Phone camera not working or black? 9 fixes for iPhone and Android

A black camera screen, a Camera failed message or an app that closes as soon as you open it is scary, but most of the time the camera hardware is fine. A stuck app, a privacy setting or another app holding the camera causes most cases. The steps below go from quick checks to repair, and they cover iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Pixel and other Android phones.

Why a phone camera stops working

• The Camera app froze or crashed in the background.
• Another app, such as a video call, is still using the camera.
• A privacy setting blocks camera access for the phone or one app.
• Storage is full, so the camera cannot save photos.
• A software bug after an update.
• Physical damage from a drop, water or strong vibration.

How to fix a phone camera not working

Check camera privacy settings

• Android camera access switch: Android 12 and later have a Camera access toggle in Quick Settings and in Settings › Security & privacy › Privacy controls. When it is off, every app sees a black screen. Turn it back on.
• App permission: on Android, Settings › Apps › [app] › Permissions › Camera. On iPhone, Settings › Privacy & Security › Camera, then turn on the app.
• Screen Time on iPhone: if the Camera icon is missing or blocked, check Settings › Screen Time › Content & Privacy Restrictions › Allowed Apps & Features, and make sure Camera is on.
• Work or school phones: a device management profile can disable the camera. Ask your IT department.

Another app is using the camera

Only one app can use a camera at a time. A FaceTime, Zoom, WhatsApp or Snapchat session left open in the background can keep it busy. Look for the green dot at the top of the screen, which both iPhone and Android show when the camera is in use, and close that app. On iPhone, swipe up and hold to open the app switcher, then swipe the app away. On Android, open recent apps and close it. Then reopen the camera.

Samsung “Camera failed” or “Warning: camera failed”

Blurry photos or a camera that will not focus

• Wipe the lens gently with a clean microfiber cloth; a fingerprint smudge is by far the most common cause.
• Remove lens protectors and check the case is not covering the edge of a lens.
• On iPhone 13 Pro and later Pro models, the camera switches to macro when you get close. Move back slightly, or turn off Auto Macro in Settings › Camera, to see if that was the cause.
• Tap the screen on your subject to set focus and exposure.
• If the image shakes, the camera makes a buzzing or clicking sound, or focus keeps hunting, the stabilization or autofocus may be damaged and needs repair.

Camera works, but only in some apps

If the built-in Camera app works but Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp or a video call app shows black, the problem is that app. Check its camera permission, update it, and on Android clear its cache in Settings › Apps › [app] › Storage. If it still fails, delete and reinstall it. On a Pixel, also update the Pixel Camera app in the Play Store, since camera fixes often ship there rather than in a system update.

Camera slow, laggy or freezing

• Free up storage; a nearly full phone struggles to save large photos and 4K video.
• Let a hot phone cool; heat makes the camera slow down or stop recording.
• Lower the video setting from 4K at 60 fps to 4K at 30 fps or 1080p if recordings stutter.
• Close other heavy apps, especially games and video editors.
• Reset camera settings: on Samsung, Camera › Settings › Reset settings. On iPhone, Settings › Camera shows the options, and Reset All Settings clears them all.

Selfies flipped or look different

Front cameras show a mirror image in the preview, then may save the photo unflipped, which can look odd. That is a setting, not a fault. On iPhone, go to Settings › Camera and turn on Mirror Front Camera to save selfies as you saw them. On Samsung, open Camera › Settings and turn on Save selfies as previewed. Beauty and filter effects can also be switched off in the camera’s settings.

Vibrations, water and drops

Apple warns that long exposure to strong vibrations, such as those from high-power motorcycle engines, can damage the optical image stabilization and autofocus in iPhone cameras. If you ride with your phone mounted, use a vibration dampener. Fog inside the lens after a splash means moisture got in; see what to do if your phone gets wet. A crack in the camera lens glass needs repair even if photos still look fine, because it lets in dust and water.

Flash or flashlight not working

The flash is disabled when the phone is too hot, and on some phones when the battery is very low. Let the phone cool and charge it, then try again. Check that the flash is set to Auto or On in the Camera app. If the flashlight works in Control Center or Quick Settings but not in the camera, it is a setting; if neither works, the flash needs repair.

Still black after everything?

If both front and back cameras stay black in every app, even after a restart, updates, Safe mode on Android and a check of privacy settings, try one more software step before booking a repair: back up and reset all settings. On iPhone, Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset › Reset All Settings. On Samsung, Settings › General management › Reset › Reset all settings. Your photos and apps stay. If the camera is still black, it is almost certainly hardware, often a loose or damaged camera connector after a drop.

When only one lens fails, such as the ultra wide or telephoto while the main camera works, that points to one damaged module. Switch lenses using the 0.5x, 1x and zoom buttons to find which one, and mention it when you book the repair, since it helps the technician order the right part.

Repair or replace?

Camera module repairs are common and usually cost far less than a new phone, though they are pricier on flagship models with several lenses. Under warranty, a camera that failed on its own is repaired for free. Drops and water are accidental damage, covered for a fee by AppleCare+, Samsung Care+ or carrier insurance. See whether AppleCare+ is worth it. Back up your photos before any repair, and turn off Find My on iPhone only if the repair shop asks you to. If the phone is several years old and the camera is not the only problem, compare the repair quote with a new or refurbished phone before you decide.