Can't turn on webcam for Skype or Zoom

[Gregg2]

Apps requesting camera (or microphone) access are not appearing in the Privacy tab of Security & Privacy System Preferences. I could hear a caller and he could hear me. I could see him, but he could not see me. It's odd that the microphone worked but the camera didn't, when neither tab in Privacy showed any apps requesting access. I verified that the web cam is plugged in.

Since this iteration of Skype is web-based, the above Preferences might not apply.(?) I did download Skype.app but when I tried to open it, a message said I would need to download Rosetta. I actually haven't been able to get as far with Zoom. The host did not seem to see that I was requesting entry.

I need to get both Skype and Zoom going, or some alternative to Skype. Judging from what came up searching for help online, it seems that I am not alone in having this difficulty. If you got Zoom or web-Skype to work, how????

 

[smoking monkey]

Are there any safari prefs you can check?

 

[Slartibart]

Does your external webcam work with Quicktime, Photobooth or Facetime? Edit: which camera model?

 

[HDFan]

Apps requesting camera (or microphone) access are not appearing in the Privacy tab of Security & Privacy System Preferences.

Have you tried uninstalling/rebooting/reinstalling the apps? It is interesting that there are no "+-" options to add those apps to those preference sections. Looks like the only time you can add them is at application install time.

a message said I would need to download Rosetta.

So you are on an M1? Did you download Rosetta? Zoom 15.10.7 in "about this mac" shows support for apple silicon. I'm using Zoom on my Studio with no problem.

 

[Gregg2]

Does your external webcam work with Quicktime, Photobooth or Facetime? Edit: which camera model?

When I open FaceTime, the camera comes on. Quit, and of course, the camera turns off. So, it's not the hardware. Thanks for the question. I had not thought to try that. It eliminates one possibility.

 

[Gregg2]

Are there any safari prefs you can check?

I don't think there's anything there to help with this issue.

 

[StandingGoose]

I don't think there's anything there to help with this issue.

Safari / Preferences / Camera would seem to be about as relevant as it gets.

 

[Slartibart]

Make sure you get the latest version of Skype here. Install it. Try to run this version.

If at any point you get a notification ton install Rosetta 2, install it.

Then go to settings / system preferences of your Mac. go to the Security / Privacy setting. Click on "screen recording" which provides an overview of all applications that are allowed to record your screen. Skype would be probably be recognized but you have to make sure it is activated by checking the tickbox.

In relation to run the webversion: you can try the latest nightly build of Webkit. But before that I would check the aforementioned privacy settings for Safari too.

 

[Gregg2]

Have you tried uninstalling/rebooting/reinstalling the apps? It is interesting that there are no "+-" options to add those apps to those preference sections. Looks like the only time you can add them is at application install time.



So you are on an M1? Did you download Rosetta? Zoom 15.10.7 in "about this mac" shows support for apple silicon. I'm using Zoom on my Studio with no problem.

I did not reinstall the web version of Skype, which is what I got connected with, just not able to turn on my camera. I installed the Desktop version, Skype.app twice. Both attempts ended with the message about installing Rosetta. Yes, I have an M1 Mac Mini 2020. I did not download Rosetta.

My understanding is that the app is supposed to trigger a request to use the microphone and/or camera. So I think that's why there are no '+/-' options.

I have to give Zoom another try, as I didn't get connected by the host. Once in, I'll see if it all works or not. I don't understand the reference to "apple silicon". Is Rosetta going to be needed for Zoom?

Safari / Preferences / Camera would seem to be about as relevant as it gets.

I guess you mean Safari>Preferences>Websites. I did find that this morning. There is a Camera and a Microphone selection. My Camera setting for Skype was set to Ask. I changed it to Allow. That seemed to help. But, there's more…

The Skype web page also has some settings, hidden in the three dots at the top left side. After changing the above, when I went into this and clicked on Audio & Video, my camera turned on. So I'm thinking that the above was the crucial step. Anyway, it's working now for Skype. Thanks to everyone who offered help.

I still have to test Zoom, and will have a chance to do that in a few days.

 

[Gregg2]

Make sure you get the latest version of Skype here. Install it. Try to run this version.

If at any point you get a notification ton install Rosetta 2, install it.

Yeah, that's where I got the Skype.app from. It's working now on the web version, so I don't need to mess with Rosetta.

 

[HDFan]

Both attempts ended with the message about installing Rosetta. Yes, I have an M1 Mac Mini 2020. I did not download Rosetta.

I don't understand the reference to "apple silicon". Is Rosetta going to be needed for Zoom?

so I don't need to mess with Rosetta.

Great if your problem is solved. Don't understand why you don't want to install Rosetta. It is required for Intel apps to run. Once you have installed it is invisible. Otherwise you can continue to have problems with Intel apps. It's a no-brainer as I haven't heard of any problems with it.

Zoom should have an M1 version, but if it requires Rosetta just install it.

 

[Slartibart]

For anyone interested (or running into problems): here is a curated list of apps and their state on Apple Silcon. I recommend to using the More Info-function to usually getting redirected to the support page of the selected program to obtain the latest info. The website reflects not necessarily the latest info on a selected program.

In relation to Zoom : one can easily participate/initiate sessions via the browser.