If you own a MacBook you probably shouldn’t use a camera cover. And if you do cover your MacBook camera, be sure not to close your laptop. If you do, you’re likely to damage your display, with even the best MacBook camera covers capable of cracking your screen.
Do You Need to Cover Your Webcam?
Over the last few years, more of you have started covering your webcams. This is over fears that prying eyes can hack in and watch what you’re doing. While the chances are this won’t happen to you, covering your computer’s camera kills the small chance it will.
However, while lots of desktop computers and laptops now come with camera covers built-in, MacBooks do not. Which has led people to buy webcam covers or use whatever they have lying around. And therein lies the problem. At least according to Apple.
Apple Suggests Not Closing Your MacBook
In a support note, Apple advises you not to “close your MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro with a cover over the camera” as doing so “might damage your display.” Instead, Apple suggests you “use the camera indicator light to determine if your camera is active.”
If you don’t trust the camera indicator light, Apple suggests you “make sure the camera cover is not thicker than an average piece of printer paper (0.1mm)” and “avoid using a camera cover that leaves adhesive residue.” Which severely limits your options.
All of you weirdos that think you have to cover your camera, don't blame Apple when you break your display.https://t.co/tRKo30kMgo
— ? ?I??? ?O?I?GE? ? (@LindaLominger) July 10, 2020
We can’t be sure what prompted Apple to release this support note, but we’d guess it’s due to an uptick in people cracking their screens with camera covers. Especially as more people have been working and studying from home during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The problem with MacBooks specifically is Apple’s design sensibilities. In the support note the company admits that “the clearance between the display and keyboard is designed to very tight tolerances.” Which means anything placed in between the two spells disaster.
AppleCare+ Covers Cracked MacBook Screens
The good news is that AppleCare+ covers cracked MacBook displays as accidental damage, even if it’s because you attached a camera cover. It’s a pricey repair though, which explains why Apple is keen for you to stop using a camera cover on your MacBook.
Image Credit: Juhan Sonin/Flickr
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