Where to find and switch your camera in System Settings
Your Mac lets you choose which camera feeds into video calls, recordings, and apps. If you have multiple cameras connected — an external USB camera, a built-in FaceTime camera, or a camera from a dock — you can pick which one takes over as the default. The setting lives in System Settings under a section called Cameras, though the exact path depends on which version of macOS you're running.
On macOS Sonoma and newer, open System Settings from the Apple menu, then click Privacy & Security in the sidebar. Scroll down to find Cameras. You'll see a list of apps that have requested camera access, and next to each one is a dropdown menu showing which camera that app currently uses. Click the dropdown for any app and select a different camera from the list.
On macOS Ventura and earlier, the process is similar but the location is slightly different. Open System Settings, click Privacy & Security, then scroll to Camera. The same dropdown menus appear next to each app that uses your camera.
Key Takeaways
- Your Mac stores camera preferences per app, so you can set Zoom to use one camera and FaceTime to use another.
- System Settings under Privacy & Security is where you change which camera each app sees as the default.
- External cameras show up in the dropdown menu only after you plug them in and macOS recognizes them.
- Some apps cache the camera choice, so you may need to restart the app after changing the setting for the change to take effect.
How to set a camera as default for all apps at once
macOS doesn't have a single "default camera" setting that applies to every app on your computer. Instead, each app remembers which camera you last used with it. If you want all your apps to use the same external camera, you'll need to change the setting in each app individually through System Settings.
The fastest way is to go through System Settings once and set each app to your preferred camera. Open System Settings, navigate to Privacy & Security > Camera, and work through the list. For apps you use regularly — Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime, Discord — click the dropdown next to each one and select your external camera. Apps you rarely use can stay on the built-in camera.
If you use a video recording app like ScreenFlow or OBS Studio, those apps often have their own camera selection menu inside the app itself, separate from System Settings. Check the app's preferences or settings first before assuming System Settings is the only place to change it.
What to do if your external camera doesn't appear in the list
When you plug in an external USB camera, macOS should recognize it within a few seconds. If it doesn't show up in the System Settings camera dropdown, the camera either isn't fully connected, needs a driver, or macOS doesn't recognize it as a camera device.
First, unplug the camera and plug it back in. Wait 10 seconds and check System Settings again. If it still doesn't appear, try a different USB port on your Mac — some ports have power or data issues. If you're using a USB hub, plug the camera directly into your Mac instead; hubs sometimes don't provide enough power for cameras to initialize properly.
Some older or specialized cameras need driver software to work on Mac. Check the camera manufacturer's website for macOS drivers. Download and install them, then restart your Mac and plug the camera back in. After restart, the camera should appear in System Settings.
Restarting an app after changing the camera setting
After you change which camera an app uses in System Settings, that app may not immediately switch to the new camera. Many apps load the camera choice when they start up, so they keep using the old camera until you close and reopen them.
Close the app completely — not just minimize it — and reopen it. If you're in a video call, end the call, close the app, and start a new call. The app should now use the camera you selected in System Settings. If it still uses the wrong camera, restart your Mac and try again.
Using different cameras for different apps
One of the most useful features of macOS camera settings is that you can assign different cameras to different apps. You might want your external camera for Zoom meetings but your built-in camera for FaceTime, or vice versa depending on the angle and lighting you prefer.
To set this up, open System Settings and go to Privacy & Security > Camera. Find Zoom in the list and set it to your external camera. Then find FaceTime and set it to your built-in camera. Each app will remember its own choice. When you open Zoom, it uses the external camera. When you open FaceTime, it uses the built-in one. You can mix and match as many apps as you want.
This setup is especially helpful if you have a wide-angle external camera for group calls and a narrower built-in camera for one-on-one conversations, or if one camera has better lighting than the other.
Checking which apps have camera permission
The System Settings camera list shows only apps that have asked for and received permission to use your camera. If an app you use isn't in the list, it either hasn't requested camera access yet or you denied it permission.
To give an app camera permission, open the app and try to start a video call or enable your camera. A prompt will appear asking if you want to allow the app to access your camera. Click Allow. The app will then appear in the System Settings camera list, and you can assign it a specific camera.
If you previously denied an app camera access and want to change that, open System Settings, go to Privacy & Security > Camera, and look for the app in the list. If it's there but unchecked, click the checkbox to turn access back on. If it's not in the list at all, open the app and try to use the camera again; the permission prompt should reappear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use two cameras at the same time in one app?
No. Each app can use only one camera at a time. You can't split the video feed between two cameras or show both camera angles in a single app. Some advanced video software like OBS Studio lets you add multiple cameras as separate sources and switch between them manually, but standard apps like Zoom and FaceTime support only one camera per session.
Why does my external camera keep switching back to the built-in camera?
This usually happens because the app didn't fully load the camera choice before it started. Close the app completely and reopen it after changing the setting in System Settings. If it keeps reverting, restart your Mac. If the problem persists, the external camera may be disconnecting briefly — try a different USB port or a shorter cable.
Do I need to change the camera setting every time I use an app?
No. Once you set a camera for an app in System Settings, that app remembers the choice. You only need to change it again if you want to switch to a different camera or if the app resets its preferences after an update.
What if I have a camera built into my monitor or keyboard?
Monitor and keyboard cameras appear in the System Settings list just like external USB cameras. They show up with their own names — often something like "USB Camera" or the manufacturer's name. Select them from the dropdown the same way you would any other camera.