How to Enable and Disable Webcams

macOS 10.14 (Mojave) - macOS 12.0 (Monterey)

1. Click on the  Apple menu in the menu bar.
2. Select System Preferences... from the menu (See Figure 1).

   
   

   Figure 1

3. From the System Preferences screen, select Security & Privacy (See Figure 2).

   
   

   Figure 2

4. Click on the Privacy tab and then the Camera option. (See Figure 3).

   
   

   Figure 3

5. Adjust the webcam settings (See Figure 4).
   • To enable, checkmark each app for access.
   • To disable, uncheck each app to remove access.

   
   

   Figure 4

Windows 10

1. Press the Windows  + I, or click on the  settings icon in the Start menu to open Settings (See Figure 5).

   
   

   Figure 5

2. From the Settings window, click Privacy (See Figure 6).

   
   

   Figure 6

3. Click Camera on the left (See Figure 7).

   
   

   Figure 7

4. Adjust the webcam settings (See Figure 8).
   • To enable, ensure Allow apps to access your camera is enabled.
   • To disable, ensure Allow apps to access your camera is disabled.

   
   

   Figure 8

5. To allow (or disallow) specific apps, scroll down and toggle the option on or off for each app (See Figure 9).
       On gives the app access to the webcam and off disables it.

   
   

   Figure 9

Windows 11

1. Press the Windows  + I, or click on the  settings icon in the Start menu to open Settings (See Figure 10).

   
   

   Figure 10

2. From the Settings window, select Privacy & security (See Figure 11).

   
   

   Figure 11

3. Click Camera on the right (See Figure 12).

   
   

   Figure 12

4. Adjust the webcam settings (See Figure 13).
   • To enable, make sure Allow apps to access your camera is selected.
   • To disable, make sure Allow apps to access your camera is not selected.

   
   

   Figure 13

5. To allow (or remove access from) specific apps, scroll down and toggle the option on or off for each app (See Figure 14).
       On gives the app access to the webcam and off disables it.

   
   

   Figure 14