What App Can I Use To Test My Mac Camera

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This wikiHow teaches you how to find out if your webcam is working in Windows or macOS. Both Windows and MacOS have their own built-in camera applications that you can use to check if your webcam works. There's also a website you can use to check your webcam.

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Click Check Webcam . It's the blue button in the middle of the page.
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Click Allow . This grants the website permission to access your webcam.
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Check the camera feed. If your webcam is working, you should see the camera feed in the middle of the web page.

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Click the menu. It's usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
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Type camera into the search bar. It's also at the bottom-left corner of the screen.^[1]
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Click Camera . This opens the Camera app, which will automatically open your webcam. If you can see your webcam's image, it is working properly.
- If it's your first time using the Camera app, you may have to grant permission for the app to run.

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Open the Finder . It's the icon that resembles a blue and white smiley face. It's in the Dock at the bottom of your desktop.
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Click Applications . It's in the menu bar to the left in the Finder.
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Double-click Photobooth . Photobooth will automatically open to your webcam.^[2] If you can see your webcam's image, it is working properly.

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Check the condition of your webcam. Locate your webcam. It's usually above your monitor in the middle. Make sure there is no debris or anything else that is blocking it. Some laptops have a built-in webcam cover. Ensure the webcam is not covered. If you have an external webcam, check the cord and make sure it isn't frayed or worn.
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Check the USB port the webcam is connected to (external webcams only). If you have an external webcam, check the USB port it is plugged in to. Make sure it is plugged in securely. Try a different USB port and see if it works in using another USB port.
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Check that your webcam is enabled (Windows only). The Windows Settings menu allows you to enable and disable your webcam, both in general and on various apps. Use the following steps to check that your webcam is enabled.
- Click the Windows Start menu.
- Click the Gear/Settings menu.
- Click Privacy.
- Click Camera in the panel to the left.
- Click Change below "Camera access for this device is off".
- Ensure the toggle switch is turned on.
- Ensure the toggle switch below "Allow apps to access your camera" is on.
- Scroll down and ensure the toggle switch for each app you want to access your webcam is on.
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Check that your webcam is enabled in Device Manager (Windows Only). Use the following steps to make sure your webcam is enabled in the device manager:
- Right-click the Windows Start menu.
- Click Device Manager.
- Double-click Cameras or Imaging Devices.
- Right-click your webcam.
- Click Enable Device.
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Update your camera's drivers. You can also check to make sure your camera drivers are up-to-date in the Device Manager. Use the following steps to check to make sure your camera's drivers are up-to-date:
- Right-click the Windows Start menu.
- Click Device Manager.
- Double-click Cameras or Imaging Devices.
- Right-click your webcam.
- Click Update Drivers.
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Reset your Mac's system controller (Mac only). If your webcam is not working on your Mac, you may want to try to reset the system controller. Use the following steps to reset your Mac's system controller:^[3]
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press and hold the left Shift + Control + Option buttons for 7 seconds.
- Press and hold the Power button for 7 more seconds while still holding the keys down.
- Release all keys and wait a few seconds.
- Turn on your Mac.
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Check the webcam settings in the app you want to use. If your webcam isn't working in a particular app, you may need to configure it for that app. This is especially true if you have more than one webcam. The webcam settings are going to be located in a different location on different applications. In general, you can access the webcam settings by opening the "Settings", "Preferences" or "Options" menu, and then accessing the "Video" menu.^[4]
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Check that other apps aren't using your webcam. If one app is using your webcam, it won't be accessible to other apps. Be sure to close all other applications that use your webcam before opening a new app that needs to access your webcam.
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Replace the webcam. If your webcam is not blocked, your drivers are up-to-date, it's plugged in securely, your webcam may be broken. It may be time to get a new webcam. If you're using an older webcam, it may not be compatible with newer applications.