Beam Bench Docs

macOS camera permission

Beam Bench sees the camera in the device list but capture fails or shows a permission error.

You see

The Camera panel shows your camera in the Device dropdown, but Capture New Image produces:

  • A blank or missing captured frame.
  • An error about camera permission.
  • A macOS prompt that you may have missed.

What is happening

macOS requires permission before Beam Bench can capture from a camera. If access was denied, enable it in System Settings before trying another capture.

Fix

Grant permission via System Settings

  1. System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.
  2. Look for Beam Bench in the list.
  3. Toggle it on.
  4. Quit and re-launch Beam Bench before testing again.
  5. Re-select the camera in the Camera panel.

If Beam Bench is not in the list at all

The permission request may not have reached macOS yet. One possible cause:

  • You have not tried to capture a frame yet.

Try:

  • Open the Camera panel.
  • Pick a camera from the Device dropdown.
  • Click Capture New Image.
  • A macOS prompt should appear. Click Allow.

If no prompt appears, restart Beam Bench, then restart your Mac if needed.

If permission is granted but feed is still blank

  • Another app may be holding the camera. Close other camera apps such as FaceTime, Zoom, Photo Booth, or OBS, then try capturing again.
  • The camera itself may not actually be working. Test with Photo Booth, if Photo Booth also shows nothing, the issue is the camera hardware or driver.

Verify it worked

  • The Camera panel captures a frame when you click Capture New Image.
  • Beam Bench is enabled under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.

Still stuck?

On this page

You seeWhat is happeningFixGrant permission via System SettingsIf Beam Bench is not in the list at allIf permission is granted but feed is still blankVerify it workedStill stuck?