Most Macs will ship with a FaceTime camera, but if you have a Mac mini or a Mac Pro you may need to invest in a separate web cam. You need a connected microphone. It’s likely that there is one built into your Apple device. It is the best alternative of FaceTime App. It has an interestingly unique feature for the video calling. Not only can you use it for a video call but you can also record the video clips and send them to your friends and family. Allinko 550 Webcam 1080P Full HD, USB Web Camera with Microphone Compatible with Windows 10 8 7 XP Mac OS X, Skype Webcams for Laptop PC iMac MacBook Pro, Plug and Play Webcams.
Many of Apple’s desktops and laptops include a built-in webcam, which the company cheerfully calls a FaceTime camera. However, if your mac webcam is not working, and displays as disconnected or unavailable when attempting to access it, you might not feel so cheery. Here's what you can do to try and get it back up and running.
Check for Applications Using the Camera
Typically, only a single Mac app can utilize the camera at a time. Ensure the application you're trying to use isn’t being denied access to the camera because something else is utilizing it at the present moment. You can attempt to fix this issue by closing all other open applications that might be using the camera. Some example apps include FaceTime, Skype, and Photo Booth.If you aren’t sure which applications might be accessing your camera, save your work, then close all open apps to rule everything out.- You can perform a restart by heading to the Apple Menu in the upper left-hand corner of your Mac’s screen and clicking the Restart option. If any processes are using the camera in the background, a restart may fix the issue, providing you full access to the camera once again. Once the computer is back on, check to see if your webcam is functioning in a normal manner.
Reset Your Mac’s System Controller
This might sound a bit overwhelming, but don’t worry. If your Mac’s webcam isn’t performing as it should, you can reset what's known as the System Management Controller (SMC). The SMC controls many of the hardware functions of your Mac, and rebooting it may serve as a solution to your problems.If you have a MacBook computer, here is how you go about resetting your SMC.- Start by shutting down your MacBook by heading to the Apple Menu in the upper left-hand corner of your Mac’s screen and clicking the Shut Down option.
- Ensure your MacBook's power adapter is attached to the computer.
- On the MacBook's keyboard, hold down Shift+Control+Options keys simultaneously, then turn the power on to start the computer.
- After powering on the machine, keep the Shift,Control, and Option keys all held down at the same time.
- Allow thirty-seconds to pass before releasing the keys, allowing the Mac to boot as normal.
- Once your computer starts up, check to see if you now have access to your camera.
If you have a Mac desktop, here is how you go about resetting your SMC.- Start by shutting down your Mac by heading to the Apple Menu in the upper left-hand corner of your Mac’s screen and clicking the Shut Down option
- Disconnect the power cord from your Mac.
- Hold down your Mac’s power button for thirty seconds.
- Release the power button, reattach your power cable, and boot your Mac as normal.
- Once your computer starts up, check to see if you now have access to your camera.
Go to an Apple Technician
If none of the proposed solutions above can restore your Mac’s webcam, locate an Apple Store or authorized Apple technician to have your Mac serviced. Apple Stores offer free technical support at their in-store Genius Bar. We recommend making an appointment online at Apple’s support website so you’ll have a much shorter wait time to see a technician when you arrive at the store.If you can’t make an appointment online, Apple Stores generally accept walk-in appointments but wait times can vary from only a few minutes to a few hours.
An alternative to going to an Apple Store, contact Apple’s telephone-based support to seek out a solution without the need to leave your home.
Apple has published a list of Macs that support sending and receiving HD calls through its new FaceTime for Mac software, clarifying who can do what. The short version of Apple’s KnowledgeBase article is that as of this writing, only the MacBook Pro models announced earlier on Thursday can send a FaceTime HD call, but many Macs (see below) can receive them, and most Macs can send and receive standard definition FaceTime calls.
With FaceTime HD, you, too, can be this hotCan You Facetime On Mac
On the sending end, Apple lists only the new MacBook Pro models announced earlier on Thursday. On the receiving end, the company lists all Mac Pros (with an HD camera), and recent MacBook an MacBook Pros, recent iMacs, and recent Mac minis (with an HD camera).
Apple wrote that, “Macs with a built-in FaceTime HD camera are capable of sending call video in HD.” These include:
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
- MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)
Many Macs, however, can receive FaceTime HD calls., including:
![Facetime Facetime](https://cdn2.macworld.co.uk/cmsdata/features/3632365/facetime_views.png)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
- MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)
- MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008), or newer, with a 2.4 GHz or better processor
- MacBook Pro (15-inch and 17-inch, Early 2008), or newer, with a 2.4 GHz or better processor
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010), or newer, with a 2.53 GHz or better processor
- iMac (20-inch and 24-inch, Early 2008), or newer, with a 2.4 GHz or better processor
- iMac (21.5-inch and 27-inch, Late 2009), or newer, with a 3.06 GHz or better processor
- Mac Pro (all models), with a compatible video camera Mac mini (Early 2009) or newer, with a 2.26 GHz or better processor and a compatible video camera
Macs not listed above that are running Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later can send and receive standard definition FaceTime calls. Apple also noted that sending and receiving HD calls requires 1 Mbs in throughput.
Facetime On Macbook Air
For a further bit of clarity, Apple offered the following example: Best antivirus free for mac.
Facetime Macbook To Iphone
You are using a MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008) with FaceTime for Mac to call a friend who is using a MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011). Your MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008) will receive HD video from the MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011), and your friend’s MacBook Pro will receive standard definition video from your MacBook.
FaceTime for Mac was announced Thursday and is available for US$0.99 on the Mac App Store.