Apple’s MacBook can degrade its camera quality for several reasons. It will produce low-quality video if the Mac laptop is connected to an unstable Wi-Fi connection. Incorrect video resolution and app settings can impact the video quality of your MacBook.
Now, the question is – How to fix MacBook camera quality? You can easily fix it without an expert’s help with some easy solutions. Are you using an out-of-date video calling program on your laptop? It can be another reason behind the poor MacBook camera quality.
An incompatible app can generate issues when using the Mac laptop camera. Hence, you must check whether the macOS device is compatible with apps like FaceTime or Skype. Additionally, there are third-party apps that can help you to improve your MacBook’s camera quality.
But, you must check the app’s security features before installing it. It should be easy to use and ad-free. Don’t forget to check if the app is free or charges a subscription fee to fix the camera quality.
Let’s learn the easy troubleshooting methods to fix MacBook camera quality:
1. Adjust your MacBook Camera Settings on Third-Party apps
There are no built-in functions to modify the MacBook’s camera settings. You won’t find any Camera app on the device or camera preferences in System Settings.
So, what can you do to fix your MacBook’s camera quality? Open the video calling app and adjust its settings to improve the image or video quality.
However, you must turn on your Mac laptop camera by accessing Zoom or other video calling apps. If you use Zoom to attend the virtual office meetings, you can set the quality to “HD”.
Here is how you can do it:
- Open the Zoom app from your Apple laptop and access its Settings.
- Head towards the Video tab and choose “Video” from the drop-down menu.
- Select “Camera” and tap on “HD” instead of “Original Ratio”.
- Toggle on the Touch up my appearance option on “My Video” and adjust the slider as per your preference.
- Tick the Adjust for low light checkbox and set it to “Auto” or “Manual”.
How to Improve Camera Quality on Google Meet?
Do you use Google Meet for your business’s video conferences? Open the app from your Mac laptop and start a Google Meet meeting. Locate the ellipses icon in the toolbar and choose “Settings”.
Go to “Video” from the drop-down list and navigate to “Send Resolution”. Select “High Resolution (720p) when the pop-up menu appears. Go back to the Google Meeting screen, and you will notice that the camera quality has improved.
How to Improve Camera Quality on Skype?
Many MacBook users access Skype for making HD video calls. However, the app can degrade the camera quality if you tweak incorrect video settings. To fix this problem, open the Skype app from your Mac laptop and go to “Tools”.
Head towards “Options” and tap “Video Settings” when the new window opens. Navigate to “Webcam Settings” and choose the highest resolution from the drop-down list.
For instance, selecting “640×480” instead of “320×240” will make the camera quality better. You can also adjust the video features like contrast, brightness or saturation to improve the video quality.
2. Update the Video Calling app
Your Mac laptop camera will show you blurry images or faded videos if you use an outdated app. Hence, a Mac laptop’s camera quality will improve if you update the video calling software. But, you must note that the steps to update Skype will differ from Zoom or other apps.
Do you use Skype on your MacBook Pro? Connect the laptop to a stable Wi-Fi connection and sign into Skype. Choose “Skype” from the toolbar and tap “Check for updates”.
Select the update if available and wait until your MacBook completes the update. Open any conversation and tap on the video camera icon. You will see crystal clear camera quality when the receipt accepts the call.
Update the Zoom app!
Are you getting blurry camera quality on Skype? Ensure to update this app to fix this issue. Locate the Finder icon, right-click on it and choose “New Finder Window”. Navigate to “Applications” and select “Zoom” from the installed app list.
Sign into the Zoom app when the new window opens on your MacBook screen. Click your profile picture and tap “Check for Updates” when the drop-down menu opens.
You might also see the “A new version is available” message after signing into Zoom.
Select “Update” and close the Zoom app once it completes the update. Open the video calling app and start a video call to check if the camera quality is improved.
Your MacBook is connected to an unstable Wi-Fi connection if you receive error messages when updating Zoon. Try connecting the device to a stable internet connection to solve this update issue.
3. Check the Lighting Condition
Your MacBook camera will become blurry or display poor-quality video in low-light conditions. Hence, you must check the lighting condition in which you are using the Mac laptop. Adjust the lighting condition accordingly to improve the camera quality.
Laptops don’t have a built-in flash which you can use during a video call in low-light environments. Thus, you must set up the camera so that everyone on the video call can clearly see you.
Additionally, you must adjust your MacBook’s lid and ensure you have an adequate amount of light in the room. The right lighting condition can have a significant image on your MacBook Pro or Air’s video quality and clarity.
4. Declutter Items from your Background
Is your MacBook showing a blurry video screen? You might be looking for the answer – How to fix MacBook camera quality. Let us clarify that the background where you are recording the video can impact the camera quality.
Thus, you must organise the space where you place the MacBook camera. Cluttered items in the background can be distracting and unpleasant to look at. Hence, remove the books or piles of clothes from the background before starting a video call.
5. Stop Multitasking on your MacBook
Another common mistake that MacBook users need to correct is that they do multiple tasks when streaming a video. Remember, your Mac device consumes a lot of bandwidth when recording video.
Your internet connection will slow down if you download or upload files when streaming the video. As a result, it will impact the Mac laptop’s camera quality. Thus, it’s recommended to connect an Ethernet cable to your device instead of only relying on Wi-Fi.
An Ethernet connection reduces packet loss and ensures you get the best browsing experience. Experts always recommend a wired internet connection, as it makes the video smoother and less pixelated.
Moreover, you must close all the background tasks when using your MacBook camera. The camera quality will improve automatically when the bandwidth is low, and the internet connection is stable.
6. Enable your Router’s Quality of Service Feature
Enabling your wireless router’s QoS function is as easy as closing the background process on your MacBook. All you need to do is access the router’s web interface to set up Quality of Service.
Open a web browser, enter your Wi-Fi router’s default gateway IP in the address bar and press “Enter”. Go to “Username” and enter the networking device’s default username. Navigate to “Password” and write its default security password.
Click “Login” or hit the Enter button to access your router’s web GUI. Locate “Quality of Service” from the built-in router feature list. Tap on it and ensure the video calling app gets the priority. Click “Save” and close the router’s web interface after enabling this feature.
However, only some wireless router have the QoS feature in its administrative settings. You must install a reliable DD-WRT software and manually use this feature to fix your Mac laptop’s camera quality.
7. Adjust your MacBook’s Screen Resolution
Most MacBook owners use the default screen resolution when accessing a video calling app. But, it can degrade the camera quality and cause other screen-related issues. Thus, adjusting your MacBook’s screen resolution can help you to fix the camera quality.
Access the Apple menu and navigate to “System Settings” when the next window opens. Tap on “Displays”, choose the display that you want to adjust and select the resolution from the list. Higher the screen resolution, the better the video quality you will get on your MacBook.
Lastly, Use Your iPhone as Your MacBook’s Virtual Camera
Do you have any latest iPhone models? You can use its camera on a MacBook as the virtual camera if adjusting the lighting or settings doesn’t fix the quality. However, before you begin, ensure your MacBook runs the latest macOS Ventura.
Install the latest iOS 16 version on your iPhone and sign in to both devices with the same Apple ID. Turn on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection on your iPhone and MacBook. Mount your iPhone on the top of your laptop and open an app with camera access, like Skype.
Open the video calling app’s menu bar or settings and select your iPhone as Mac’s camera. The Continuity app will open on your iOS device and start recording the video from its rear camera. Ensure your iPhone is in landscape orientation and locked to prevent issues when using the camera.
Apple’s MacBook can degrade its camera quality for several reasons. It will produce low-quality video if the Mac laptop is connected to an unstable Wi-Fi connection. Incorrect video resolution and app settings can impact the video quality of your MacBook.
Now, the question is – How to fix MacBook camera quality? You can easily fix it without an expert’s help with some easy solutions. Are you using an out-of-date video calling program on your laptop? It can be another reason behind the poor MacBook camera quality.
An incompatible app can generate issues when using the Mac laptop camera. Hence, you must check whether the macOS device is compatible with apps like FaceTime or Skype. Additionally, there are third-party apps that can help you to improve your MacBook’s camera quality.
But, you must check the app’s security features before installing it. It should be easy to use and ad-free. Don’t forget to check if the app is free or charges a subscription fee to fix the camera quality.
Let’s learn the easy troubleshooting methods to fix MacBook camera quality:
1. Adjust your MacBook Camera Settings on Third-Party apps
There are no built-in functions to modify the MacBook’s camera settings. You won’t find any Camera app on the device or camera preferences in System Settings.
So, what can you do to fix your MacBook’s camera quality? Open the video calling app and adjust its settings to improve the image or video quality.
However, you must turn on your Mac laptop camera by accessing Zoom or other video calling apps. If you use Zoom to attend the virtual office meetings, you can set the quality to “HD”.
Here is how you can do it:
- Open the Zoom app from your Apple laptop and access its Settings.
- Head towards the Video tab and choose “Video” from the drop-down menu.
- Select “Camera” and tap on “HD” instead of “Original Ratio”.
- Toggle on the Touch up my appearance option on “My Video” and adjust the slider as per your preference.
- Tick the Adjust for low light checkbox and set it to “Auto” or “Manual”.
How to Improve Camera Quality on Google Meet?
Do you use Google Meet for your business’s video conferences? Open the app from your Mac laptop and start a Google Meet meeting. Locate the ellipses icon in the toolbar and choose “Settings”.
Go to “Video” from the drop-down list and navigate to “Send Resolution”. Select “High Resolution (720p) when the pop-up menu appears. Go back to the Google Meeting screen, and you will notice that the camera quality has improved.
How to Improve Camera Quality on Skype?
Many MacBook users access Skype for making HD video calls. However, the app can degrade the camera quality if you tweak incorrect video settings. To fix this problem, open the Skype app from your Mac laptop and go to “Tools”.
Head towards “Options” and tap “Video Settings” when the new window opens. Navigate to “Webcam Settings” and choose the highest resolution from the drop-down list.
For instance, selecting “640×480” instead of “320×240” will make the camera quality better. You can also adjust the video features like contrast, brightness or saturation to improve the video quality.
2. Update the Video Calling app
Your Mac laptop camera will show you blurry images or faded videos if you use an outdated app. Hence, a Mac laptop’s camera quality will improve if you update the video calling software. But, you must note that the steps to update Skype will differ from Zoom or other apps.
Do you use Skype on your MacBook Pro? Connect the laptop to a stable Wi-Fi connection and sign into Skype. Choose “Skype” from the toolbar and tap “Check for updates”.
Select the update if available and wait until your MacBook completes the update. Open any conversation and tap on the video camera icon. You will see crystal clear camera quality when the receipt accepts the call.
Update the Zoom app!
Are you getting blurry camera quality on Skype? Ensure to update this app to fix this issue. Locate the Finder icon, right-click on it and choose “New Finder Window”. Navigate to “Applications” and select “Zoom” from the installed app list.
Sign into the Zoom app when the new window opens on your MacBook screen. Click your profile picture and tap “Check for Updates” when the drop-down menu opens.
You might also see the “A new version is available” message after signing into Zoom.
Select “Update” and close the Zoom app once it completes the update. Open the video calling app and start a video call to check if the camera quality is improved.
Your MacBook is connected to an unstable Wi-Fi connection if you receive error messages when updating Zoon. Try connecting the device to a stable internet connection to solve this update issue.
3. Check the Lighting Condition
Your MacBook camera will become blurry or display poor-quality video in low-light conditions. Hence, you must check the lighting condition in which you are using the Mac laptop. Adjust the lighting condition accordingly to improve the camera quality.
Laptops don’t have a built-in flash which you can use during a video call in low-light environments. Thus, you must set up the camera so that everyone on the video call can clearly see you.
Additionally, you must adjust your MacBook’s lid and ensure you have an adequate amount of light in the room. The right lighting condition can have a significant image on your MacBook Pro or Air’s video quality and clarity.
4. Declutter Items from your Background
Is your MacBook showing a blurry video screen? You might be looking for the answer – How to fix MacBook camera quality. Let us clarify that the background where you are recording the video can impact the camera quality.
Thus, you must organise the space where you place the MacBook camera. Cluttered items in the background can be distracting and unpleasant to look at. Hence, remove the books or piles of clothes from the background before starting a video call.
5. Stop Multitasking on your MacBook
Another common mistake that MacBook users need to correct is that they do multiple tasks when streaming a video. Remember, your Mac device consumes a lot of bandwidth when recording video.
Your internet connection will slow down if you download or upload files when streaming the video. As a result, it will impact the Mac laptop’s camera quality. Thus, it’s recommended to connect an Ethernet cable to your device instead of only relying on Wi-Fi.
An Ethernet connection reduces packet loss and ensures you get the best browsing experience. Experts always recommend a wired internet connection, as it makes the video smoother and less pixelated.
Moreover, you must close all the background tasks when using your MacBook camera. The camera quality will improve automatically when the bandwidth is low, and the internet connection is stable.
6. Enable your Router’s Quality of Service Feature
Enabling your wireless router’s QoS function is as easy as closing the background process on your MacBook. All you need to do is access the router’s web interface to set up Quality of Service.
Open a web browser, enter your Wi-Fi router’s default gateway IP in the address bar and press “Enter”. Go to “Username” and enter the networking device’s default username. Navigate to “Password” and write its default security password.
Click “Login” or hit the Enter button to access your router’s web GUI. Locate “Quality of Service” from the built-in router feature list. Tap on it and ensure the video calling app gets the priority. Click “Save” and close the router’s web interface after enabling this feature.
However, only some wireless router have the QoS feature in its administrative settings. You must install a reliable DD-WRT software and manually use this feature to fix your Mac laptop’s camera quality.
7. Adjust your MacBook’s Screen Resolution
Most MacBook owners use the default screen resolution when accessing a video calling app. But, it can degrade the camera quality and cause other screen-related issues. Thus, adjusting your MacBook’s screen resolution can help you to fix the camera quality.
Access the Apple menu and navigate to “System Settings” when the next window opens. Tap on “Displays”, choose the display that you want to adjust and select the resolution from the list. Higher the screen resolution, the better the video quality you will get on your MacBook.
Lastly, Use Your iPhone as Your MacBook’s Virtual Camera
Do you have any latest iPhone models? You can use its camera on a MacBook as the virtual camera if adjusting the lighting or settings doesn’t fix the quality. However, before you begin, ensure your MacBook runs the latest macOS Ventura.
Install the latest iOS 16 version on your iPhone and sign in to both devices with the same Apple ID. Turn on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection on your iPhone and MacBook. Mount your iPhone on the top of your laptop and open an app with camera access, like Skype.
Open the video calling app’s menu bar or settings and select your iPhone as Mac’s camera. The Continuity app will open on your iOS device and start recording the video from its rear camera. Ensure your iPhone is in landscape orientation and locked to prevent issues when using the camera.
