Fix 1: Check app permissions
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera. Confirm the app you're trying to use (Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime) has the camera toggle ON. After enabling, FORCE QUIT and reopen the app — it doesn't pick up new permission live.
Fix 2: Quit camera-using apps cleanly
Only one app can use the camera at a time. Check Activity Monitor for any video-call apps running in the background. Cmd+Q each one. Restart your target app.
Particularly common culprits: OBS Studio, Snap Camera (still installed), Discord background process.
Fix 3: Reset the camera via Terminal
Open Terminal. Type: sudo killall VDCAssistant — press Enter. Type your password. This restarts the camera service. Reopen your video app.
Works for ~30% of 'camera not detected' cases without a restart.
Fix 4: Restart the Mac
Apple menu → Restart. Often clears stuck camera service. Don't underestimate this — particularly for Macs that haven't been restarted in weeks.
Fix 5: Check for macOS updates
System Settings → General → Software Update. Apple has patched camera bugs in multiple macOS Sequoia/Tahoe updates. A pending update may include the fix.
Fix 6: Check for physical camera shutter (Pro 14"/16" M3/M4)
Some 2024+ MacBook Pros have privacy shutter cover. Look for a small slider above the camera notch. If you see it, slide it open.
Privacy cover stickers (third-party) are also common — check if you added one and forgot.
Fix 7: SMC reset (Intel Macs only)
Intel Mac: power off, hold Shift+Control+Option + Power for 10 seconds, release, power on. Often fixes camera detection issues that other steps don't.
Apple Silicon: no SMC reset — just restart twice in a row.
When it's hardware
If all software fixes fail, you likely have a flex cable issue (camera ribbon broken during a screen replacement or impact) or genuinely failed camera module. Both are inside the display assembly — repair requires display removal.
Cost: PKR 15,000–25,000 for cable replacement, PKR 25,000–45,000 if full camera module replacement needed.