If your Mac camera works in FaceTime but shows a black screen or “camera unavailable” in Zoom, Microsoft Teams or a website, the camera hardware is probably not the first thing to troubleshoot. FaceTime proving that the built-in camera can open points instead to app permissions, the camera selected inside the app, browser website access, or another app holding the camera. Work through those layers in that order.
1. Confirm the symptom with FaceTime or Photo Booth
Open FaceTime or Photo Booth and verify that the built-in camera produces a normal image. If it does not work there either, the problem is broader than Zoom or Safari. If it works immediately in an Apple app, move to permissions and input selection.
2. Check macOS Camera privacy permission
Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera. Third-party apps that have requested access should appear there. Make sure the affected app is enabled. If you just changed the permission, quit and reopen the app; some apps do not reinitialise the camera while running.
| Symptom | Likely layer |
|---|---|
| FaceTime works, Zoom black | Zoom permission or selected camera |
| Zoom works, website does not | browser/site permission |
| No app can use camera | system/hardware/another process |
| Wrong image appears | Continuity Camera or virtual camera selected |
| Camera light stays on after app closes | another app/process may still own camera |
3. Select the correct camera inside Zoom or Teams
A Mac can expose several video sources: built-in camera, iPhone Continuity Camera, USB webcam and virtual camera software. Zoom and Teams keep their own selection. Open the app’s video settings and choose the expected device instead of relying on “same as system” or an old disconnected source.
4. Safari has per-website camera permission
For a website, check Safari → Settings → Websites → Camera. A site can be set to Deny even when Safari itself is otherwise working. Reload the page after changing the setting. In other browsers, look for the camera icon or site permissions near the address bar.
5. Close apps that may be using the camera
Video software, browser tabs, recording utilities and virtual-camera tools can conflict. Quit FaceTime, Photo Booth, Zoom, Teams and browsers, then open only the app you want to test. If the camera starts working, reopen the other apps one at a time.
6. Watch for Continuity Camera taking priority
An iPhone near the Mac can appear as a camera source. If the app keeps selecting the iPhone, manually switch to the built-in camera. If your actual problem is that the iPhone camera itself will not connect, use the dedicated Continuity Camera troubleshooting guide.
7. Browser permission is not the same as microphone permission
A meeting can have camera access but no microphone, or the reverse. macOS manages them separately. If video works but people cannot hear you, follow the Mac microphone works in Voice Memos but not Zoom or Teams guide rather than resetting camera settings.
8. Restart the app before restarting the whole Mac
- Quit the affected app completely.
- Reopen it and select the camera.
- If still broken, sign out/in of the app if appropriate.
- Restart the Mac.
- Install pending macOS and app updates.
- Test a second user account if the issue persists only in third-party apps.
When a new user account is useful
A temporary macOS user account separates system-wide problems from settings in your normal profile. If the camera works in Zoom there, hardware is fine and the issue is likely tied to your original user’s app configuration, permissions or plug-ins. Do not migrate permanently just because of one test; use the result to narrow the diagnosis.
Avoid random Terminal permission resets as the first step
Commands that reset privacy databases can remove permissions for many applications and create more work. Use visible System Settings controls first. A broad reset is a last-resort diagnostic step when you understand what will be changed and have a reason to suspect corrupted privacy records.
FAQ
Why does FaceTime work without appearing under Camera privacy permissions?
Apple’s own system apps are handled differently from third-party apps. The Privacy list is most useful for installed apps that explicitly request camera access.
Why does Safari show a black screen only on one website?
That site may have its own Deny setting, or the page may be selecting a different camera. Check Safari’s per-website Camera settings.
Can Zoom choose my iPhone instead of the Mac camera?
Yes. If Continuity Camera is available, it can appear as a video source. Select the built-in camera explicitly in Zoom.