Microsoft Teams Mac OS client is not recognizing external cameras after updating to version 1.3.00.18164.

Question

Microsoft Teams Mac OS client stop recognizing external cameras (EOS Webcam utility, EpocCam, NDI client) after updating to version 1.3.00.18164; only MacBook Pro built-in camera is listed as available device.

※Update executed today (07/23) some hours ago.

Web app through browser (Edge) is OK, it kept external cameras listing and they work.

Does anybody had came across same issue after updating?

OS: macOS Catalina version 10.15.6

Microsoft Teams version: 1.3.00.18164

Answer 1

I had the exact same thing happen to me after updating to the latest version of teams.  However, I was able to come up with a solution that resolves the issue entirely.  It has to do with how Apple is starting to codesign specific apps to block 3rd party CoreMediaIO plugins.  If we remove that codesigning, then it will allow those 3rd party plugins to function again.

The fix is pretty simple.  First, completely exit out of Teams, then open Terminal and issue the following commands:

If you havent installed xcode previously, first run:

xcode-select --install

Then, run:

sudo codesign --remove-signature "/Applications/Microsoft Teams.app"

and:

sudo codesign --remove-signature "/Applications/Microsoft Teams.app/Contents/Frameworks/Microsoft Teams Helper.app"

Once you've issued those commands, open up Teams.  It should ask you for an administrator password to allow the (now) unsigned application to access your keychain.  Once entering your password and selecting, "Always Allow", the issue should be resolved. (At least until the next update to teams is released).

*****UPDATE*****

As of version 1.3.00.28778 the process has changed and the above workaround is no longer valid.  In order to get this fix working on the latest version of Teams, additional commands will need to be entered.  Keep in mind, these commands are relative to where you have Teams installed, so if it is in a different location, you'll need to adjust the file path accordingly.  So as it stands currently here are all of the commands (must be entered one by one and not pasted in one big block) that will need to be entered:

xcode-select --install (only if you haven't already)

sudo codesign --remove-signature "/Applications/Microsoft Teams.app"

sudo codesign --remove-signature "/Applications/Microsoft Teams.app/Contents/Frameworks/Microsoft Teams Helper.app"

sudo codesign --remove-signature "/Applications/Microsoft Teams.app/Contents/Frameworks/Microsoft Teams Helper (GPU).app"

sudo codesign --remove-signature "/Applications/Microsoft Teams.app/Contents/Frameworks/Microsoft Teams Helper (Plugin).app"

sudo codesign --remove-signature "/Applications/Microsoft Teams.app/Contents/Frameworks/Microsoft Teams Helper (Renderer).app"

******UPDATE #2******

I totally forgot about this thread and decided to take a look at it again. From the latest comments, it looks like a lot of you are already aware that this issue has officially officially fixed by Microsoft as of version 1.4.00.8872, so this workaround should no longer be required as long as you are up to date.

Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/troubleshoot/teams-on-mac/virtual-camera-doesnt-work-macos

Answer 2

Thanks for sharing @greghiggins3.  Your fix worked for me! 

Anyone who is affected by this, please vote up the user voice bug here: 

https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/forums/908686-bug-reports/suggestions/40961347-latest-teams-update-breaks-virtual-cameras-micro

Answer 3

Awesome Fix! It works perfect.

Answer 4

You may get an error where the path is not recognized. You will have to install Xcode to overcome this and then the two commands will execute and the virtual cameras will be seen by Teams again.

Thank you greghiggins3

A life saver!

Answer 5

Hey folks - I tried the Terminal commands and it worked! However, then people started reporting that either no camera was showing (I'm running OBS with the Virtual Camera plugin) or I was frozen. Any thoughts on how to fix?