a time), or a bug following a macOS update. More rarely, the problem is hardware: a disconnected internal cable, oxidation after liquid damage, or a damaged sensor after a fall.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"vdcassistant\">The Terminal solution that works in 80 % of cases<\/h2>\n\n<p>VDCAssistant is the system process that manages the Mac's built-in camera. When it crashes, the camera becomes inaccessible to all applications, even after an app restart. Forcing it to restart solves the problem immediately in most cases.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Step-by-step procedure<\/h3>\n\n<ol>\n<li>Quit any applications that might be using the camera (FaceTime, Photo Booth, Zoom, Teams, Safari, Chrome).<\/li>\n<li>Open the <strong>Terminal<\/strong> via Applications \u2192 Utilities \u2192 Terminal (or Spotlight: Cmd + Space, type \u00abTerminal\u00bb).<\/li>\n<li>Type the following command: <code>sudo killall VDCAssistant<\/code><\/li>\n<li>Press the <strong>Input<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Enter your <strong>administrator password<\/strong> (the characters are not displayed, this is normal) and press Enter.<\/li>\n<li>On some Macs, add : <code>sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant<\/code><\/li>\n<li>Open Photo Booth or FaceTime - the camera should work straight away.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<div class=\"info-box tip\">\n<strong>Good to know:<\/strong> macOS automatically restarts VDCAssistant as soon as an application needs the camera. You can use it as often as you like. If you prefer to avoid the Terminal, simply restart your Mac - the result is the same but it takes longer.\n<\/div>\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/terminal-vdcassistant-camera-mac.webp\" alt=\"VDCAssistant terminal command to restart the Mac camera\" title=\"The Terminal command to relaunch the Mac camera\" width=\"1200\" height=\"568\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<h2 id=\"autorisations\">Check camera authorisations<\/h2>\n\n<p>As with the microphone, each application must be explicitly authorised to use the camera in macOS Mojave. If you inadvertently refuse the first request, the application will display \u00abNo camera connected\u00bb even if the camera is working perfectly.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Procedure<\/h3>\n\n<ol>\n<li>Click on the Apple menu \u2192 <strong>System settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>In the sidebar, click on <strong>Confidentiality and security<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>Camera<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>You will see a list of applications that have requested access to the camera.<\/li>\n<li>Activate the button next to each problematic application (Zoom, Teams, Safari, Chrome, Discord).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Exit the application completely<\/strong> (Cmd + Q) then launch it again to apply the change.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p>If the application does not appear in the list, it has never requested access. Launch it and try to use the camera: a system dialog box should appear. Click on <strong>Authorise<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"temps-ecran\">Deactivate screen time restrictions<\/h2>\n\n<p>The Screen Time feature (introduced in macOS Catalina) can block access to the camera without you knowing it, especially if you have set up restrictions or if they are synced from another Apple device via iCloud.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Check<\/h3>\n\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>System settings \u2192 Screen time<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>Content and confidentiality<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>Restrictions on apps<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Check that the <strong>Camera<\/strong> is ticked (and therefore authorised).<\/li>\n<li>Then click on <strong>App limits<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If the problematic application is on the list, remove it or deactivate the limit.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p>This restriction is particularly tricky because it can activate itself after an update, or be inherited from a shared family account.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"conflits\">Conflicts between applications<\/h2>\n\n<p>A fundamental rule of macOS : <strong>only one application can use the camera at a time<\/strong>. If an application has \u00ablocked\u00bb access to the camera and has not correctly released the resource (following a crash or incorrect closure), no other application will be able to use it.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Identify the blocking application<\/h3>\n\n<ol>\n<li>Open the <strong>Activity monitor<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>In the search field, type <strong>VDCAssistant<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If VDCAssistant appears with a status of \u00abIn progress\u00bb, look at the column <strong>User<\/strong> - it tells you which application is using it.<\/li>\n<li>Force this application to close (Cmd + Option + Escape, select application, Force exit).<\/li>\n<li>Open the application in which you want to use the camera.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p>The most common culprits are: Safari or Chrome with a tab that has accessed the camera and not released the connection, streaming applications (OBS Studio, Streamlabs), video filter plug-ins (Snap Camera) that remain in the background.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"redemarrer\">Restart and safe mode<\/h2>\n\n<p>If nothing else has worked, the classic reboot is still effective in freeing up all system resources. In the event of failure, safe mode can be used to diagnose whether a third-party extension is blocking the camera.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Starting up in safe mode<\/h3>\n\n<p><strong>On Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4) :<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Switch off the Mac completely.<\/li>\n<li>Hold down the power button until you see \u00abLoading start-up options\u00bb.<\/li>\n<li>Select your boot disk.<\/li>\n<li>Hold down the <strong>Shift<\/strong> and click on <strong>Continue in safe mode<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p><strong>On Intel Macs :<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Switch off the Mac.<\/li>\n<li>Switch on and hold immediately <strong>Shift<\/strong> until you see the connection screen.<\/li>\n<li>Log in (you'll see \u00abStart without extensions\u00bb in the top right-hand corner).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p>Once in safe mode, test the camera in Photo Booth. If it works, the problem is a third-party extension - uninstall the recently installed software one by one. If it still doesn't work, it's probably a hardware problem.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"materiel\">When it's a hardware failure<\/h2>\n\n<p>A Mac's internal camera rarely fails - it's designed to last the life of the device. But a few scenarios can damage it.<\/p>\n\n<table class=\"tg-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Symptom<\/th>\n<th>Probable cause<\/th>\n<th>Solution<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">Green light flashes continuously<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Sensor short-circuit<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Diagnosis and replacement<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">No reaction even in safe mode<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Camera out of order or cable disconnected<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Technical diagnosis required<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">Camera out after fall<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Broken tablecloth or damaged sensor<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Reconnection or replacement<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">Camera out after liquid damage<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Oxidation of contacts<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Deoxidation or replacement<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">Very blurred or grainy image<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Dirty or faulty sensor<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Cleaning or replacement<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span class=\"cell-label\">Camera missing from System Report<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Camera not detected by macOS<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"cell-desc\">Checking the tablecloth and motherboard<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<h3>Check that the camera is detected by macOS<\/h3>\n\n<ol>\n<li>Hold down the <strong>Option<\/strong> and click on the Apple menu.<\/li>\n<li>Click on <strong>System information<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>In the sidebar, click on <strong>Camera<\/strong> (under Materials).<\/li>\n<li>You should see <strong>FaceTime HD camera (integrated)<\/strong> with its ID.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<p>If the camera does not appear at all in the System Report, this is a sure sign of a hardware problem: a disconnected cable, an out-of-order sensor, or a fault on the motherboard. Our <a href=\"\/en\/free-mac-diagnostic\/\">free diagnosis<\/a> precisely identifies the origin of the problem, and our <a href=\"\/en\/mac-logic-board-repair\/\">expertise in micro-welding<\/a> allows you to repair faults linked to the camera controller. If the problem follows recent liquid damage, contact us via our <a href=\"\/en\/mac-liquid-damage-repair\/\">liquid damage repair<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/diagnostic-camera-macbook-system-report.webp\" alt=\"Check camera detection in macOS System Report\" title=\"Hardware diagnostics of a Mac camera via System Report\" width=\"1200\" height=\"568\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\n<p>Apple offers its own resources on <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/fr-be\/102437\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mac integrated camera problems<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"faq-section\">\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Why does my camera display \u00abNo cameras connected\u00bb?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>This is usually because the VDCAssistant process is blocked or another application is monopolising the camera. Open Terminal and type <code>sudo killall VDCAssistant<\/code>, then test again. If the error persists, check the Privacy permissions and close any applications that may be using the camera.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>The green light on my camera keeps flashing, is it serious?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Yes, this is abnormal. The green light should only come on when an application is actively using the camera. If it flashes constantly when no application is open, it's probably a hardware fault in the sensor or a short circuit. Apple recommends that you have the machine checked. This may require the camera to be replaced.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Why does my camera work on Photo Booth but not on Zoom?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>If Photo Booth works, the camera is physically OK. The problem is with Zoom permissions. Go to System Settings \u2192 Privacy &amp; Security \u2192 Camera, enable Zoom, then exit Zoom completely (Cmd + Q) and restart it. Also check in Zoom \u2192 Settings \u2192 Video that the correct camera is selected.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>The sudo killall VDCAssistant command doesn't work, why?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>On recent versions of macOS, the process is sometimes called <code>cameracaptured<\/code> or <code>AppleCameraAssistant<\/code>. Give it a try : <code>sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant<\/code> or simply restart the Mac (which will restart all system processes). Also check that you have typed your administrator password correctly after the command.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>How do I know if my camera is physically out of order?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Hold down Option and click on Apple menu \u2192 System information \u2192 Camera. If \u00abFaceTime HD Camera\u00bb doesn't appear in the list, the camera is no longer detected by macOS - this is a sign of a hardware fault (broken cable, sensor or controller). If it appears but doesn't work in any application after all the software manipulations, it's also a hardware problem.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Can I completely deactivate the Mac camera?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Yes, via Screen Time \u2192 Content and Privacy \u2192 App Restrictions \u2192 uncheck Camera. You can also use a physical cover (sticker or sliding camera cover). On recent MacBooks, be careful: if you use a cover that's too thick, you risk damaging the screen when you close the cover.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>My camera is very blurry or pixelated, is this normal?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>On older MacBooks (prior to 2021), the FaceTime HD camera was of low resolution (720p), resulting in a relatively mediocre image. More recent MacBooks have a better quality 1080p camera. If the image is abnormally blurred compared to usual, check that there is no protective film obstructing the sensor, and gently clean the lens with a microfibre cloth.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Why won't my camera work after a macOS update?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>MacOS updates sometimes reset Confidentiality authorisations or change camera drivers. Check System Settings \u2192 Privacy and Security \u2192 Camera and re-authorise your applications. Restart VDCAssistant via Terminal. If the problem persists, wait for the next minor update, which often corrects these regressions.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Can I use an external webcam if the internal camera is out of order?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Yes, this is an excellent temporary or permanent solution. An external USB webcam (Logitech C920, C922, or 4K cameras) works plug-and-play on the Mac and generally offers much better image quality than the internal camera. You can also use your iPhone as a webcam using the Continuity Camera function (macOS Ventura and later).<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"faq-item\">\n<div class=\"faq-question\"><span>Can MAC Repair repair a faulty Mac camera?<\/span><span class=\"faq-toggle\">+<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-answer\"><p>Yes, with over 15 years' experience since 2010, we diagnose and repair camera faults: reconnecting the cable, replacing the camera module, micro-soldering the controller, deoxidising after liquid damage. On recent MacBooks, the camera is integrated into the screen - replacing it requires complete disassembly. 180-day warranty. Take <a href=\"\/en\/book-appointment\/#form\">appointment<\/a> for a free diagnosis.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"related-links\">\n<strong>Related articles<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/mac-microphone-not-working\/\">Mac microphone not working<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/mac-sound-not-working\/\">More sound on the Mac: 10 solutions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/mac-terminal-useful-commands\/\">Mac Terminal: useful commands<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/mac-logic-board-repair\/\">Motherboard repair by micro-soldering<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cam\u00e9ra MacBook non connect\u00e9e : 8 solutions au message d&rsquo;erreur Lecture : 10 min | Pannes et Solutions En r\u00e9sum\u00e9 : si votre Mac affiche \u00ab\u00a0Aucune cam\u00e9ra connect\u00e9e\u00a0\u00bb ou que la webcam ne fonctionne plus, ouvrez le Terminal et tapez sudo killall VDCAssistant puis entrez votre mot de passe. Cette commande relance le processus de [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[378,383,387,24,380,386,89,385,384,379],"class_list":["post-5250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pannes-solutions","tag-autorisation","tag-camera","tag-capteur","tag-depannage","tag-facetime","tag-photo-booth","tag-terminal","tag-vdcassistant","tag-webcam","tag-zoom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reparationmac.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}