Kinoni EpocCam not working with Zoom and Snap Camera? Here’s the fix!
Update: The latest 5.0.4 version of Zoom app now supports virtual cameras again, at least for EpocCam! Just update to the latest version and Kinoni EpocCam should work. But for other virtual cameras, you might still need to use this fix mentioned below.
Also, my experience with EpocCam has been a little spottty. But I have found another way to use the iPhone as a web camera which works 100% of the time! Check out how I did it here on this article: How to use CamTwist to use your iPhone as a Webcam for FREE!
Alternatively, I’ve also been playing around with OBS and its chroma key filter to get a virtual background working with Google Meet as you can see in the screenshot below.
Alright. That’s my latest update. Read on if you wanted to know what the fuss was about before the latest Zoom update.
If you are frustrated that EpocCam not working with Zoom and Snap Camera, read on. I’ve finally found the fix!
For those of you who are wondering what the fuss is all about? Here’s a primer. On my work from home setup, I run my MacBook in clamshell mode as I prefer to use my external monitor as the main display. These days, webcams are hard to find and the entry level models sold at crazy prices. Since I’m only using the webcams for video conferencing and there’s really no need to stream high quality 1080p HD videos. One solution have been to use apps turn smartphones as a webcam. I’ve been using the one called EpocCam. The problem is, it only works as a camera input on web browser-based web conferencing tools, like Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams.
Fixing EpocCam to work with Zoom and Snap Camera
I came across this reddit post by u/scotty588/ that explains why Zoom and Snap Camera would not see EpocCam as a camera source. TL; DR, it has to something to do with both Zoom and Snap Camera “had to enable something called library validation” which would “blocks any plugins that aren’t digitally signed by either Apple or Zoom” from functioning.
According to the reddit post, all you need to do is to “unsign the latest version of Zoom on MacOS, it allows these 3rd party libraries to load” I’ve tested this to also work with Snap Camera.
This steps will actually not just fix the issues for EpocCam. It would also allow you to use other virtual camera from apps such as CamTwist!
The following are the step by step instructions to get it fixed. Credit goes to u/scotty588/ for posting this originally in his reddit post.
Step 1: Update the apps
Make sure your are already using the latest version of Zoom, Snap Camera or any other apps that you are facing issues getting the virtual camera like EpocCam to work. You would need to redo the steps again, so why not make sure you already have the latest.
Step 2: Install Command Line Tools
To remove signatures from applications, you will need to use the codesign utility. This comes with Apple’s Xcode. Without which, you can just install the command line tools by running the following command on Terminal.
xcode-select --install
Step 3: Unsign Zoom and Snap Camera
Make sure Zoom or Snap Camera is not running before you run the following command to remove the signatures from the apps. The following command shows how you would do it with the Zoom app.
sudo codesign --remove-signature /Applications/zoom.us.app/
For Snap Camera, it would be
sudo codesign --remove-signature /Applications/Snap\ Camera.app/
As you see from the screenshot above, there is no response from running the command.
Step 4: Restart Zoom and Snap Camera to check if its working
Now, when you go to the settings, EpocCam should now show up as a camera option for Zoom and Snap Camera. Note that all the permissions of the apps would be reset after you unsign them. So when Zoom and Snap Camera restarts, you will need to allow it permissions to the camera, screen recording and microphone again.
Remember to unsign Zoom or Snap Camera again whenever they are updated. And last but not least, all credit goes to reddit u/scotty588/ for posting his solution to share with everyone in the first place.
Recommended Read: How to use CamTwist to use your iPhone as a Webcam for FREE!
Unable to get a webcam? Here’s how you can turn your iPhone as a webcam for free using an app called CamTwist Studio. No other apps necessary on the iPhone!
You don’t need to go through all these hurdles to get EpocCam to work. Just start up EpocCam, start up Zoom, and then share your screen and choose the EpocCam screen. Voila.
True, but if you really do need Epoccam to work as a virtual webcam, then these steps would be required. Sometimes I need to project both my presentations and myself at the same time. 🙂
Fantastic! Thanks for this, it saved me a LOT of headache.
This is fantastic, thankyou so much.
I’m glad what I posted was useful 😄
IKR! Same here. I’ve been trying to get virtual backgrounds with Epoccam to work for the longest time!
THANK YOU! I’ve been trying to figure out how to downgrade to an older version of Zoom for weeks just to make SnapCamera work again… This worked!!
Thank you so much Ken. Amazingly it worked! Only thing is, every time I restart Zoom I have to give it the permissions for camera etc. Is that expected?
Hi Ken. Please ignore my last message. If I used my brain, I would have clicked “always allow”!!! And thank you again for taking the time to post this useful note.
Glad it worked for you too!
Great solution. I know almost nothing about xcode or terminal but am wondering if I can simply substitute “Camtasia 2020” in place of zoom in the code to allow Camtasia’s record function to use camtwist. Thanks for these articles.
Yes. This works for any other apps as well. You will just need to get ensure you get the name right for the Camtasia app. You can find the right file name of the Camatasia app by using the list command “ls /Applications/*“ and see find the camtasia app name. Them you just copy and replace it in the unsign command as per the post.
@Ray: Specifically for Camtasia 2020. Use: sudo codesign –remove-signature /Applications/Camtasia\ 2020.app
I downloaded the trial just to make sure I have right name of the app 🙂
Thank you very much! I received the message “no such file or directory”. After running the “ls /Applications/*“ I realized that zoom was not listed at all. So removed zoom. Installed it again, this time for all users. Now it was listed correctly in the Applications folder. I could remove the signature but had to restart the computer to finally succeed. 🙂
Karen
When I have tried it asks for a password. I enter my password for my account but then it says: “USERNAME is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.” What am I doing wrong?
I’m assuming this is a work issued Macbook? If that’s the case, then its because your user login is not given administrative rights to run admin level commands. Sudo is a command is used to run commands and programs as a superuser.
Try running the commands without sudo in front and see if it works. “codesign –remove-signature /Applications/zoom.us.app/”
BTW, if you’re trying to make this work with Zoom, note that with the latest Zoom app update, virtual cameras like the EpocCam.
I really wanted this to work but it did not. (sad emoji)
What is the error or problem you are facing. Perhaps I can help better if I know the details.
oh wow amazing, thank you so much! this totally worked!!! Probably some stupid questions, but this won’t affect any other programs right? And my zoom account is issued by my school, they won’t know about this, correct?
The remove signature step is local to your macbook. It has nothing to do with the Zoom account 😄
If I unsign Camtasa 2020 will Techsmith be able to detect that I have and if so, would it affect support?
Yes. This should work for any apps, including Camtasia.
And they should not be able to detect it unless they actually have access to your Mac to review the app itself.
While technically you will be “changing” the app, but unsigning the app should not affect support as it does not really change anything internal with the app. You should be able to just reach out to support for any help when you need. Also, you can easily undo this by just installing the app again to restore Camtasia.
Thanks for your reply and this article. I really want this to work but it hasn’t unsigned it for me. I entered the xcode command and password when required but it just printed this ;
RaysiMac2 ~ % sudo codesign –remove-signature /Applications/Camtasia\ 2020.app
Password:
Usage: codesign -s identity [-fv*] [-o flags] [-r reqs] [-i ident] path … # sign
codesign -v [-v*] [-R=|-R ] path|[+]pid … # verify
codesign -d [options] path … # display contents
codesign -h pid … # display hosting paths
raysiMac2 ~ %
with no results in Camtasia 2020. I know nothing about terminal and am hoping you or someone can tell me what it means. Thank you Ray C
You missed another dash for the remove-signature
It should be (dash)(dash)remove-signature. Typing it down here, the font shows up joint together and it might look like a long dash.
Thanks for your help. entering the dashes correctly did cause it to unsign Camtasia 2020 but it still would not allow epoccam to record. So I reinstalled Camtasia and used this similar code in terminal command sudo codesign –remove-signature /Applications/Camtasia\ 2020.app/Contents/Resources/CLRecorder and it now will allow epoccam to record. I just wanted to post this in case someone else may have the same difficulty I did. Thanks again for your article and your help.
Hi. Glad it worked out for you!
Dude, THANK YOU!! Omg, this has been driving me insane, and EpocCam website didn’t help at all. Thank you soooo much!! I finally have the cam in zoom! (worked everywhere else but)
Removing the EpocCam driver from my MacBook Pro has left the camera completely disconnected from FaceTime & PhotoBooth. Does anyone know how to restore the normal, expected functionality. ie, I can actually use the Mac Camera?