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Broken MacBook iSight - fixed!

Posted on May 09, 2007

A few months ago the iSight in my MacBook suddenly stopped working. iChat just told me that I didn't have a camera attached and the iSight was no longer listed as being on the USB bus in System Profiler. I'd borrowed my old PowerBook from my sister and was all set to send my MacBook in for repair (along with it's orignal crashed hard disk) when i thought i'd have a go at fixing the problem myself in case it was just a loose connector. I had thought that I'd have to practically dismantle the whole machine to get at the wires but you can at least get to one connector by just unscrewing and lifting back the screen. I found this posting on removing a MacBook iSight and this article from ifixit.com that better explains how to remove the bezel. After I removed the bezel and unscrewed the screen I found the connector and, to my delight, it *was* loose. The USB cable zigzags up the back of the screen and is taped down in several places. It looks as though it is just a few millimeters too short to be taped to the surface 100% flat. I adjusted it a little and connected it properly.

Powered up my machine, and low and behold my iSight is back! This is excellent as it was certainly going to be a little painful to lose this machine for a week.

Tagged with:    | 38 comments

Comments
  1. Alan Van Ryzin – June 18, 2007 @ 12:53 AM
    thanks so much for posting this!! I had the same problem and I opened my macbook up and fixed it because I saw this post.
  2. A happy macbook user – November 13, 2007 @ 04:39 AM
    Thanks! This was really helpful - thanks for posting it.
  3. MZR – November 28, 2007 @ 08:04 AM
    Thanks for this post! After months of retrying all the other "solutions", this one did the trick!
  4. Ben Berth – November 29, 2007 @ 03:45 PM
    Great !! I had the same problem, it work just great and its not so difficult, Thanks for the tip.
  5. Dave – December 05, 2007 @ 08:05 PM
    This really helped me a lot! It's nice to have my iSight camera back. Thank you!
  6. Andri – December 18, 2007 @ 05:06 PM
    Been googling for weeks for a fix for my mysterious iSight problem without luck. Thanks.
  7. Chris – February 07, 2008 @ 12:25 AM
    The links to n9th.org and ifixit.com don't seem to be working any more. Any chance you could summarise what you had to do to open up the MacBook? Many thanks!
  8. Eva – March 11, 2008 @ 12:35 AM
    Seems to me I have found the right post!!! This problem is driving me crazy! But as Chris already said: the links are not working anymore... So, before start opening my mac... any advice? Thanx!!!
  9. Eric – March 11, 2008 @ 05:04 AM
    Eva and Chris, you're in luck. I'm having the same problem as you two, and I just found this website that shows how to replace a MacBook screen, and it includes the info we need. Happy fixing! http://www.screentekinc.com/lcd-removal-instructions_en,macbook.shtml
  10. iCarlos – March 30, 2008 @ 01:19 AM
    I have the same problem but there is no longer exist the articule in ifixit about the isight, please send me the things u have done please please.
  11. JL – April 06, 2008 @ 12:40 AM
    Absolutely brilliant. sure enough, this was the fix that has eluded me for the past half year. absolutely brilliant
  12. Matt – April 24, 2008 @ 08:28 PM
    My iSight went out a few weeks ago, and Apple said it would cost $200 to repair. After opening up the screen and making sure the connector was secure, I have a fully functional laptop again! Thanks!
  13. Rizz – September 23, 2008 @ 08:55 PM
    You absolute star. Been trying to get to the Genius bar at my local MAC store for a week. If you need a great site that shows how to dismantle try here. http://www.screentekinc.com/lcd-removal-instructions_en,macbook,step4.shtml you don't need to remove the hinge cover though
  14. Marfil – September 28, 2008 @ 02:52 AM
    You save another macbook isight here. ;) Also it was funny to do (off course if you fixed it, if not i guess it will terribly frustrating).
  15. buteo – November 18, 2008 @ 03:19 PM
    Thanx a lot from Ukraine ;) For half a year I've been to busy/lazy to take my Snowbally to the service desk. And today I managed finaly to google "macbook isight fix" ))) and I did it.
  16. andrew – December 03, 2008 @ 06:18 PM
    You win 1 internets, sir. Thank you !
  17. james – January 20, 2009 @ 05:12 AM
    This did the trick. Nice job!
  18. Alex – February 18, 2009 @ 04:10 AM
    While this trick did not work for me, I did want to post regarding the headache of reattaching the bezel. When my bezel finally came off, it brought all but two of the little gray clips with it. I figured these were permanently attached to the bezel. So, when I went to put my bezel on again, I pushed so hard that these little clips started to bend. The trick to get your bezel back on is to VERY VERY CAREFULLY but firmly remove the little clips from the bezel, then place them back in the holes in the screen. I recommend placing one end in the hole, then using a small flat screwdriver to slightly push down (or to the side, depending on the hole) while using your finger to push the clip in. Once you get all the clips back in, attaching the bezel is quite simple (though I had the best luck securing the bottom section (that doesn't use the clips) before pushing the rest in.
  19. Michael – February 21, 2009 @ 04:08 PM
    My iSight has been out for a few months. I looked behind the screen and did see that the connector had a slight gap in it. When I plugged it in all the way and started up again, still no luck!
  20. Adam – April 06, 2009 @ 11:46 PM
    IT WORKED!!!! thank u sooo much!!!! my gf said she would have killed me if she came home and i was taking my laptop apart... but it works now so YAY!!!
  21. Easkay – April 25, 2009 @ 08:09 PM
    I'm having the same problem, in that my isight has disappeared from the USB bus list. However, I have checked the cable under the screen and it appears to be ok. I'm not entirely sure where the USB connector is inside the main body of the macbook and so I haven't managed to check it. I'm not sure whether it'd be worth changing the cable or not. Thanks for any help, please use e-mail easkay[dot]alex[at]gmail[dot]com taking out the brackets and words within.
  22. andreax – April 30, 2009 @ 03:26 PM
    thank ! now, after 2 years my webcam works again !
  23. Juan Pablo Pincheira – July 17, 2009 @ 07:33 PM
    thank you, it worked! I was like 3 weeks without the iSight, I really missed it! greets!
  24. M – August 13, 2009 @ 03:38 PM
    AMAZING !! Thank you so much my isight was out for the past month and apple wanted to charge me for a whole 700 for a new case and lcd !! Thanks again !! this fix is amazing !!
  25. RAStriffler – September 15, 2009 @ 05:27 PM
    This is fantastic - I have been trying to figure out what was wrong forever - now it is fixed, and easily! Seems like this issue of the camera becoming disconnected is pretty widespread - surprised Apple hasn't fixed it. In any case, thanks again - you rock!
  26. jamiebyun – November 12, 2009 @ 10:30 PM
    The link for the website detailing the removal of isight is broken. Do you by any chance have another reference? Thank you!
  27. Ryan Wood – December 01, 2009 @ 08:53 AM
    I am having the same problem with my iMac...Do you think this could fix it, anyone know how to take it apart to try?
  28. Rick – January 16, 2010 @ 12:05 AM
    Here's the link and it worked for me. I haven't tried taking it apart yet, but I will.. Mine stopped working and just noticed it. Nothing else fixed it, so I know it's a hardware thing. http://www.screentekinc.com/lcd-removal-instructions_en,macbook,diagram1.shtml
  29. Rick – January 18, 2010 @ 07:27 PM
    Worked for me, and was very easy to do. Yes, the connector had loosened and was only half in. There are 12 screws, 2 are smaller at top, and as someone mentioned, there's no need to take off the hinge cover. Thanks a million.. Funny, there are so many posts at the apple support regarding the iSight disconnect message, and no one mentions this info. I finally sent a post to apple to consider this possibility.
  30. Cait – February 02, 2010 @ 01:03 AM
    http://www.davegkugler.com/blog/2009/04/13/fixing-a-broken-isight/ Another useful article with a bit more detail of the entire process.
  31. Ken G. – April 03, 2010 @ 01:38 AM
    Dude... YOU ARE THE MAN!!! I tried almost everything with no success. It never occurred to me that the camera could have jiggled loose. I have read the comments about having Apple add this link to its support page. Fat chance of that happening. Think of the $$ in repair business Apple is getting off of this one. Many unsuspecting customers bring their MacBook in and get charged a grip over a simple connection fix. Anywho... Thanks for the info. My camera works perfectly now.
  32. HappyMac – May 02, 2010 @ 05:47 AM
    Holy cow! I love you man! =D
  33. David Nash – May 27, 2010 @ 08:47 PM
    Does anyone have a solution for an intermittent free standing iSight? I can usually make it work by giggling the base.
  34. Aideen – January 17, 2011 @ 06:23 PM
    Omgoodness! Thank you very much! I'm pretty much computer hulk - all computers and electronics pooch out around me. But this article totally helped me fix my computer - by myself! =D Feeling a sense of pride atm, so thank you - again. I'm glad to have my cam back.
  35. Paul R. – January 19, 2011 @ 03:47 AM
    Thanks! After trying all other suggested software/reset fixes without success, seemed like it had to be hardware, especially since System Profiler failed to find camera, and camera itself not so likely to fail, so loose connection seemed most plausible, and it was. Connector snapped itself back into place with barest touch. All it took was a credit card to slide under and around top bezel to "loosen" it, a #00 Phillips screwdriver to remove 15 screws (12 on LCD frame, 3 on hinge cover) and a little calm. YouTube video from Small Dog Electronics very helpful.
  36. Steve – May 30, 2011 @ 08:24 AM
    I can't believe it, but I was able to follow the Instructions, Disassemble the Screen, Push the Connector in tighter and now my ISight works perfect. Be careful with the Magnet on the Left Hand Side of the Screen. Mine fell out when I leaned the screen forward and I had to do some searching to find out where it was supposed to go back. Thanks to whoever started this thread.
  37. Ross Newton – October 30, 2011 @ 01:41 AM
    Yay, this just worked for me! Except mine was disconnected at the motherboard, not up by the camera... crazy. The little connector was slid out. NOTE: Both of the above links are broken but you can just go to ifixit.com and look up the GUIDE for the model of laptop you have and then just go through the Front Display Bezel guide until it gets to the iSight cable parts. No need to go further. Thanks man!
  38. Andrew – December 20, 2011 @ 03:48 AM
    3 years later ... Did it again... I used superglue on it. God help me if I ever have to replace it !!
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