iMac camera not working in Google Classroom

[MrB.]

As I am sure many of you are experiencing, home schooling is not for the faint-hearted! My daughter is 7, and her school have been excellent in providing almost a full day of live teaching through Google Classroom. Cannot fault the school or the teachers in this tricky time.

We've also just moved into our new property, and to save you the drama of my internet issues, myself, my wife and daughter are working off a Vodafone mobile wifi router/dongle until our new provider sorts itself out.

However, just before we moved, whilst using this mobile router, one day her teacher commented that she couldn't see my daughter on her Google Classroom screen. We could see everyone in her class on our screen, we could be heard via the microphone, and the camera light is lit up on the iMac (its quite old, a 2008/2009 model) but she can't be seen by her teacher or others in the class. Her tile is there with her initial, but no image according to the teacher.

I had originally put it down to this mobile router, but it worked previously when we got it, and if she logs in via my Mac (I have a new Mac Mini with external webcam) its fine, so it can't be that. I tried it with my webcam on her Mac, but that didn't work either. I've cleared cookies and caches on hers, but still no luck.

The b@ll-ache is I have to give up my Mac to allow her to do various bits of school work through the day when she needs to be seen, and it interferes with my working day. I can't understand that it worked previously, but not now.

Can anyone suggest anything please? Much appreciated.

[mmm-five]

It might simply be too old - i.e. both the hardware and software not up to date with the latest supported versions?

Also the installed OS will not be upgradeable any further to solve it. This is why your brand new MacMini (with the latest OS) works fine.

Time to invest in a nice new M1 MacMini + webcam for her.

[MrB.]

mmm-five said:

It might simply be too old - i.e. both the hardware and software not up to date with the latest supported versions?

Also the installed OS will not be upgradeable any further to solve it. This is why your brand new MacMini (with the latest OS) works fine.

Time to invest in a nice new M1 MacMini + webcam for her.

I've already spent a fortune upgrading the old Mac (it was mine!) to a new M1 MacMini for myself! I don't need another one!

It just seems strange that it worked fine a couple of weeks ago, and then one day, nothing. Nada. Zip.

[mmm-five]

Is it just that the teacher only noticed the missing video and it's actually been missing for a while longer?

Have they upgraded to Google Classrooms recently (from something else or to a newer version), or has this been used all along?

Does the webcam still work from the iMac to your MacMini on Facetime or Teams or Zoom?

[camel_landy]

mmm-five said:

Does the webcam still work from the iMac to your MacMini on Facetime or Teams or Zoom?

Essentially check to see if the camera works at all before complicating matters.

If it works with the built-in software, you know the problem is with Google Classroom... If it doesn't work at all, there's probably a hardware problem (have you swapped out the old HDD for a SSD? If so, did the camera get damaged or lens obscured?)

M

[chml]

Would an external webcam not be an option?

[MrB.]

camel_landy said:

mmm-five said:

Does the webcam still work from the iMac to your MacMini on Facetime or Teams or Zoom?

Essentially check to see if the camera works at all before complicating matters.

If it works with the built-in software, you know the problem is with Google Classroom... If it doesn't work at all, there's probably a hardware problem (have you swapped out the old HDD for a SSD? If so, did the camera get damaged or lens obscured?)

M

Haven't changed anything either hardware or software. As I said, one day she was visible, the next day not.

[MrB.]

chml said:

Would an external webcam not be an option?

I tried that. Put my external webcam on her Mac, still didn't work.

[ZesPak]

chml said:

Would an external webcam not be an option?

This sounds like a sensible option, as long as it's the webcam that's the issue.

30 quid would buy you a webcam that's much better than whatever's in the iMac, but I'm not certain if it would fix the issue.

Might be that the OS/browser supported by the system is too old to allow webcam interaction? Have you tried Zoom in the browser? Does that work?

I'm guessing Classroom is browser based? Could it be just some rights you need to allow to the browser to be able to use the webcam? Have you tried another browser?

Edited by ZesPak on Tuesday 2nd February 12:33

[MrB.]

Just set up a Zoom call between my Mac and hers, and the in-built camera works fine. So its just on Google Classroom there is an issue.

[camel_landy]

MrB. said:

camel_landy said:

mmm-five said:

Does the webcam still work from the iMac to your MacMini on Facetime or Teams or Zoom?

Essentially check to see if the camera works at all before complicating matters.

If it works with the built-in software, you know the problem is with Google Classroom... If it doesn't work at all, there's probably a hardware problem (have you swapped out the old HDD for a SSD? If so, did the camera get damaged or lens obscured?)

M

Haven't changed anything either hardware or software. As I said, one day she was visible, the next day not.

Need to be methodical with the troubleshooting, so still need you to answer the question regarding whether the camera actually works with the built in software.

I have a nagging feeling though, this might have something to do with Adobe Flash.

M

[camel_landy]

MrB. said:

Just set up a Zoom call between my Mac and hers, and the in-built camera works fine. So its just on Google Classroom there is an issue.

Ahhh... Our posts have crossed.

OK, so Google classroom is the problem.

Try with a different browser (Chrome/Safari) and/or adjust the privacy settings.

ISTR - Adobe Flash used to have hooks into the camera too... And that was switched off a couple of weeks backs (which fits in with your timeline).

M

[ZesPak]

MrB. said:

Just set up a Zoom call between my Mac and hers, and the in-built camera works fine. So its just on Google Classroom there is an issue.

Just one thing, did you make sure you used the Zoom call in the web browser rather than installing Zoom?
It could be the webcam -> browser interaction. An installed Zoom will not need that.

[MrB.]

camel_landy said:

MrB. said:

Just set up a Zoom call between my Mac and hers, and the in-built camera works fine. So its just on Google Classroom there is an issue.

Ahhh... Our posts have crossed.

OK, so Google classroom is the problem.

Try with a different browser (Chrome/Safari) and/or adjust the privacy settings.

ISTR - Adobe Flash used to have hooks into the camera too... And that was switched off a couple of weeks backs (which fits in with your timeline).

M

I use Chrome as a default browser, and it won't open on Safari (I'm assuming its because of the age of the Mac).

[Corso Marche]

Open Classroom in the browser as normal.

Click on the padlock or 'i' to the left of the webpage address in the address bar.

Click on Site Settings.

Go to the Camera permissions, and ensure it's set to Allowed.

Reload the webpage and see if the camera will work.

It'll be another thing eliminated if nothing else.

[colin79666]

Consider getting a Chromebook if the fix above doesn’t work. They are cheap and cheerful (usually).

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Corso Marche said:

Open Classroom in the browser as normal.

Click on the padlock or 'i' to the left of the webpage address in the address bar.

Click on Site Settings.

Go to the Camera permissions, and ensure it's set to Allowed.

Reload the webpage and see if the camera will work.

It'll be another thing eliminated if nothing else.

Sounds sensible - it is more than likely a permissions thing

[Tebbers]

I had a similar thing with a 2008 MacBook Pro the other week where the camera wouldn’t work. The Terminal commands here fixed it: OSXDaily

[ZesPak]

colin79666 said:

Consider getting a Chromebook if the fix above doesn’t work. They are cheap and cheerful (usually).

Also sensible idea. Bought my son an Asus Flip. Impressive device, esp for the money.

[MrB.]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Corso Marche said:

Open Classroom in the browser as normal.

Click on the padlock or 'i' to the left of the webpage address in the address bar.

Click on Site Settings.

Go to the Camera permissions, and ensure it's set to Allowed.

Reload the webpage and see if the camera will work.

It'll be another thing eliminated if nothing else.

Sounds sensible - it is more than likely a permissions thing

Hello all. Apologies for the lack of response on here over the last couple of days, but (surprise, surprise) I've had IT issues in the new house! Anyhoo, I tried the above but to no avail, so I'm just having to swap her onto my Mac for the beginning of the day, then I start work in the afternoon. It's far from ideal, but fingers crossed we have alight at the end of the home-schooling tunnel, so I know it won't be for ever. I appreciate that its a bit of a First World Problem anyway as many are having to deal with far worse situations than I am.

Thanks to all who contributed, offered advice, etc, and hope everyone is keeping well and safe.

B.