SOLUTION: Built in Mac iSight not working with Facebook Video Call

As many of you probably heard yesterday, Facebook and Skype have paired up and now you can not only chat with friends on Facebook, you can also have video calls with them!

Eager to test it out, I downloaded the software/plugin via Chrome on my Mac and my wife did the same. When we tested it out, no dice. We both received an error saying the other didn’t have a webcam setup. This, of course was wrong as we both have built-in iSight cameras in our Mac computers. After tinkering with it for a bit, I found a solution that worked for us. So if you’re having problems with your built-in Mac iSight camera and Facebook video calling, try this out:

Update software and OS

The first thing you’ll need to do is update all your Mac software. This includes running Software Update to make sure the OS is updated as well as the browser that you’re using (Safari will update with the Apple Software Update tool). Second, head over to get.adobe.com/flashplayer to make sure you’re running the latest Flash Player. Once you’re done updating, I suggest you reboot or at least restart the browser.

Setup Permission

The next thing to do is set up Flash and Facebook permission to access your built-in iSight camera for the video call. To do this, go back out to your news feed or profile and click on Video like you were going to share a video with your friends and then click on Record Video.

Next you’ll need to give Flash permission to use your built-in iSight camera. If the options box shown below doesn’t show up automatically, right-click or CTRL click on the video window and select Settings.

In the settings box, click on the second tab (Privacy), and select Allow, check Remember, and then click on Close.

At this point, your video might come alive. If not, try reloading Facebook or restarting your computer. Hopefully though, after setting the privacy settings, you should be good to go!

Enjoy chatting with friends and family with Facebook Video Calls!

Brad Lowrey Director of Marketing

Brad Lowrey is a dynamic marketing strategist and Director of Marketing at GreenPath Financial Wellness, where he leads initiatives in digital marketing, SEO, and content creation. With a strong background in data-driven strategies, honed through roles at Comerica Bank and Hillsdale College, Brad has significantly boosted engagement and traffic for his organizations. He combines over a decade of digital strategy experience with a deep commitment to team development and a passion for continuous learning. Outside of work, Brad cherishes time with his family, indulging in hobbies like woodworking and gardening on their hobby farm.

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