The fastest way to open your MacBook camera
Your MacBook has a built-in camera above the screen. To open it, press the Command key and the spacebar at the same time, then type "Photo Booth" and press Enter. Photo Booth is the camera app that comes with every Mac. You can also find it by clicking the Finder icon in the dock, then Applications, then double-clicking Photo Booth.
If you want to use your camera in a video call instead — on Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet, or another app — the app itself will ask permission to use the camera the first time you try. Click "Allow" when that dialog appears, and the camera turns on automatically.
Your MacBook camera only works when an app has permission to use it. The camera cannot turn on by itself, and you will see a green light next to the camera lens whenever it is active.
Key Takeaways
- Photo Booth is the built-in camera app on every MacBook and opens with Command + spacebar, then typing "Photo Booth".
- Video call apps like Zoom and FaceTime ask for camera permission the first time you use them, and you must click "Allow" to proceed.
- A green light appears next to the camera lens whenever any app is using it, so you can see when the camera is active.
- If an app cannot find your camera, check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera to make sure the app has permission.
Using Photo Booth to take pictures and videos
When you open Photo Booth, you see yourself on the screen. At the bottom of the window are four icons: a camera icon for still photos, a video camera icon for recording video, and two others for effects and burst mode. Click the camera icon to take a single photo, or the video camera icon to record a video. Press the spacebar or click the red button to start and stop recording.
Photo Booth stores every photo and video you take in its library. You can view them by clicking the thumbnail strip at the bottom of the window. To save a photo or video to your computer, right-click it and select "Export", then choose where you want to save it.
Giving apps permission to use your camera
The first time you open a video call app or any other program that needs the camera, macOS will show a dialog asking "Photo Booth would like to access your camera." Click "Allow" to give it permission. If you click "Don't Allow", the app cannot use the camera until you change your mind.
You can change camera permissions anytime. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner, select System Settings, then click Privacy & Security on the left side. Scroll down to Camera and you will see a list of every app that has asked for permission. Toggle the switch next to any app to turn its camera access on or off.
What to do if your camera is not working
If an app says it cannot find your camera, first check that the app has permission. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and make sure the app is listed and toggled on. If it is not listed, the app has never asked for permission — try opening the app again and clicking "Allow" when prompted.
If the app has permission but still cannot find the camera, restart your Mac. Shut down completely, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This fixes most camera problems. If the camera still does not work after a restart, try unplugging any external USB devices (like a mouse or keyboard adapter) and restarting again — sometimes a USB device interferes with the built-in camera.
If Photo Booth itself will not open, restart your Mac first. If it still will not open after restart, your camera hardware may have a problem and you should contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store.
Understanding the green light next to your camera
Every MacBook camera has a small green light next to the lens. This light turns on whenever any app is using the camera. You cannot turn this light off — it is a hardware feature designed so you always know when the camera is active. If you see the green light and you did not start a video call or open a camera app, an app is using your camera without your knowledge.
If you see the green light unexpectedly, check Activity Monitor to see which app is using the camera. Click the Finder icon, go to Applications > Utilities, and open Activity Monitor. Look through the list for any app you do not recognize. If you find one, select it and click the X button to close it. You can also remove camera permission from any app in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.
Using your camera in FaceTime and other video call apps
FaceTime is built into every Mac. To start a FaceTime call, open FaceTime from Applications, click the plus sign to create a new conversation, type the name or phone number of the person you want to call, and press Enter. Your camera turns on automatically and the other person sees your video when they answer.
Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and other video call apps work the same way: open the app, start a new call or meeting, and the app asks for camera permission if it is the first time. Once you give permission, the camera turns on automatically. You can usually turn the camera on and off during a call by clicking a camera icon in the app — this does not close the app, it just stops sending video to the other person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone turn on my MacBook camera without me knowing?
No. An app can only use your camera if you gave it permission in System Settings, and the green light next to the lens will be on whenever the camera is active. If you see the green light and did not start a video call, check Activity Monitor to find which app is using it and close that app.
What is the difference between Photo Booth and FaceTime?
Photo Booth is for taking pictures and videos of yourself that you save to your computer. FaceTime is for video calls with other people. Both use your camera, but Photo Booth stores what you record and FaceTime sends it to another person in real time.
Why does an app say it needs camera permission when I already gave it permission?
This usually means you clicked "Don't Allow" the first time and need to change your mind. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera, find the app in the list, and toggle it on. If the app is not in the list, it never asked for permission — restart the app and click "Allow" when prompted.
Can I cover my MacBook camera?
Yes. Many people use a small piece of tape or a camera cover to block the lens when they are not using it. This is a personal choice — the green light will still turn on if an app tries to use the camera, even if it is covered.
Does my MacBook camera work when the lid is closed?
No. Your MacBook camera only works when the lid is open. When you close the lid, the camera is blocked and cannot be used by any app.