As I transition to the 2016 MacBook Pro, I’m finding myself enjoying many aspects but disappointed by the maturity of the software on this new hardware base. My latest little annoyance is that the built-in “FaceTime HD” webcam didn’t work. Happily it’s a quick fix, but it’s another disappointment that it didn’t work out of the box!
TL;DR: If your MacBook Pro camera won’t work when called up (in FaceTime, QuickTime, or other applications), just open Terminal and type sudo killall VDCAssistant
For a while, some Macs have had issues with cameras not responding. This has affected some MacBook, Thunderbolt Display, and other machines. And now it’s cropping up with the new 2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
The issue stems from an issue with a piece of software called VDCAssistant, which has been part of Mac OS X for a few revisions. For some reason, it’s not activating the camera when needed.
The solution is to stop and restart this daemon. To do this, open Terminal and type the following:
sudo killall VDCAssistant
It will ask you to authenticate with your password (sudo gives you administrator privileges) and will then kill and restart the daemon. After this, your webcam should work fine. And you shouldn’t need to do this again.
Incidentally, there is no real error message for this. QuickTime showed an orange triangle sign and black screen but there was no indication of what the issue was. Great work, Apple!
Great thanks. Worked!
Awesome, it worked!
Okay, I’m the really low-techie that didn’t even know what you meant by Terminal.
So I searched it on my MacBook and a window popped up
When I typed in that command, I got some admonishments about lectures from my system administrator. So I typed in my password, thinking that’s what it wanted?
Just a mess.
???
I tried again – and, HELLO, it worked!
You are a genius. Where do I sign up???
Thank you!
Worked for me — thanks!
I had to do this more than once on separate days I wanted to use the webcam…is this really the long-term fix?
Had to do it twice, but it worked the second time.
ran the command, then launch FaceTime and now no camera at all
says No camera available, running mid2012 MBP
Doesn’t work for me. So annoying. Why is it so hard to get a built-in camera working on a MacBook. Ridiculous.
worked for me
worked great for new macbook pro 2017
worked on my 2011 macbook pro too. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
how i can get my password ?
THANK YOU
Worked like a charm the second time. Once I closed FaceTime and then ran it again, it worked. Maybe close FaceTime before running the command. But thanks so much for the fix!!
it’s the same password you use to log in to your account
Mac Book Pro 15″ late 2011 . Same problem but the suggested command didn’t solve the problem 🙁
it works!
Got the response – No matching processes were found
Every time I’m trying I get the same response “No matching processes were found”
I too have this ridiculous problem! I trued the so-called ‘solution’. It did not work. Instead, like others on here have commented, I get the “No matching processes were found” message.
I notice S. F. doen’t give a work-around for that, unless I’ve missed it. Again, like others, I have had this problem since updating to Sierra. OS: 10.12.5, MB Pro 2012.
Any solution that works would be more than welcome.
I have the same issue, put up a post if u find a solution
stupid software we need Steve Jobs back!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It worked! I had to type in my system password also, but worked a charm, thank you!
For those who say it didn’t work; try closing all apps using the camera before running the command.
Awesome, worked instantly. Thanks!
Worked like a charm! Thanks!
Thank-you. Worked perfectly. But I agree, apple needs to step up their game. Starting to agree with others that the products are not worth the exuberant prices when a basic app does not function properly on a brand new computer.
Worked immediately. Thank you
thanks for info!
This solution does not work for me. Now what?
Works for me too BUT need to do that every couple of days if/when I’d like to use FaceTime. Isn’t there a more definitive fix maybe?
I did this. I went from a black connected camera that was not turning on, to a disconnected camera….each time I reboot the computer it works fine, EXCEPT the camera doesn’t turn off. When I shut down and restart facetime to turn off camera it is then black and not turning on……all other video app are the same.
Thank you it worked perfectly!
I was leery, but it worked!! Thanks!
Received the “No matching processes were found” message, but when I checked, the camera was working normally. Thanks for the tip.
Boom, went straight to TL;DR and did sudo killall VDCAssistant. Awesome. Thank you so much!
worked perfectly. thanks!
I am very impressed that this worked the first time and instantly. Thanks for the help.
I had this problem a few times (I suspect from programs that don’t properly terminate the connection with the camera). Anyway, In my experience it may take a few tries before it works. Rebooting is also a good idea. So don’t get too frustrated if it does not work the first (or second,third) time.
how to put password its it not entering
Perfect, thank you for posting this solution
the same problem … I dunno wht to do…
just enter the password correctly.it is invisible in terminal.
We were having this same issue with a lot of our users on our network after the upgrade we found that by installing iGlasses for Mac it seemed to fix the cam issue so I’m assuming that the drivers for the cam as stated in this is not working properly same as in El Captain, when you reinstalled El Captain the cam then started working thus not the case with High Sierra. this fix works but only temp, if you open cam in Skype or FaceTime you have to repeat this process if your logging into another cam program.
I typed in the instructions and a key shows next to password but won’t let me type the admin
password
No luck.
macbook pro (retina, 13″, early 2015)
macOS 10.13.2 (high sierra)
When I connected my MacBook Pro 15″ (Late 2016) to an Apple Thunderbolt Display, using a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter, the camera of the Thunderbolt Display did not respond. After running the command you mentioned, it worked fine. Thank you!
Finally!! Been looking for this since I stupidly upgraded to High Sierra a couple of weeks back — I had a smooth, amazingly productive work machine before the upgrade, now its just a heap of annoyances with bigs like this.
Samme issue here. Any answers and solutions?
I spent two hours on the phone w/ support. The person was supper nice, but didn’t fix. i have an appointment w/ Apple Genius. Unfortunately I never tried to use the camera when I purchased. They asked if it ever worked or did I drop it. No, that never happened.
Hi the “sudo killall VDCAssistant” worked for me instantly! I am on 2012 MacBook Pro Retina running OS 10.13.2
Thanks!!
If the initial command of “sudo Killall VDCAssistant” does not work, try “sudo killall AppleCameraAssistant” as it is also know to fix the issue in the situation the 1st effort fails.
worked like a charm. Thanks
If you see a key icon after the password request, you are able to type in your password. The screen will not show characters or dots as you type, but the keyboard is still sending input to the Terminal app.
THANK YOU!!!!!!
Thanks! Worked for me with 2015 rMBP and Apple Thunderbolt display. Previously, TB display cam wasn’t being detected.
Fixed. Thanks 🙂
Is there a way to connect this beatiful display to a Windows PC ?
I have bought a second thunderbolt display, as now they are pretty cheap and they work fine with both of my 13’macpro’s 2019 and 2015. But I also recently bought a Windows PC to run some specific software. But for now cannot get the screen working with it. I used dock stations (HP G2 and USB C/A G2, then Dell K17A and of course I have tried using the apple thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 adapter, that I am using with my newer mac from 2019.
Have anyone had chance to connect this display to windows ever ?
That did not work in Monterey. No Green LED, etc. Tried everything, dead camera or internal connection.