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@ukn
Forked from Stono/99-install-facetime-camera.sh
Last active April 6, 2026 11:49
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Install the kernal module required for the facetimehd camera to work on Linux
#!/bin/bash
set -e
export CONFIG_MODULE_SIG=n
export CONFIG_MODULE_SIG_ALL=n
# For current kernel
export KERNELRELEASE=$(cat /proc/version | awk '{print $3}')
temp_dir=$(mktemp -d)
echo "Installing FacetimeHD camera for $KERNELRELEASE"
cd $temp_dir
git clone https://github.com/patjak/facetimehd-firmware.git
git clone https://github.com/patjak/bcwc_pcie.git
cd $temp_dir/facetimehd-firmware
pwd
make
make install
cd $temp_dir/bcwc_pcie
pwd
make
make install
rm -rf $temp_dir
if [ ! -d "/etc/modules-load.d" ]; then
mkdir -p "/etc/modules-load.d"
fi
cat > "/etc/modules-load.d/facetimehd.conf" << EOL
videobuf2-core
videobuf2_v4l2
videobuf2-dma-sg
facetimehd
EOL
# Workaround for depmod being skipped above with error:
# Warning: modules_install: missing 'System.map' file. Skipping depmod
echo "Generate modules.dep and map files"
sudo depmod
echo "Adding kernel modules"
sudo modprobe -r bdc_pci
sudo modprobe facetimehd
echo "Install complete"
@R-Dew
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R-Dew commented Apr 6, 2026

You guys are perfect. Works on my MacBook Pro Retina Early 2015, Debian 12 KDE Plasma.

Is it still working because I read at some places that this script doesn't work anymore with newer kernels? On my MacBook 12" mid 2019 I can't get it to work. Everything compiles/installs well but camera is not working under MX Linux KDE Plasma (Debian based distro).

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