It seems it should be simple, but I can't figger it out.

My son just called us using Facetime. Usually we answer on my wife's phone, but this time since she was on her old Macbook, she clicked the Facetime icon in the Dock and bingo, there was our grandson eating his dinner. Lovely. Except my son quickly said, "We can hear you, but don't see you. Is your camera on?"

Frankly, I didn't know it could ever be off unless you cover it up with something. I didn't see anything obvious on screen, so we just proceeded talking to them and us watching them for the short duration of the call.

Now, this is the first time we've ever used Facetime on the computer, so like I said, it could well be something dead simple that we just forgot to do. Do we have to originate the call for the camera to work? What else should I be checking? Thanks.

Is there a little slidey thing over the camera? There is on my work laptop. It’s pretty hard to see. I think they should make it a bit more visible, because I have forgotten it was closed myself.

Good thought, but it's an '09 white Macbook. It barely has a camera.

Apple keeps changing the interface.

Depending on the version of FaceTime, the little camera or sound icon may not be visible until you move your cursor over the list of participants; down at the bottom of the column of contacts on the left-side; or towards the bottom of the tile that shows the present speaker.

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Okay, thanks. I'll do a little exploring.

That happens to my Dad when I tell him to check email or I send him a message. If he goes into another App, the FaceTime pauses the video. It will resume once he returns to FaceTime.

It can also happen on iPhone if you go to another App.