Introduction
There are various covers, stickers, sliding devices and other options for covering the webcam on Apple MacBook Air and Apple MacBook Pro. Those with a flap that can be slid open and closed are practical, but can damage the display. This is because the sliding mechanism requires a lot of space.
Potential Risks:
- Pressure on the display glass when closing the laptop
- Possible cracks in the display
- Damage to the underlying technology
- Camera failure
When the display is closed, the webcam cover can put pressure on the display glass. This can cause it to crack or the pressure can destroy the underlying technology. Camera failure, cracks in the display and other damage are possible.
Better Not: Sliding Webcam Cover on Apple MacBook
If you have the laptop permanently open on your desk and never close it, you can certainly stick such a convenient solution for privacy over the FaceTime camera. This allows it to be quickly covered when no video call or recording is scheduled.
When FaceTime, Skype, Discord, Zoom or similar are used, the cover can be opened to give the camera a clear view. However, laptops are meant to be used on the go and folded up for transport. And that's exactly where the weak point of sliding webcam covers lies - if they are too thick, they put pressure on the display glass and the technology behind it.
Solutions for Webcam Privacy: Stickers, Sticky Notes, Painter's Tape
Solutions that don't measure much more in depth than a sheet of paper are better. There are corresponding stickers for permanently covering webcams on laptops, smartphones, tablets and elsewhere. The small, round stickers are available from various manufacturers and with a wide variety of designs.
Painter's tape is also quick and easy to remove without leaving any annoying adhesive residue. Painter's tape is available at hardware stores, among other places. But if you need to be able to switch quickly between covered and open webcam, you can simply use sticky notes. These also leave no residue. They are also reusable.
