Set up your webcam once. Every app sees it.

Camdeck is a free Mac app for adjusting a USB webcam: brightness, color, zoom and focus. It changes the camera's own settings, so Zoom, Meet, Teams and FaceTime all get the same picture.

Download for Mac What it does

Free and open source. For Macs with Apple silicon on macOS 26 Tahoe.

Insta360 Link 2C

Picture

Automatic color balance

Light

Automatic light

Framing

Autofocus
Try a slider

Go ahead and drag them, they work. In the app, each change is saved on the camera, which is why you only do this once.

Change it here, see it in Zoom.

Camdeck changes the settings inside the webcam. Set brightness to 12 here and Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and OBS all read 12 from the same camera.

Set in Camdeck. Remembered by your camera.
  • Zoom12
  • Google Meet12
  • Microsoft Teams12
  • OBS12

What Camdeck does

Camdeck gives your Mac the webcam settings that macOS leaves out. I built it for my own Insta360 Link 2C and kept adding whatever I missed on calls.

  • Live previewSee yourself as others will, mirrored if you like.
  • Picture controlsBrightness, contrast, color, sharpness, focus and flicker.
  • LightLet the camera handle it, or brighten a dim room yourself.
  • Zoom and move the viewOne draggable pad for zoom, pan and tilt.
  • Auto framingFollows your face and keeps you centered.
  • Glare warningShows where a bright window or lamp washes you out.
  • PresetsStore your settings and bring them back in one click.
  • Per-app presetsApply a preset when a chosen app opens the camera.
  • Describe a lookType "warmer" or "zoom in a bit" and Apple Intelligence moves the sliders. It runs on your Mac.
  • Mac video effectsPortrait, Studio Light and Background, from Apple.

What it leaves out: backgrounds, filters, overlays and recording. Your picture stays exactly as the camera sees it, and Camdeck stays light.

Presets that follow your apps

A Camdeck preset saves a whole look: picture, light and framing. Bring it back with a click or a keyboard shortcut, apply it when Camdeck opens, or let Camdeck switch when an app like Zoom or OBS opens the camera. If an app resets the camera when it starts, Keep These Settings puts your look back.

PresetsSave Preset…
MeetingZoom, Google Meet⌘1
StreamingOBS⌘2
EveningAt launch⌘3
Whiteboard⌘4
Keep These Settings

Supported webcams

Camdeck works with almost any USB webcam for brightness, color, light, zoom and focus, including the Logitech Brio and C920, Elgato Facecam, Razer Kiyo and Anker PowerConf. The cameras below get extra controls.

  • Insta360 Link 2CThe one I use every day. Adds digital pan and tilt, HDR and shutter speed.
  • Insta360 Link 2, LinkShould work, not tested yet.
  • AnkerWork C310, PowerConf C200Early support.
  • OBSBOT Tiny 2, Tiny SE, MeetPlanned.
  • Opal Tadpole, C1Planned.

Own a camera that is not listed? Open an issue and I will look at adding it.

How Camdeck compares

Mac webcam apps come in three kinds. Camera makers ship an app for their own brand, virtual camera apps process the video and hand apps a second camera, and Camdeck changes the settings stored in the camera.

QuestionCamdeckCamera maker's appVirtual camera app
Works with webcams from any brandYesOne brandYes
Adds a second camera to pick in ZoomNoNoYes
Edits the video itselfNoNoYes
Open sourceYesNoVaries
PriceFreeUsually freeVaries

Shortcuts

Camdeck presets switch from a keyboard shortcut in any app, even with the Camdeck window closed. Apple's Shortcuts app gets three Camdeck actions, Apply Preset, Reset View and Reset Image, so you can drop them into your own automations.

For tinkerers: control Camdeck with links
  • camdeck://preset/MeetingApply a preset by name, or by number: preset/2
  • camdeck://reset-viewCenter the view and zoom out
  • camdeck://reset-imagePicture and light back to defaults
  • camdeck://resetReset everything. Presets are kept
  • camdeck://lock/onTurn Keep These Settings on. lock/off turns it off
  • camdeck://camera/NameSwitch to a camera by name
open -g "camdeck://preset/Meeting"

Get Camdeck

Free and open source. Needs a Mac with Apple silicon on macOS 26 Tahoe. Updates install themselves.

Download for Mac All releases

  1. Move it to Applications

    Open the DMG and drag Camdeck onto the Applications folder.

  2. Allow it once

    If macOS says it could not verify Camdeck, open System Settings, Privacy & Security, and click Open Anyway. You do this once.

  3. Pick your camera

    Allow camera access when asked. Your webcam appears in the list and the preview starts.

Camdeck FAQ

How do I change my webcam's brightness on a Mac?
macOS has no brightness, contrast or focus controls for USB webcams. Camdeck adds them: pick your camera, move a slider, and the camera keeps the new setting for every app.
Do I need to pick a new camera in Zoom?
No. Camdeck adjusts the camera you already use, so Zoom and every other app keep using it as before. There is nothing to switch and no added delay.
Does Camdeck work with my Logitech webcam?
Most likely. Camdeck handles brightness, color, light, zoom and focus on nearly any USB webcam, including the Logitech Brio and C920. Insta360 cameras get extras such as pan and tilt.
Can I adjust my webcam by describing what I want?
Yes. In Camdeck, press ⌘L and type something like "warmer", "zoom in" or "black and white". Apple Intelligence works out the settings on your Mac, so the request never leaves it. This needs a Mac with Apple Intelligence turned on.
Will my settings survive a reboot?
Most cameras keep their settings on the device. For the ones that do not, mark a preset Apply at Launch, or turn on Keep These Settings and Camdeck restores them whenever an app opens the camera.
Is Camdeck free?
Yes. Camdeck is free and open source under the MIT license. There is no account, no ads and nothing to buy.
Which Macs does Camdeck run on?
Camdeck needs a Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) running macOS 26 Tahoe. Intel Macs are not supported.
Does Camdeck collect anything?
No. Camdeck has no account and no tracking. It only goes online to check GitHub for updates.
Can I uninstall the maker's app?
Usually, yes. Insta360, OBSBOT and Opal each ship a control app for their own cameras. Camdeck covers the same controls for supported cameras, plus the basics for every other webcam.
How do I remove Camdeck?
Quit Camdeck and drag it to the Trash. It installs no drivers or helpers, so there is nothing else to clean up.