If your phone’s camera is not working, free up the storage space, reopen the camera app, reset camera settings, restart your phone, close background apps, or check app permission. These are the initial steps you can take to fix your camera issues, whether you are an iPhone or Android user. However, the problems behind your camera’s inability to work can vary.
When there is any serious issue, these quick troubleshooting tips may not work for you. To get rid of the notification that your camera is not working again and again, you can try out different strategies at home. If the issue is serious, there is no other option than to consult a phone repair technician for camera repair.
Ways to Quickly Fix Your Smartphone Camera
The following strategies help you repair your phone’s camera by yourself.
Restart Your Phone
Restarting your phone can often fix minor issues, including problems with the camera app. Both Android and iPhone devices can benefit from a quick restart to clear up temporary camera glitches.
For Android
- Press and hold the power button located on the side of your phone.
- When the power menu appears, select “Restart” to reboot the device.
For iPhone
- Press and hold the side button along with the volume up or down button.
- When the power slider appears, drag it to turn off the phone.
- After the device powers off, press the side button again to turn it back on.
Fully Charge Your Phone
Low battery levels might hinder the performance of your phone’s camera. Ensure your device is fully charged by plugging it into a charger until it reaches 100%. Many people have seen their cameras working again after recharging their phones.
Check Camera App Permissions
Your camera app needs specific permissions, such as access to the camera, location, and microphone, to work properly on both Android and iPhone. If these permissions are not enabled, your phone’s camera may not work properly.
For Android
- Press and hold the Camera app icon.
- Select “App Info” or tap the small “i” icon.
- Go to “Permissions.”
- Ensure that Camera, Location, and Microphone permissions are all set to “Allow.”
For iPhone
- Go to the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on the Camera app.
- Check that the toggles for Camera, Location, and Microphone are switched on.
Close Background Apps
If your camera app isn’t working properly because other apps like Instagram or Snapchat are using it, closing background apps can help to fix your phone’s camera. Here’s how to do it.
For Android
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold to bring up recent apps.
- Tap the recent apps button, usually located next to the home button.
- Swipe the app previews in any direction to close them one at a time. If available, tap “Close all” or “Clear all” to close all apps running in the background.
- After closing the apps, open your camera app again to see if it works.
For iPhone
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to bring up the app switcher.
- Double-click the home button to show recently used apps.
- Swipe up on each app preview to close them one by one.
- After closing all the apps, open the camera again to check if the issue is resolved.
Update your Phone’s Operating System
Updating your phone’s operating system can solve problems, improve performance, and enhance security features, boosting your camera’s functionality. Here’s how you can update your operating system:
For Android
- Go to Settings > System > System Update.
- Follow the prompts to check for updates and install any available software.
For iPhone
- Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Tap Download and Install if an update is available.
Free up storage space
If your camera app isn’t working and you’re running out of storage, freeing up space might help. Android and iPhone allow you to delete extra apps to make room easily.
For Android
- Go to the Google Play™ Store and tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
- Select ‘Manage apps & devices’ and then ‘Manage.’
- Find the app you want to remove, tap on its name, and choose ‘Uninstall.’
- Remember, you can reinstall any app you delete from the Play Store, including purchased ones.
For iPhone
- Touch and hold the app icon on your home screen until it starts to jiggle.
- Tap the minus symbol (-) or the ‘Remove’ option on the app.
- Confirm by selecting ‘Delete App’.
- To reinstall, just head to the App Store, search for the app, and download it again.
Factory Data Reset
If nothing else works to fix your phone’s camera quickly, a factory reset is the last option. It erases everything on your device, returning it to its original factory settings. Make sure to back up important files and data before doing this, as all personal information will be deleted.
For Android
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Scroll down and select System.
- Tap Reset options and then choose Erase all data (factory reset).
- Tap Erase all data and enter your PIN or password.
- Confirm by tapping Erase all data again to start the reset process.
For iPhone
- Go to Settings and tap General.
- Scroll to the bottom and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Choose Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode when prompted, and confirm to proceed with the reset.
Why is my camera not working?
Your Android camera might not work due to a temporary glitch with the camera app, mistakenly disabled camera access, or another app blocking access. If none of these solutions work, the camera hardware may be damaged.
How can I fix a black camera screen on your phone?
To fix a black camera screen, restart your device, close all running apps, and check if the camera and flash function correctly. Next, go to your settings and clear the camera app’s cache. Make sure your phone’s software is up to date, as updates often fix bugs.
How to know if your phone’s camera is damaged?
You might have a damaged camera if the screen remains blank when you open the app, photos turn out blurry, the flash stays on, or the camera app is missing. These signs indicate potential hardware or software issues.
Why is my camera quality suddenly bad?
Dust and dirt can gather on your camera lens and obscure your photos by forming a blurry layer. Just gently clean the lens with a microfiber cloth to clear this up and improve your picture quality.
Conclusion
To get rid of your phone’s camera issues, identify the cause of the problem. Understanding why the camera isn’t working makes it easier to apply solutions. While such issues can be annoying, the steps in this guide should help you find a way to fix your phone’s camera. If these don’t work, consider software solutions, as they can often resolve what seems like hardware problems.