Apple has warned users not to tape or cover their MacBook’s webcam. That can damage the devices, the company says in a forum post
The masking of webcams is a frequently used way to ensure that if someone manages to sneak over your webcam, the hacker will not see anything.
The idea is to put something over the camera when not in use. In many places, you can buy a cover that slides open for video meetings and closes again when the camera is not needed.
Apple now says in a message on its support page that users should not install those covers on their MacBook. This has to do with the design of the devices, which do not leave enough space between the screen and the keyboard.
If you close the laptop with a cover in between, they can be damaged. There is also a good chance that you tap the light sensor so that functions such as automatic brightness no longer work.
The advice applies to MacBooks, MacBooks Air and MacBooks Pro. If you want to (or should) stick something on the camera, you should find one that is less than 0.1 millimetres thick, and that does not leave any glue residue, Apple writes.
It is not possible to physically turn off the camera. For concerned users, Apple indicates that the webcam has an indicator light, which should always be on when the camera is on.