iPhone camera not working? How to fix it

Your iPhone® camera is one of its most important features—whether you’re taking family photos, scanning documents, or joining a video call. So when your iPhone camera stops working, it can be frustrating.

At Asurion, our experts help millions of people troubleshoot their tech every day. If your iPhone camera isn’t working, here are the most common reasons why—and how to fix them.

Why is my iPhone camera not working?

If you’ve been asking, “Why is my camera not working on my iPhone?” or “Why is my iPhone camera not working?” here are the most likely causes:

• The lens or flash is blocked or dirty.
• A temporary software glitch has frozen the Camera app.
• iOS is out of date.
• Storage is nearly full.
• The app you’re using doesn’t have camera permissions.
• Hardware is damaged from a drop or water exposure.

How to fix an iPhone camera that’s not working

If your iPhone camera won’t open, shows a black screen, or crashes when you try to take a photo, try these steps to get it working again.

1. Remove your case or accessories and check that nothing is blocking the lens or flash.
2. Clean the lens gently with a soft, dry cloth.
3. Restart your iPhone to clear temporary glitches.
4. Close and reopen the Camera app.
5. Update iOS under Settings > General > Software Update.
6. Check storage under Settings > General > iPhone Storage and free up space if needed.
7. Switch between the front and back cameras to see if one works.
8. Test the camera in another app like FaceTime.
9. Check camera permissions under Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.
10. Reset all settings under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.

Back camera not working on iPhone

If your iPhone back camera isn’t working—like showing a black screen or blurry images—clean the lens, remove your case, and update iOS. If it still doesn’t respond, it may need repair.

Front camera not working on iPhone

If your iPhone front camera won’t work for selfies or FaceTime, switch cameras in the Camera app, check permissions, and test it in another app. If the problem continues, the front camera could need service.

When to get help

If your iPhone camera still isn’t working after these steps, it could be a hardware issue. The experts at your nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store are certified to repair iPhone cameras and can get yours working again—often the same day.

FAQ

Why is my iPhone camera showing a black screen?

This can happen if the Camera app freezes, another app is using the camera, or the lens is blocked.

Why doesn’t my iPhone front camera work on FaceTime?

Check that FaceTime has permission to use the camera in Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.

Can low storage make my iPhone camera stop working?

Yes. If storage is full, your iPhone may not be able to take or save new photos or videos.

What if my iPhone camera won’t focus?

Clean the lens, update iOS, and restart your phone. If that doesn’t work, a repair may be needed.