Your iPhone flash no longer works? This could be going on!

When your iPhone flash doesn’t work, it’s super annoying. We have outlined here the main causes for this problem.

Your iPhone flash no longer works

In this blog, we discuss:

• Main causes
• Additional checks you can do yourself

Did you just want to snapchat on Saturday night and your iPhone’s flash doesn’t work? Or are you looking for something in your bag in the dark club and your flashlight doesn’t work anymore? Super annoying. Here’s what may be going on:

• When your iPhone is overheated, due to the sun for example, the flash function may be temporarily disabled. This is done to ensure that your iPhone does not get even hotter and this problem will disappear when you let the phone cool down for a while. Tips on how to keep your iPhone cool in hot weather can be read here.
• Usually the flash no longer works because your back camera is also broken. This is because the flash function and the camera on the back of your iPhone are connected so when one stops working, chances are the other is also broken. In newer iPhones, such as the iPhone 11 and newer including the newest models, the flash and camera are often in one module so they have to be replaced together.
• The cable in your iPhone that takes care of the flash is connected to the cable that takes care of other functions. This means that if the cable in question is broken, such as from your power button, the flash will also stop working. See below where the flash cable in older iPhone models is connected to.
  • iPhone 5s, 6s, 7 (plus), 8 (plus), SE: volume buttons and lock button
  • iPhone 6 (plus), X, XS (max): lock button
  • Are you using an iPhone with Night Mode, such as the iPhone 11 or newer models? If so, it may seem like the flash is not working because the camera automatically chooses Night Mode or longer exposure. Tap the yellow moon at the top of your screen to turn off Night Mode so you can use the flash again. Also, the flash may temporarily not work during low battery, power saving or after an iOS update.

Additional checks you can do yourself

Sometimes there is no hardware problem, but the blockage is in settings, battery state or software. You can quickly test this yourself:

• Check if your flashlight works in the Control Panel. If the flashlight does not work either, then the problem is often in the same flash module.
• Check if your iPhone is in power-saving mode or low, and charge your iPhone for a while.
• Close the Camera app completely and restart your iPhone.
• Check if your iPhone has the latest iOS update, especially if the problem started after an update.
• If nothing helps, you can use Restore All Settings via Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Reset, Restore All Settings. This does not erase data, but restores settings.

In many cases, it’s necessary to stop by a professional repair shop to make sure your iPhone flash is working again. This can be done at our locations, for example; check here for a ThePhoneLab location near you!

Are you still running into something after this explanation?

No problem, we are happy to help you in one of our stores. Make an online appointment or walk into our store, just keep in mind with the latter that you may have to wait a while.