Continuity Camera won't connect wirelessly

[AndyMoore]

Hi,

I can't get Continuity Camera to work without connecting via USB to my Mac mini. The Mac mini is an M1 and the I have an iPhone 11. Both have been updated this morning.

Connecting over USB is flawless but the Mac mini is supposed to be able to connect to the iPhone for Continuity Camera wirelessly but it just can't see the iPhone. In FaceTime for example, it is still asking for a camera to be connected if it's not plugged in via USB. I've been through the obvious fault finding tips like making sure handoff is selected on the iPhone and signing in and out of iCloud on both devices, turning them off and on again etc

Can anyone help?

Thanks.

 

[pyramidic.shallot]

it worked the first time for me and then promptly never worked wirelessly again - also on M1 mac mini.

 

[obesaki]

I have the same problem. M1 Mac mini and iPhone 12 mini

 

[djpatrickb]

Same here. Worked once. Never again. M1 Mac mini/iPhone 14 Pro. Works fine on my 13" Macbook Pro M1.

 

[djpatrickb]

Update: I was able to get this to work wirelessly by holding the camera up as if it were mounted on the back of my monitor (as shown in the instructions from Apple). I guess this position activates the camera. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213244

 

[SimonRobbins]

I got the same, but the suggestion of holding the phone up as if it was mounted on the screen didn’t work for me. The first time, when it did work, it worked whatever way it was pointing, even up at the ceiling. When I closed FaceTime when it was working I got some message on the phone but unfortunately I didn’t read it very well. It was something to do with disconnecting the phone from the Mac, I think, which seemed reasonable as I had just closed the app. Anyway, I clicked OK and it hasn’t worked since.

 

[SimonRobbins]

Just solved it, for me at least. Having got it working once I had unplugged my old webcam. Read on another forum that it only works if another webcam is plugged in. so I plugged my old webcam back in and hey presto iPhone now works as well. Seems like a bug. Only works with another camera plugged in. So I guess I just have to hide the old camera under the desk, can't sell it on ebay just yet☹️

 

[SimonRobbins]

Hi,

I can't get Continuity Camera to work without connecting via USB to my Mac mini. The Mac mini is an M1 and the I have an iPhone 11. Both have been updated this morning.

Connecting over USB is flawless but the Mac mini is supposed to be able to connect to the iPhone for Continuity Camera wirelessly but it just can't see the iPhone. In FaceTime for example, it is still asking for a camera to be connected if it's not plugged in via USB. I've been through the obvious fault finding tips like making sure handoff is selected on the iPhone and signing in and out of iCloud on both devices, turning them off and on again etc

Can anyone help?

Thanks.

Try plugging a normal webcam in as well. Worked for me. I think it’s a bug. If you have another web cam you can switch between that and the iPhone. As soon webcam is unplugged you loose the iPhone choice as well.

 

[wsqW]

I had the same problem . My Mac studio M1 and Iphone 11 pro max
i hope it can be solved without buy another new iphone instead.

 

[chrisf60647]

Funny. MacMini, same thing. Worked the first time and then not again. TBH, probably wont use it that much but was more curious than anything.

 

[SimonRobbins]

I think the issue here is everyone who has mentioned their Mac has a Mac mini. Same with me except I didn’t mention it. All iMacs and MacBooks have a built in webcam I think. Mac mini doesn’t. This feature seems to work fine when I have another webcam attached and I can easily switch from that one to the iPhone, but as soon as I detach the webcam the iPhone disconnects as well and can’t be used.

 

[dvdchance]

Another user who cannot get it working, also with a MacMini. And I also don't have another webcam attached.

I was tracking my issue down to the fact I cannot get my iPhone XR to connect to the Mac via Bluetooth. If I try and connect after selecting forget my devices and I get the pairing numbers message, it connects for a few seconds then goes to not connected.

So this feature works if you connect the phone via USB with the lightening cable? Haven't tried that yet.

Thanks

 

[chrisf60647]

Another user who cannot get it working, also with a MacMini. And I also don't have another webcam attached.

I was tracking my issue down to the fact I cannot get my iPhone XR to connect to the Mac via Bluetooth. If I try and connect after selecting forget my devices and I get the pairing numbers message, it connects for a few seconds then goes to not connected.

So this feature works if you connect the phone via USB with the lightening cable? Haven't tried that yet.

Thanks

I tried connecting it via cable and no go as well. Just detects no camera. Most likey a bug.

 

[SimonRobbins]

I tried connecting it via cable and no go as well. Just detects no camera. Most likey a bug.

Worked for me with a cable and also when another webcam plugged in as well. Mind you the only cable I have is a usb-c to lightning so I plugged it straight into the usb-c port on the Mac mini. I can’t test it but it may not work on the usb-a ports or on a usb hub as they don’t have the same capacity I think.

 

[AndyMoore]

Plugging in with a USB to Lightning cable works fine but it just won't connect wirelessly.
I don't have a web cam to try the solutions above.

 

[fisherking]

i had it working during the beta cycle, but not now (wirelessly). i also can connect thru usb. am on a macbook air...

 

[SUGAR RAY WONKA]

Also unable to connect wirelessly and also on M1

Don’t have another webcam to connect 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

[ics55]

I had the same issue yesterday. Today I tried connecting the IPhone 14 via USB and it worked. Then, I disconnected it and it worked fine wirelessly??

 

[chrfr]

I replied about this in another thread on the same topic but with a Mac that doesn’t have a built in camera, you need to connect a webcam over USB in order to use Continuity Camera wirelessly. That USB webcam doesn’t have to be doing anything but otherwise the Mac will only detect the iPhone as a Continuity Camera option if connected via USB.
I assume this is a bug in iOS, Ventura, or both.

 

[SUGAR RAY WONKA]

I replied about this in another thread on the same topic but with a Mac that doesn’t have a built in camera, you need to connect a webcam over USB in order to use Continuity Camera wirelessly. That USB webcam doesn’t have to be doing anything but otherwise the Mac will only detect the iPhone as a Continuity Camera option if connected via USB.
I assume this is a bug in iOS, Ventura, or both.

Yeah, I saw that elsewhere, but don't have another webcam.

Am asking via Feedback if this is acknowledged as a bug and if there an ETA for a fix. Will post back any response.

 

[iAppleOrchard]

I would try opening Photo Booth and trying to connect Continunity Camera like that.

Then try FaceTime again.

 

[alexanderwolf]

Very strange — same exact issue for me with a Mac Studio using an LG Ultrafine 27" monitor. The first time I opened Facetime in Ventura it asked me to try using my iPhone as the camera. Looked great! Then, I closed Facetime and it won't offer me the option to connect wireless again. This was after I spent a good 25 minutes searching for a good mount that might work to use the iPhone in such a manner with my monitor! What a bummer. I do hope someone comes out with a proper mount though.

 

[kuechi]

I have the mac mini. I tired to call apple and they said you have to mount the phone which it doesn't make any sense. They didn't even explain why. I tried replicating the mount by just putting the phone on top of the screen while holding it with my hand, still doesn't work.

I accidentally just put my phone on my desk and put my phone standing 90 degrees horizontally and my camera continuity prompt pop up. I guess this is how you activate it for now.

PS: you have to open face time app on mac, I also have the mac mini m1.

 

[mVICm]

I had the same problem with my Intel Mac Mini but now I think I got it working wirelessly again.

The thing is to hold it steady, If I hold it in my hand it doesn't wok, it need to be on some steady place like the desk for example, but not flat, but like if it was mounted on a stand. I think it makes sense, but they could explain it with a message in the screen or something like this

In my case It doesn't matter if the phone is in horizontal or vertical.

Let's see if it's not a coincidence and it still working.

 

[kuechi]

I had the same problem with my Intel Mac Mini but now I think I got it working wirelessly again.

The thing is to hold it steady, If I hold it in my hand it doesn't wok, it need to be on some steady place like the desk for example, but not flat, but like if it was mounted on a stand. I think it makes sense, but they could explain it with a message in the screen or something like this

In my case It doesn't matter if the phone is in horizontal or vertical.

Let's see if it's not a coincidence and it still working.

I actually have a tripod, now I get how to activate it. as long as its mounted on something its gonna detect it. I just wish theres a mount for external monitors.