Your MacBook Camera Cover Is Doing More Harm Than Good

No one’s watching you through your webcam—probably

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Kyree Leary has been a technology and gaming writer for nearly 10 years. His work has appeared on Digital Trends, IGN, Futurism, and more.
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Kyree Leary
Published July 13, 2020

While a webcam cover can make some users feel more secure, an intact MacBook should be the bigger priority. If you discover your cover is harming your laptop, it’s time to remove it and fully close your MacBook.

Person using the trackpad on a MacBook Pro
Chesnot / Getty Images

If you ask anyone why they use a webcam cover, chances are it’s for security reasons. However, Apple is now saying you should remove these covers or suffer the consequences.

A tight seal: According to an Apple support page, a webcam cover prevents the MacBook from closing completely, as they’re “designed to very tight tolerances.” Continuing to use a cover could result in a damaged display. 

Going coverless: Rather than using a cover, Apple suggests relying on the camera indicator light, which glows green when the camera is active. No green light means no active camera and your activities are safe from prying eyes. Another tip is to control which apps have camera access, which can be done through the System Preferences.

“We design Apple products to protect your privacy and give you control over your information,” says Apple. “Our products and features include innovative privacy technologies and techniques designed to minimize how much of your data we—or anyone else—can access.”

Camera shy: If you must use a camera cover, Apple recommends it be no thicker than 0.1mm and should leave no adhesive residue. If it is thicker than 0.1mm, remove the cover before closing your MacBook.

Bottom line: It’s unlikely camera covers are going away anytime soon, but the very least you could do is make sure your camera cover isn’t thick enough to leave a gap when you close the laptop for the day. No one wants to get their screen repaired, or their MacBook replaced, because of a camera cover and (completely reasonable) webcam anxieties.

Via: The Verge

Learn More About the MacBook Camera