Is your iPhone camera not working? Here’s what you can do

You want to take a quick picture of your lunch, your cat, or that one moment you don’t want to miss, but your iPhone completely fails you. Black screen, blurry image, or the camera app just gets stuck. Sometimes the camera stops focusing, the image moves strangely, or the flash suddenly stops working. Maybe you even see a blur in the image, or the camera glass is damaged. Super irritating and totally not what you expect from a device that is normally always ready to go. But don’t panic: if your iPhone camera isn’t working, there are often plenty of simple steps you can try yourself before you have to think about repairing it. In this blog, we’ll take you step by step from quick checks to smart solutions, so that hopefully your camera will be working as smoothly as before.

Note! Did your iPhone take a hard hit and is the physical camera or the glass in front of it broken? Then make a appointment online!

We discuss the following topics:

• Why is my iPhone camera suddenly not working?
• Roadmap: how to get your iPhone camera working again
• More causes of iPhone camera problems
• Broken camera glass
• Time for a check at ThePhoneLab!

Why is me iPhone camera suddenly not working?

When your camera suddenly stops cooperating, it feels like your iPhone is dropping its most important function. In many cases, there is nothing physically wrong, but the problem is on the software side. It could be anything: an iOS update that didn’t install completely flawlessly, an app that blocks access to your camera, or a setting that suddenly interferes with your camera function. Especially in iPhones that have been around a bit longer, an accumulation of settings can cause some weird bugs.

Third-party apps, such as social media or scanner apps, can also affect the default camera app. This is because they often use the same camera functions in the background, and if something falters there, your default camera sometimes stops working properly as well. You’ll notice it soon enough when you try to take photos: black screen when opening the Camera app, no focus, flash doesn’t work, or the app immediately closes again. Fortunately, these things are often just fixable, without having to tinker with parts or make an appointment at a repair shop right away.

Roadmap: how to get your iPhone camera working again

Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a techie to fix this. Just follow these simple steps and check after each step that the camera is working again:

1. Close the camera app completely
   Apps may crash, including the camera app. Close it completely and open it again.
2. Restart your iPhone
   Sounds like an open door, but works surprisingly often. Just turn it off completely and back on again.
3. Check the lens and your case
   Is there something in front of the lens? Take off your case and clean the camera with a microfiber cloth.
4. Update your iOS
   Go to settings -> general -> software update and check to see if a new version is available. Updates often fix bugs that affect the camera.
5. Switch between front and rear camera
   Open the camera and switch back and forth for a while. Sometimes that helps resolve a hitch.
6. Reset your settings
   Go to settings -> general -> transfer or reset -> restore all settings. This resets settings to default, but does not lose any personal data.
7. Is it still not working?
   If so, it could be a hardware problem, such as water damage or a fall. Time to call for help.

More causes of iPhone camera problems

In addition to software problems, these days we see other causes that cause an iPhone camera to malfunction. This is especially common in devices that are older or used intensively. A common problem that our specialists see coming along is wear of the autofocus or stabilization. You might notice this by a shaky image, a buzzing sound or a camera that keeps searching for sharpness. This can be caused by a fall, long-term use or strong vibrations, for example in a car mount.

Magnetic accessories such as cheap MagSafe holders or strong magnets can also temporarily interfere with stabilization. Remove these accessories and test if the camera returns to normal operation.

In addition, apps may no longer have permission to use the camera. Check this through Settings, Privacy and Security, Camera. Here you can see which apps have access. Finally, nearly full storage or a failed iOS update can cause the camera app to not start properly. Therefore, always make sure you have enough free space and install updates completely.

Broken camera glass

We get it: one moment you’re taking a picture of your breakfast, the next moment there’s a crack right across your lens. Might look harmless, but such a broken camera glass is secretly an open invitation for moisture, dust and other woes. And that can slowly demolish your iPhone inside, yummy. Our advice? Cover it temporarily with a piece of tape (no colored ones please) and bring your iPhone to us as soon as possible. We will fix it before that crack turns into a bigger problem.

Time for a check at ThePhoneLab!

Have you tried everything and your camera keeps refusing? Then it’s smart to get your iPhone checked out. At ThePhoneLab we do so without fuss, and the diagnosis is simply free. Create your appointment here or click below on the iPhone whose camera you want to get fixed!

Our specialists see if it is a software error or if something is really broken. Is it a hardware problem? Then we’ll discuss the best solution together. Often you can bring your device back repaired the same day!