Float Camera guide
How to Fix Float Camera Permission Issues on macOS
macOS controls camera access centrally. If Float Camera cannot show an image, first confirm its Camera permission, then check whether another app is using the selected device.
Quick answer
Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera and enable Float Camera. Quit and reopen the app. If the camera still does not start, close other camera apps, reconnect external devices, and select an available Camera Device from the menu bar.
Step by step
Open Camera privacy settings
Choose Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.
Allow Float Camera
Turn on access beside Float Camera. If it is already on, turn Show Camera off in the app, then quit and reopen Float Camera.
Close competing camera apps
Quit meeting, recording, browser, or virtual-camera software that may be holding the selected camera exclusively.
Check the selected device
Open Camera Device from the Float Camera menu and choose an available built-in, USB, capture-card, or virtual camera.
Reconnect external hardware
Unplug and reconnect USB cameras or capture cards, then wait for the device list to update before selecting it again.
Good to know
The permission prompt is controlled by macOS
Float Camera requests access when needed, but macOS decides when the system prompt appears and remembers your decision.
Turning the camera off releases it
Disable Show Camera when another application needs the same device.
Common questions
Float Camera is missing from Camera settings. What should I do?
Open Float Camera and enable Show Camera once so macOS receives an access request, then check Camera privacy settings again.
Why is the screen black even though permission is enabled?
The selected camera may be disconnected, unavailable, or held by another app. Close other camera apps and choose another Camera Device.