How to Use a Profile to Disable the iSight Camera in macOS 14 Sonoma

How to Use a Profile to Disable the iSight Camera in macOS 14 Sonoma

NOTE:

Performing this in macOS 15 Sequoia: The method is a bit different for macOS 15 Sequoia. You need to go to Device Management to add the profile. This can be seen below in II. Install the New Profile: Use my other User Tip for that: How to Use a Profile to Disable the iSight Camera in macOS 15 Sequoia - Apple Support Community

Do you want privacy? You can disable use of the iSight Camera in-full. It all comes down to creating and then installing a profile using the Apple Configurator. Note that covering the iSight Camera with hardware may seem just fine, but doing so can lead to debris getting on your Mac's screen, ultimately leading to hardware failure. That's why disabling it digitally is so much more secure and affective, as no hardware would be fiddled with.

Note: All provided screenshots are of the top-left corner of each opened window that pertains to the last item in each step. You need to create, install, and confirm the profile installation. When you no longer need this, just click the "-" button to uninstall it(see in step 4. of II.). And reinstall it, when you need this once more.

First...

I. Create the New Profile:

1. Download: Apple Configurator for Mac
2. Open: Apple Configurator
3. Go to: File menu
4. Select: New Profile
5. Select: Restrictions (located on the left pane)
6. Click: Configure
7. Deselect: Allow use of camera
8. Go to: File menu
9. Select: Save...
10. Save as: iSightDisableProfile.mobileconfig
11. Save to: Documents folder
12. Close: Apple Configurator

Screenshot of What to Deselect:

then...

II. Install the New Profile

1. Open: System Settings
2. Select: General
3. Click: Privacy & Security
4. Click: Profiles (you may need to scroll down)
5. Click: the + button
6. Select: iSightDisableProfile.mobileconfig
7. Click: Open button
8. Click: Continue button
9. Click: Install button
10. Close: System Settings

Screenshot of Profile Installed in System Settings:

Finally...

III. Confirm the Profile Installation:

Two methods...

A. Confirming in FaceTime App:

1. Open: FaceTime app
2. Look for: No Camera Available To use FaceTime, connect a camera.

Screenshot of not iSight Camera in FaceTime:

B. Confirming Using System Information:

1. Hold Down: option key
2. Click: Apple menu
3. Select: System Information
4. Expand: Hardware
5. Click: Camera
6. Look for: No video capture devices were found.

Screenshot of not iSight Camera in System Settings: