Apple has been one of the technology leaders ever since the release of the iPod Touch. Since then, they’ve done nothing but amaze us time and time again with their innovative products.
The sleek designs, flawless performance, and overall functionality of Apple products are fantastic. But, as of recently, there have been some complaints about the iPhone camera not working.
Some people use their iPhones primarily for photography, which is why camera issues can be so disappointing. There are a lot of different camera problems that you, as an iPhone user, might experience; as such, we’ll explain how to fix all of them.
Problem #1 – iPhone Camera Flash Not Working
A common camera problem is that the flash isn’t working. This can be due to various things: your iPhone may be overheating, or an iOS update could somehow interfere.
First, you should check if your iPhone’s flashlight is working.
#1 – Unlock your iPhone and swipe upwards to open the control center.
#2 – Tap the flashlight icon and check if the light activates.

#3 – Next, tap on the camera icon and the app, and check if the flashlight at the top-left is set to “on.”
#4 – Lastly, go to “Settings > Location Services > Camera” and make sure that it is set to “Never.”

This will narrow down the problem, and you can see if it is just the camera app or if the light is actually broken. If it’s broken, contact an Apple store.
Similarly, you should make sure that your iPhone isn’t overheating and perhaps even try restarting it.
PS: for people who have problems with the Android camera not working, here are the best solutions for you.
Problem #2 – HDR Button Hidden on Camera App
Another common problem is that the HDR button disappears from the camera app. This is only an issue with the iPhone 7 and earlier, as later models can detect HDR automatically.
Fortunately, this isn’t that difficult to fix, and you can use the steps below.
#1 – Open the Settings app and go to “Camera.”
#2 – If the “Auto HDR” slider is enabled, tap on it to disable it.

#3 – Launch the camera app, and the button will be shown.
Some iPhones will decide to detect if HDR is available automatically. If this happens and you don’t want it to, use the solution above to disable the automatic setting.
Problem #3 – iPhone Camera Showing Black Display
This is probably the most upsetting iPhone camera not working problem to experience. Unlike most camera problems, this completely prevents you from taking photos and is more than just an inconvenience.
Here are a few things to try to fix the iPhone front camera is not working because of a black screen.
1. Examine both the front and back cameras. Make sure that they are clean and that nothing is covering them. You should try video calling on an app such as WhatsApp or FaceTime, and if the camera works fine on these, the problem is limited to the camera app.
2. Force close the camera app. To do this, double-click your iPhone’s home button and when the app browser appears, swipe up on the camera app. Reopen the camera app and see if the problem is persistent.
3. Force restart your iPhone. You can do this by simply holding down the “Volume Down” and “Power” keys simultaneously, then releasing them once the Apple logo appears.
4. Erase your iPhone. Make sure you back up all of your data on either iCloud or iTunes, or it will be lost. Head over to “Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.”
After entering your passcode and confirming this is what you want to do, your iPhone will be wiped.
Alternatively, you can try the “Reset All Settings” option, which will only reset the device’s settings, and your data will remain.

Most of the time, you can fix the black display by just restarting your iPhone. However, if that doesn’t work, one of the other fixes should.
Problem #4 – Camera App Missing
Although this is obscure, your iPhone camera not working could be because the app itself is missing. This is usually a result of human error, and thus you can locate and fix the problem easily.
Here are two possible fixes:
1. Use the search feature to find the camera app in case you have accidentally moved the app.
2. Go to “Settings > General > Restrictions” and check if the “Camera” app has a restriction. If it is, tap the slider and enter your passcode to disable the camera restrictions.
Unless you previously enabled restrictions, it’s unlikely that this will be the cause. But, if you have been using this iOS feature, it could be why iPhone front camera is not working.
Problem #5 – iPhone Camera Not Focussing
When you take a photo using your iPhone camera, focusing won’t always be a requirement. Some people use the feature out of habit, while others depend on it to enhance their photos’ quality.
However, being unable to focus on your camera can significantly decrease the photo quality. Here are a few tips for fixing this problem.
1. Tap on the area you want to focus on more than once. You can also try tapping slightly harder, as the touch screen could be the problem.
2. Turn off your iPhone, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on. This will reload the iOS, which will verify that it is installed properly; if not, it’ll be fixed.
3. Inspect the lens of the camera you use (front or back). Make sure that the lens doesn’t have a scratch and that it is clean. To fix small scratches, you can apply toothpaste to the scratch, wait an hour, then remove it carefully with warm water and a clean cloth. You can also go to an Apple store.
Focusing problems are usually due to hardware, so you might struggle to fix them on your own. Obviously, it doesn’t hurt to try some of these fixes, though.
Problem #6 – iPhone Cannot Take Photo Error
When your iPhone back camera is not working, and you see the “cannot take photo” error, it’s usually a storage issue. Below are some things you can try to eliminate this error.
1. Instead of using the default iPhone camera app, download one from the App Store. This temporary fix will only allow you to take a few photos, but it’ll remove the error.

2. Open the Settings app and select “General > iPhone Storage.” From this menu, you will be able to see which apps are filling the most iPhone storage.
Some ways to free up some storage are moving your photos and videos to your computer and deleting them from your iPhone, apps, and old texts and emails.
It should go without saying that deleting a few texts and emails won’t make a huge difference. However, your chat history will start building up if you are texting someone a lot.
Problem #7 – Camera App Freezing When Switching Between Front and Rear Camera
Is your iPhone front camera not working when you switch between front and back? Or perhaps it’s the back camera that isn’t working?
This is, unfortunately, quite common among the newer iPhone models. The three common fixes for this are:
1. Force restart your iPhone by holding “Volume Down” and “Power” until the Apple logo appears.
2. Open the “Settings > General > Restrictions” menu and enable the “Camera” slider.
3. Double-click the home button and swipe up on the Camera app to close it.
Again, this is a relatively easy problem to fix. If these don’t work, reinstalling the firmware by factory resetting could be worth trying.
Problem #8 – Blurry iPhone Camera
The final problem we’re going to address is if you have a blurry iPhone camera. Below are a few solutions we have found that can help fix it.
1. Use a clean towel to clean the camera lenses.
2. Force close any other apps that you have open.
3. Open the “Settings” app, head to “General > Reset,” and choose “Reset All Settings.”
4. When you take a photo, change the camera mode to “Auto.”
Cleaning your lens might seem obvious, but it would surprise you how many people touch their lenses without realizing it and add smudges to them.
Problem #9 – iPhone Camera Not Saving Photos
If you encounter a problem where your iPhone camera fails to save photos, follow these steps:
- Check if you have sufficient storage space available on your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and check the available space. Delete unnecessary files or apps to free up storage.
- Make sure that you haven’t disabled the “Save to Photos” option in the camera app settings. Open the camera app, go to settings, and ensure that the option to save photos is enabled.
- Restart your iPhone and try capturing and saving photos again.
Problem #10 – Water Damage to Camera
Accidental exposure to water can damage your iPhone’s camera and affect its functionality. If your iPhone camera has been exposed to water, take the following steps:
- Immediately power off your iPhone to prevent further damage.
- Wipe off any visible water from the device using a soft, lint-free cloth.
- Do not use a hairdryer or any external heat source to dry the iPhone, as this may cause more harm.
- Place your iPhone in a bag of uncooked rice or silica gel packets to absorb moisture. Leave it for at least 48 hours.
- After the drying period, try turning on your iPhone and check if the camera is working. If the issue persists, contact Apple Support for further assistance.
General Fix for iPhone Camera Not Working
Is ‘iPhone camera not working’ or ‘iPhone front or back camera not working’ still bothering you? Not to worry, even if none of these fixes help to fix your iPhone, there’s one final fix that you can try.
Tenorshare ReiBoot can fix most iPhone issues in just a few minutes. There’s nothing complex about this solution; regardless of your iPhone, you can use this program.
Use the steps below, and you can use Tenorshare ReiBoot to fix ‘iPhone camera not working‘ & ‘iPhone back camera not working.’ All it takes is a few minutes of your time and a little patience.
#1 – Download Tenorshare ReiBoot on your computer and install it.
#2 – Connect your iPhone via USB cable and launch the program to begin; click the “Start” button.

#3 – From the main menu, you must select “Standard Repair.” If this method isn’t successful, you can try “Deep Repair” using the same steps.

#4 – Put your iPhone into DFU Mode using the on-screen instructions. Be sure to select your specific iPhone so that the correct instructions are shown.

#5 – Once your iPhone is in DFU Mode (or Recovery Mode), some information about your device will be shown. Verify that the information is correct and click “Download” to continue.

Note: if you think any information is wrong, you should change it accordingly.
#6 – Tenorshare ReiBoot will download the necessary firmware and after it has done so, click on “Start Standard Repair.”

#7 – The new iOS firmware will now install on your iPhone to fix the problem.


As we said before, if Standard Repair doesn’t fix the problem, then give Deep Repair a try. This mode will wipe all of your personal data, although it is more likely to fix the problem at hand.
One of the great things about Tenorshare ReiBoot is that whatever issues you encounter, whether it’s the iPhone camera not working or the device is stuck on the Apple logo, this program can fix it for you.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Q: How do I clean the camera lens on my iPhone? A: To clean the camera lens, gently wipe it with a microfiber cloth. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that may damage the lens.
- Q: Can I fix water damage to my iPhone camera on my own? A: It’s best to seek professional assistance if your iPhone camera has been damaged by water. Trying to repair it yourself may cause further damage.
- Q: Why do my iPhone photos have a purple tint? A: A purple tint on photos can be caused by various factors, such as lighting conditions, color temperature, or issues with the camera sensor. Try the troubleshooting steps mentioned in the article to address this problem.
- Q: How often should I update my iPhone software? A: It’s recommended to regularly check for software updates and install them as they become available. This ensures that your device receives the latest bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements.
- Q: What should I do if none of the troubleshooting steps work for my iPhone camera problem? A: If you’ve tried all the suggested solutions and are still experiencing issues with your iPhone camera, it’s advisable to contact Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance.
To Conclude…
Fixing your iPhone can be stressful, and we completely understand. We believe that all of the fixes we’ve explained to you in this guide can fix your iPhone camera, and if not, Tenorshare ReiBoot will.
Aside from ‘iPhone camera not working‘ & ‘iPhone front or back camera not working‘, you might also be experiencing other iPhone problems, and if so, this is the program for you.
Nonetheless, we hope one of the methods above can help you fix your iPhone’s camera.