How to see which app is using your Mac camera
A green dot appears in the menu bar when a camera is in use. Click Control Center, then click the field at the top to open the Privacy window, which shows the apps using the camera, microphone, system audio recording or location. That is the answer from Apple’s Control Center guide.
What the dots mean
Apple’s guide lists the indicators in the menu bar:
- A green dot means a camera is in use.
- An orange dot means the microphone is in use.
- A purple dot means system audio is being recorded.
- An arrow means your location is in use.
Only one indicator shows at a time. If the microphone and a camera are both in use, only the green dot shows. The guide checked on 4 November 2026 is the macOS 27 page.
Steps to see the app
- Look for the dot in the menu bar. It appears when something is using the camera or another feature.
- Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar.
- Click the field at the top of Control Center to open the Privacy window.
- Read the list of apps.
Apple’s page says that is how you see which apps are using these features.
The green light on the camera
On a Mac laptop Apple says a green light beside the camera glows when the camera is on. The camera turns off when you close or quit every app or feature using it. If the light is on and you do not expect it, quit the apps you have open one at a time and watch the light.
If an app should not have access
Turn it off in System Settings. The steps are in allowing camera access for an app: open Privacy & Security, click Camera, and switch off the app. Apple says you will be asked to turn it on again the next time the app tries to use the camera.
A browser tab can use the camera
A website you allowed in Safari can also hold the camera. Close the tab, or review the site in Safari settings, which the Safari camera tip describes.
NotchStar and the camera
NotchStar’s Mirror tool starts the camera when the Mirror tab opens and stops it as soon as you leave it, so the green light should go out when you switch tabs. The preview is never recorded or sent anywhere. The privacy checklist shows how to judge any notch app.
