A Mac with a built-in camera or USB webcam can record activity for later review. Owl Cam detects activity on the Mac and saves ordinary video files to a folder you choose. It requires macOS 14 or later and runs on Apple silicon and Intel.
Set up a camera and recording folder
- Download Owl Cam, open it, and grant camera permission in macOS when prompted.
- Select a camera recognized by macOS and position it to cover the area you want to record.
- Choose a writable folder with sufficient free space. A local folder gives you direct control; a cloud-synced folder can upload files according to that service’s settings.
- Walk through the scene, stay still, and leave. Open the resulting recording and check whether it covers the event you wanted.
Keep the Mac available
The Mac must stay powered on and the camera must remain available. The display can sleep, but a sleeping computer cannot record. Check the camera connection and free space after a longer test. Lighting, obstructions and placement affect detection; adjust the view and detection settings to suit the actual room.
Know the limits before relying on it
Owl Cam is designed for recording and reviewing on the Mac. It currently has no remote live view, phone app or push alerts, and does not directly connect to RTSP or ONVIF IP cameras. One camera remains free after the 14-day Pro trial. For privacy and compatibility details, see the FAQ.