How To Fix Continuity Camera Not Working

Apple’s Continuity Camera is a simple solution that lets you connect your iPhone’s camera to your MacBook for video calls. It’s better than using the stock laptop camera since the latter’s resolution tends to be grainy, unflattering, and low-quality.

However, some users might have issues getting the continuity camera to work. In this article, you’ll learn how to use and fix issues with Apple’s continuity camera.

Continuity Camera Conditions and Device Support

Before attempting to fix a Continuity Camera issue, users should check if their devices support it in the first place. Both your mobile device and laptop must use Apple’s systems (iOS and macOS). Let’s get into the specific conditions you’ll need for the continuity camera to work:

• You must log in with an identical Apple ID for the MacBook and the iPhone. The Apple ID is instrumental in pairing and synchronizing the two devices for optimal use. It also helps improve security.
• You must have an iPhone XR or newer with iOS 16 installed. Basically, the phone needs to be from 2018 or later and have the latest iOS version.
• Your MacBook must run macOS Ventura or newer versions.
• Both your iPhone and your MacBook must have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on. Both features allow for a strong connection for pairing, and the continuity camera works through them.

If you meet the requirements above, you should be able to use the Continuity Camera without any problems. However, if you’re still having issues, multiple strategies could still fix the problem.

Getting the Continuity Camera to Work Through Updating

Sometimes, updating your Apple devices can be the simplest solution to the Continuity Camera not working. It’s a relativity new feature, so it’s not uncommon for bugs and glitches to happen due to version mismatch. Apple fixes these glitches through updates, so it should be your first troubleshooting tool.

Here’s how to get the latest updates for your Mac:

1. On your MacBook’s Doc, select the “System Settings” option.
   
2. Select the option “General” and then “Software Update.”
   
3. If an update is available, click “Update Now.”

The update process for the iPhone is just as easy as with the MacBook. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Find the “Settings” option from your phone’s App library.
   
2. Scroll and tap on “General” and then “Software Update.”
   
3. Select the “Install Now” then “Download and Install” option.

The updates on both devices might take a few minutes and will require restarting the device. You can check if Continuity Camera works smoothly afterward. If you didn’t find any updates on both devices, there are still other fixes to try.

Enabling the Continuity Camera on your iPhone

Some iPhone users go into their settings and disable certain apps or take permissions away from them. This can be good for privacy, but it can interfere with the software functioning normally. It’s best to check your iPhone and ensure that Continuity Camera is enabled. Here’s how to do it:

1. From your home screen or app library, open “Settings.”
   
2. Select “General” and then “AirPlay & Handoff.”
   
3. Toggle the option beside Continuity Camera to on.
   

If the toggle was switched off, this setting was most likely the prime culprit for Continuity Camera not working correctly. You can move on to the following troubleshooting solutions if it’s already on.

Network Settings Reset on your Apple Devices

Resetting network settings is another potential solution for the continuity camera or any other software not working properly on your MacBook and iPhone. Doing so will clear up old caches, refresh network services, and resolve configuration issues. Since Continuity Camera requires a MacBook and an iPhone, you’ll need to perform the reset on both your devices. Here’s how you can use your iPhone for a network resetting:

1. Go to “Settings” and select “General.”
   
2. Scroll down until your reach the bottom. There, select “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”
   
3. Tap on “Reset.”
   
4. Select “Reset Network Settings” and then follow the on-screen instructions by entering your passcode.
   

Resetting the network settings on your MacBook is a little more complicated than with your iPhone. This is because you can’t do it through one setting option but rather multiple processes to reach the same effect. To make the Continuity Camera work, you’ll only need to know how to reset the MacBook’s Wi-Fi connection. Here’s how you can do it in a few simple steps:

1. Open the “System Preferences” option from your MacBook’s home screen.
   
2. Select “Network” and then “Wi-Fi” from the left.
   
3. Below the connections list, select the “Forget This Network” option.
   
4. Click on the “Remove” option on the interface’s bottom right corner.
   
5. After disabling your MacBook’s connection settings, find the WiFi connection like you’d like to connect and click “Connect.”
   
6. Enter your “Password,” and click “Ok.”
   

Once you’ve configured these settings by forgetting the Wi-Fi and reestablishing it, you can click on your desired network connection and enter the former password. This method works as a partial network reset for your MacBook.

Apple ID – Signing In and Out

With Apple devices, specific pairing issues can occur, leading to a faulty connection and unstable device integration. To solve this issue, Apple users can also sign out of their Apple IDs before signing back in again. If you’ve generally been having problems with integrating your Apple Devices through other software and not just for Continuity Camera, this could be why.

Here’s how you can solve the Apple ID issue by signing out of your iCloud through your iPhone:

1. Go to “Settings” and then tap on your name.
   
2. Scroll down until you reach the bottom of the options.
3. Select the “Sign Out” option.
   
4. Put in your Apple ID and select the “Turn Off” option.
   
5. Follow the on-screen instructions and then confirm “Sign out.”
   
6. Restart your phone and log into your iCloud again.

Here’s how you can do the same process on your MacBook:

1. Go to your Apple menu and select “System Settings.”
   
2. Select your name and then “Sign Out.”
   
3. Follow the on-screen instructions, such as keeping copies before confirming the sign-out.
   
4. Once signed out, sign back in again with your credentials.

Make sure you’re signed in with the same Apple ID, as then both systems will recognize the same user, making for optimal integration across both devices.

FAQs

What should I do if Continuity Camera still doesn’t work after following the steps above?

Suppose you’ve followed the above steps, yet problems with the continuity camera persist. In that case, it’s best to contact Apple’s customer support, as they can help you. Also, consider taking both devices to your local Apple store or dealer since they might be able to identify and service hardware issues.

Can I use Continuity Camera if one of my devices is not from Apple?

Unfortunately, both devices must be by Apple for the continuity camera to work. You’ll need an iPhone and a MacBook.

Upgrade Your Video Calls With Continuity Camera

Continuity Camera allows Apple users to use their iPhones instead of MacBook cameras for video calls. Although convenient, many run into issues with integration. Both devices must be newer and will need to meet the system requirements. If the problem persists, you can update both devices, reset network settings, and ensure the software is enabled. Additionally, users can log out and in their iClouds too.

Could you get Continuity Camera working with the tips above? Which method works the best? Let us know in the comment section below.