If your iPhone camera stops working, the issue is usually caused by a software glitch, lack of storage, a crashing camera process, or physical damage to the camera module after a drop. In some cases, the camera isn’t truly “dead”, it’s just frozen, showing a black screen, or being blocked by iOS limitations.
The key is to troubleshoot in the right order so you don’t waste time or accidentally make the situation worse.
Below is a clear checklist of what to do and how to identify when it’s a hardware repair issue.
Step 1: Identify the camera problem (what exactly is happening?)
Common camera failure symptoms include:
- Black screen when opening the Camera app
- Camera app freezes or crashes instantly
- Rear camera doesn’t work but selfie camera works (or the opposite)
- Camera won’t focus / blurry image
- Flash doesn’t work
- “Unknown part” behavior after a previous repair
- Camera works in some apps but not others (e.g., Instagram works but Camera app fails)
These details matter because they point to different root causes.
Step 2: Do the quick fixes first (most common)
Restart your iPhone
This clears temporary system issues that often block camera access.
Force close the Camera app
Swipe up (or double click Home on older models) and close the app completely, then reopen.
Turn Airplane Mode on/off
This sounds unrelated, but it can reset processes and stop background conflicts, especially if the phone is under heavy load.
Check if another app is using the camera
If the camera is stuck “in use,” close apps like:
- FaceTime
- Instagram / TikTok
- Zoom / Teams
Then try again.
Step 3: Check storage (a very common cause)
If iPhone storage is close to full, camera functions can break because the phone can’t create temporary media files. This can cause:
- black screen
- camera crashing
- failure to save photos
Go to:
Settings → General → iPhone Storage
If storage is almost full, free space immediately. Ideally keep 5–10 GB available.
Step 4: Test both cameras properly
Do these tests:
- Open Camera → switch between Photo / Video / Portrait
- Switch between rear camera and selfie camera
- Open FaceTime (tests front camera)
- Try recording video (tests deeper camera function)
If only one camera fails consistently, the issue may be a specific camera module.
Step 5: Check iOS updates and app updates
If the camera stopped working after an update, it may be software-related.
- Update iOS
- Update all apps (especially social media apps)
- Restart after updating
If the camera works temporarily after restarting but fails again later, a background app conflict or system process could be involved.
Step 6: Look for signs of physical damage
Camera problems are often hardware-related if:
- the iPhone was dropped recently
- the camera area took impact
- the camera shakes or makes a clicking noise
- photos are blurry in every app
- the lens glass is cracked
- the camera has moisture/fog inside
If the camera is physically damaged, software resets won’t solve it.
Step 7: If there was water exposure, act fast
Moisture can damage camera modules and connectors. Even light rain exposure can lead to:
- fog inside the lens
- blurry camera
- camera stopping completely days later
If you see fogging or moisture behavior, avoid charging the phone immediately and get it inspected.
When it’s clearly a repair issue (not a settings issue)
You likely need professional inspection if:
- camera stays black after restart + update
- the camera crashes constantly
- the camera works only sometimes and fails again
- the phone was dropped or exposed to water
- focus is permanently broken
- camera image is shaky or unstable
These are classic signs of camera module failure or internal connector issues.
Final answer
If your iPhone camera stops working, start by restarting the device, closing background apps, and checking storage. Then test both front and rear cameras across Photo/Video modes. If the issue started after a drop, water exposure, or one camera consistently fails, it’s likely hardware-related and needs inspection.
For more details about iPhone repair in Vancouver, see iPhone Repair in Vancouver.
