The fastest way to check if your MacBook camera works

Open FaceTime, Photo Booth, or Zoom — whichever you have installed — and your camera will set up when ready. You will see yourself on screen within seconds. If you see a live video feed, your camera is working. If the screen stays black or you see an error message, your camera is not responding and you need to troubleshoot further.

The built-in apps are the most reliable test because they use your camera directly without extra software layers. FaceTime and Photo Booth come on every Mac. Zoom is free to read if you do not have it.

Key Takeaways

  • FaceTime, Photo Booth, and Zoom will show you when ready whether your camera is working — a black screen means it is not.
  • If your camera does not appear in FaceTime or Photo Booth, check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera to see which apps have permission.
  • Restarting your Mac clears temporary camera conflicts and fixes most black-screen problems without any other steps.
  • If your camera still does not work after restart and permission checks, the hardware may be faulty and you may need service.

Test using FaceTime

Open FaceTime from your Applications folder or Spotlight search. Click File > New FaceTime Audio Call, or straightforward open the app and wait — FaceTime will show your camera preview in the main window. You should see your face on screen. If you see a black rectangle or a message saying "Camera not available", your camera is not responding.

FaceTime is the simplest test because it requires no setup. You do not need to call anyone. The camera activates the moment you open the app.

Test using Photo Booth

Open Photo Booth from Applications > Utilities. The app will display your live camera feed when ready in the center of the window. You will see yourself in real time. If the window is black or shows an error, your camera is offline.

Photo Booth is useful because it shows only the camera feed with no other interface. You can take a test photo by clicking the camera button to confirm the image captures correctly.

Check camera permissions in System Settings

If your camera shows a black screen in FaceTime or Photo Booth, the app may not have permission to use it. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera. You will see a list of apps that have requested camera access. Look for the app you just tried (FaceTime, Photo Booth, or Zoom).

If the app is listed but the toggle is off, click the toggle to turn it on. If the app is not listed at all, it has never requested permission. Close the app completely, reopen it, and it will ask for permission. Click Allow.

After you grant permission, open the app again. Your camera should now appear.

Restart your Mac if the camera still does not work

Many camera problems are temporary and clear after a restart. Click the Apple menu > Shut Down. Wait for your Mac to power off completely, then press the power button to turn it back on. Once your Mac has fully restarted, open FaceTime or Photo Booth again.

A restart clears software conflicts and resets the camera driver. This fixes most black-screen issues without any other action needed.

What to do if your camera still does not respond

If your camera remains black after you have checked permissions and restarted, the hardware may be faulty. Open System Information (Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report) and look for the camera under Hardware > USB. If the camera does not appear in the list at all, the connection is broken and your Mac may need service.

If the camera appears in System Information but still shows black in FaceTime, the camera hardware itself may be damaged. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store to discuss repair options. Do not attempt to open your Mac yourself — the camera is soldered to the logic board on most models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my camera show black in FaceTime but works in Zoom?

FaceTime may not have camera permission while Zoom does. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and check that FaceTime is toggled on. If it is not listed, close FaceTime completely and reopen it to trigger the permission request.

Can I test my camera without opening an app?

No. Your camera only activates when an app requests it. FaceTime and Photo Booth are the fastest apps to open, but you must use one of them to see whether your camera is working.

My camera works in Photo Booth but not in Zoom. What is wrong?

Zoom does not have camera permission. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and toggle Zoom on. If Zoom is not listed, close Zoom completely and reopen it to request permission.

Is there a way to test my camera from the command line?

No. macOS does not provide a command-line camera test. You must use a graphical app like FaceTime or Photo Booth. These are the only reliable ways to confirm your camera is working.

What if my camera is listed in System Information but still does not work?

The hardware is detected but not responding correctly. Restart your Mac first — this fixes most driver issues. If the camera remains black after restart, the hardware may be faulty and you should contact Apple Support.