To open the camera on your Mac, press Command + Space, type Photo Booth, then press Return. Photo Booth activates the camera and shows a live preview. Check that the picture responds when you move, or record a short video to check the recorded result.
The short version
- Open the camera: Search for Photo Booth with Command + Space, then press Return.
- Test the result: Inspect the live picture and record a short clip to check recording and playback.
- Choose your webcam: Use Photo Booth’s Camera menu to select a connected camera.
- Allow access: Check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera when a third-party app cannot use it.
- Finish the test: Quit all apps and features using the camera so the built-in camera’s green light turns off.
| Method | How to open the preview | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Booth | Open Photo Booth through Spotlight | Quick preview, photos, and test videos |
| QuickTime Player | File > New Movie Recording | Record a clip with your selected camera and microphone |
| FaceTime | Open FaceTime | Check your picture before calling |
| Zoom | Profile picture > Settings > Video & effects | Check video inside Zoom |
| Google Meet | Open a meeting and click Camera below the preview | Check video before joining |
| External webcam or camera-equipped display | Connect the device and select it in your camera app | Use a compatible external camera |
| iPhone through Continuity Camera | Set up Continuity Camera and select the iPhone in your video app | Use the iPhone camera as your webcam |
Open Photo Booth and check the picture
Use the Spotlight shortcut above, or open Finder, select Applications in the sidebar, and double-click Photo Booth. If your Spotlight shortcut has been customized, click Spotlight in the menu bar and search for Photo Booth there. An existing Photo Booth icon in the Dock also opens the app.
The live view lets you check that the camera captures movement and that your face is framed correctly. If Photo Booth displays a saved photo or video instead, click View Photo or View Video to return to capture mode. For a connected webcam, choose Camera in the menu bar and select its name.
To take a test picture, choose Picture or Four Pictures, then click Take Photo. For a recording, choose Video, click Record Video, and click Stop when you have a short clip. Inspect the saved result as well as the preview, since a live picture alone does not test recording and playback.
Use QuickTime for a test recording
Open QuickTime Player, then choose File > New Movie Recording. With QuickTime active, Option + Command + N opens the same window. Opening this window activates the camera preview without starting a recording.
Open the Capture Device Selection Menu beside the recording control, then select the camera and microphone you want to use. Click Start Recording, capture a short clip, then click Stop Recording. Play it back to inspect the recorded video and audio, and choose File > Save if you want to keep it.
Check the camera before a video call
Open FaceTime to activate its camera preview before placing a call. Choose Video in the menu bar and select your camera, or choose Automatic Camera Selection. Inspect the picture before starting the call.
For Zoom, sign in to the desktop app, click your profile picture, and open Settings > Video & effects. Inspect the preview and select another camera when needed. During a meeting, click the arrow beside Video, open Video settings, and use the Camera dropdown.
In Google Meet, open a meeting, click Camera below the preview tile, and use the adjacent device dropdown to choose your camera. You can inspect the live picture before clicking Join now. If the camera works in Photo Booth but fails in your calling app, check that app’s camera selection and permissions.
Select an external webcam or iPhone
Connect and power an external webcam as its manufacturer requires, then open your camera app. In Photo Booth, select the device from Camera; in FaceTime, select it from Video. In QuickTime, open File > New Movie Recording and choose the device from the Capture Device Selection Menu beside the recording control.
A compatible camera-equipped display works through the same app selection process. This is also an option when your Mac has no built-in camera. Check the selected device’s name before judging the picture so you know which camera you are testing.
You can use an iPhone as a webcam through Continuity Camera with macOS Ventura 13 or later and an iPhone XR or later running iOS 16 or later. Both devices must use the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. On the iPhone, open Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity and turn on Continuity Camera.
Place the locked iPhone near your Mac with its rear cameras facing you, then select the iPhone in your Mac video app. A trusted USB connection is also supported. This checks the iPhone camera, so select the built-in camera instead when that is the hardware you want to test.
Allow camera access for apps and websites
When a third-party app cannot display video, open the Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera. Turn on access for that app or browser, then reopen it if prompted. The list contains installed apps that have requested access.
This settings page controls permission and does not show a camera preview. Apple says bundled apps such as Photo Booth and FaceTime already have camera access. Return to the camera app to inspect the picture after changing a permission.
For a website in Safari, open Safari > Settings > Websites > Camera. Set the website to Ask or Allow, then return to its camera preview and respond to any permission request. Website permission is separate from the browser’s macOS camera access.
In Chrome, open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Camera. Select the blocked site and change its permission to Allow; this settings area also lets you choose a default camera. For a new request, choose Allow while visiting the site or Allow this time.
Fix a camera that still will not open
Close other apps and browser tabs using the camera, then reopen or reload the app you want to test. If an app is frozen, force quit the frozen Mac app before trying again. Recheck the selected camera when you return to its preview.
Screen Time can also restrict camera use. Open the Apple menu > System Settings > Screen Time, selecting the family member if applicable, then open Content & Privacy > App & Feature Restrictions and enable Camera. You may see Feature Restrictions as the category name instead. In the updated Screen Time experience on macOS 27, open Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Other Features and click Allowed next to Camera. Family-managed settings may require a parent or guardian to make the change.
If Screen Time prevents the camera app itself from opening, go to Screen Time > App Limits, or to Screen Time > Time Allowances in the updated Screen Time experience on macOS 27. Check the app’s limit or its category’s allowance, and turn the limit off or make sure time remains available. Open the app again after adjusting the restriction.
On an Apple-silicon Mac, connect it to power, choose the Apple menu > Restart, then reopen Photo Booth. If the computer is unresponsive, follow the steps to restart a computer that is frozen. Apple says the SMC resets automatically on Apple-silicon Macs, so Intel SMC key combinations are unnecessary on those models.
For an Intel Mac, an SMC reset remains a camera troubleshooting option. Identify whether you have a laptop with a T2 chip, a laptop without one, or a desktop before choosing the matching procedure.
On an Intel laptop with a T2 chip, shut down, then hold left Control, left Option, and right Shift for 7 seconds. Keep holding them and add the power button for another 7 seconds. Release all buttons, wait briefly, then press the power button to turn on the Mac.
On an Intel laptop without a T2 chip, shut down, then hold left Shift + Control + Option together with the power button for 10 seconds. Release them, then press the power button to turn on the Mac.
On an Intel desktop, shut down and unplug the power cord for 15 seconds. Reconnect it, wait 5 seconds, then press the power button to turn on the Mac. Reopen Photo Booth to check the camera after the reset.
Turn off the camera after testing
Close or quit every app and feature using the camera when you finish. Close any remaining video previews, including a QuickTime movie-recording window, because a preview can keep the camera active without recording.
The built-in camera’s green indicator should turn off when camera use ends. If it remains lit, check for another active camera app or a background camera feature such as Head pointer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Siri open the camera on a Mac?
Yes, activate Siri and ask it to open Photo Booth. Siri launches the app, and Photo Booth activates the camera.
How do you skip the Photo Booth countdown or flash?
Hold Option while clicking Take Photo or Record Video to skip the countdown. Hold Shift while clicking Take Photo to suppress the flash, or hold Option + Shift while clicking Take Photo to suppress both. You can also change the persistent flash setting through Camera > Enable Screen Flash.
What replaced Launchpad for finding camera apps?
On macOS Tahoe 26 and macOS 27, you can use the Apps browser in Spotlight. Click Apps in the Dock, or open Spotlight and click Applications, then search for Photo Booth and press Return or click its icon.
Can you use the camera to take a Mac login picture?
Yes, open the Apple menu > System Settings > Users & Groups, then click the picture beside your login name. Select Camera and click the Camera button to take a photo. Click Save only when you want to change your login picture.
Can Magnifier show a live camera view on a Mac?
Yes, Magnifier on macOS Tahoe 26 and macOS 27 supports a live view from supported built-in laptop cameras, USB cameras, or an iPhone connection. Open Magnifier, choose Camera in the menu bar, and select the camera. Use Zoom In or Zoom Out to inspect the view, or click the Camera button to capture an image.