How to fix a Fire tablet camera that isn't working

⚡ Fast fix

• Check the lens. Make sure a case, screen protector, or smudge isn't blocking the camera.
• Check camera access. An app without permission can't use the camera.
• Restart the tablet. A reboot can clear a camera that's frozen or stuck.
• Camera still refusing its close-up?
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You open the camera on your Fire™ tablet to snap a picture or join a video call, but instead of seeing yourself—or anything else—the camera refuses to cooperate. Trying the button again probably isn't going to change its mind.

At Asurion, our experts have the know-how to tell a simple app problem from something that needs a closer look. Here's what we'd try before assuming the camera itself has failed.

See whether the camera works somewhere else

If the built-in Camera app won't cooperate, try another app that uses the camera, such as a video calling app. This quick comparison can tell you quite a bit:

• Camera works in another app: Focus on the Camera app rather than the hardware.
• Camera doesn't work anywhere: Focus on the tablet itself.
• Only the front or rear camera fails: The problem may be isolated to that camera.

If one app is the odd one out, there's no reason to start changing tablet-wide settings.

Check camera permissions

If the camera works in some apps but not others, we'd check whether the problem app is actually allowed to use it.

Open Settings > Apps & Notifications, choose the app, then open Permissions and make sure camera access is allowed. Menu wording can vary somewhat by Fire OS version. Close the app completely after making the change, reopen it, and try again.

Take a closer look at the lens

If the camera opens but the picture is dark, blurry, or partially blocked, the problem may be sitting right in front of it.

Remove the case temporarily and check both camera lenses. Make sure the case or screen protector hasn't shifted over the camera, then gently wipe away fingerprints and smudges with a clean microfiber cloth.

No special cleaner or scrubbing required. Sometimes the mystery blur really is just a fingerprint.

Restart the Fire tablet

When the camera suddenly freezes, stays black, or refuses to open even though it worked recently, restart the tablet before digging any deeper.

Hold the power button and choose Restart, then wait for Fire OS to fully load before trying the camera again. If everything comes back normally, we'd leave the rest of the settings alone.

Check for updates

If one app keeps losing access to the camera, check that app for an update. When the camera is acting strangely everywhere, make sure Fire OS is current too.

Open Settings > Device Options > System Updates and install anything available. Keep the tablet connected to power and Wi-Fi while the update finishes, then test the camera again.

When the camera itself may be the problem

By this point, the pattern matters more than another settings change. If the camera stays black across multiple apps after restarting and updating—or only the front or rear camera works—we'd start thinking about hardware.

A recent drop, liquid exposure, or visible lens damage makes that even more likely. At that point, we'd stop troubleshooting software and have the tablet checked by an expert before doing anything as disruptive as a factory reset.

FAQ

Why is my Fire tablet camera showing a black screen?

Restart the tablet and try the camera in another app. If it stays black everywhere, check for Fire OS updates and signs of physical damage.

Why does my Fire tablet camera work in one app but not another?

That usually points to the app. Check its camera permission and install any available app updates.

How do I allow an app to use the camera on a Fire tablet?

Open the app under Settings > Apps & Notifications, select Permissions, and allow camera access. Menu names can vary by Fire OS version.

Why is only one Fire tablet camera not working?

If the front camera works but the rear doesn't—or vice versa—the problem may be isolated to that camera rather than the app or Fire OS.