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Camera not working on a Mac

Built-in FaceTime HD camera or external USB webcam.

First, test it.
The webcam test shows in seconds whether the device works at all — that decides which steps below apply.
Open the webcam test

Three places can block a microphone or camera, and all three must say yes: the operating system (privacy settings), the browser or app (site permission or device picker) and the hardware (mute switch, shutter, cable). Work through them in that order.

  1. Is the green light on? When any app is using the camera the LED next to the lens is lit. If it is on but the app shows black, another app has it (step 3). If it never lights, continue.
  2. Privacy & Security › Camera. System Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera: switch on the app (or your browser for web apps). Toggle off and on after macOS updates. If the app is not listed, open it and start video so macOS asks.
  3. Quit the app that holds the camera. FaceTime, Photo Booth, Zoom, Teams, Meet tabs, OBS, QuickTime. Most Mac cameras serve one app at a time.
  4. Continuity Camera took over. With an iPhone nearby, macOS may switch to the iPhone as the camera. In the app’s camera picker choose FaceTime HD Camera, or turn Continuity Camera off on the iPhone (Settings › General › AirPlay & Continuity).
  5. Screen Time. System Settings › Screen Time › Content & Privacy: make sure the Camera is allowed. School and family-managed Macs often restrict it.
  6. Test in Photo Booth or FaceTime. If those show video, the hardware is fine and the problem is an app’s permission.
  7. Restart; then reset the camera process. In Terminal: sudo killall VDCAssistant and sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant (they restart automatically). Restarting the Mac does the same.
  8. External webcams. Plug directly into the Mac, not a hub; try another cable; some webcams need their own driver app for 4K modes but work at 1080p without it.
  9. Hardware. If Photo Booth still says “There is no connected camera” after a restart, run Apple Diagnostics (hold D at startup on Intel; hold power on Apple Silicon and choose Options › Diagnostics) and contact Apple.

Check the result with the webcam test — it also shows the resolution and frame rate the camera delivers.

Did it work?

Run the webcam test again. If the device now registers here, every app that has permission will see it too.

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Questions, answered

The camera shows a green light but the picture is black.

Another app is using it, or a virtual camera (OBS, Camo) is selected in your app. Quit other apps and pick the FaceTime HD Camera.

Does covering the camera with a sticker cause this?

A sticker does not stop detection — you would see a black picture, not “no camera”. Remove it anyway; residue can smear the lens.