Are you struggling to take the perfect selfie on your iPhone because the iPhone camera is not working and it only shows a black screen? You’re not alone. Many users encounter this issue – where the built-in Camera app struggles to function properly.
This frustrating problem hinders your ability to capture photos or videos, and it’s not limited to just the front or rear camera – both can be affected. Even third-party apps like Instagram, Snapchat, or WhatsApp can experience similar glitches.
Fortunately, there are several straightforward steps you can take to resolve this iPhone camera black screen issue. In this article, we’ll explore some of these solutions and help you get back to snapping those lit selfies in no time.
Why Is Your iPhone Camera Showing Black Screen?
iPhone camera will show a black screen if the software (the Camera App) or the hardware (the camera lens on the phone’s back) is not functioning properly. The two ways this can happen are if something is covering the camera lens or if there are interferences with the camera app.
For example, you can encounter this black screen problem if you have installed third-party apps for the camera that interfere with the iPhone camera app. In that case, just try uninstalling those apps and then launch again the iPhone camera app.
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How to Fix iPhone Camera Black Screen
Fixing an iPhone camera’s black screen can be as simple as cleaning the surface of the camera lens with a clean lint-free cloth you can get on Amazon and as tedious as calling Apple Support on what to do. It all depends on which part of your Camera is affected.
If it is the hardware part, that is, the camera lens is covered with dirt, all you need to do is to clean it.
The software aspect of fixing the iPhone camera can be complex, as various issues may arise.
To resolve the problem of a black screen on your iPhone camera, we recommend following some of these solutions:
Solution 1. Turning Off Live Photo
The Live Photo allows you to capture still photos with the motion that happens before or after it was taken. This feature is a bit complex and can cause the camera app to freeze and thus show a black screen. The following procedure describes how to turn off the feature.
According to Apple, if you just turn off live photos in the Camera app, your iPhone will turn the Live Photos feature on again automatically. To stop this, follow these steps:
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Step 1. Navigate to “Settings”.
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Step 2. Scroll down & select “Camera”.
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Step 3. Select “Preserve Settings” & toggle on “Live Photo”.
Note: Be careful! The “Live Photo” option must be turned on, not off. If it is toggled off it won’t preserve the settings that you will now change in the Camera App.
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Step 4. Open the “Camera” app.
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Step 5. Tap the “Live Photos button” (three concentric circles) to turn off Live Photos.
The feature is turned off if there is a slash passes through the button.
Solution 2. Switching Between the Back & Front Cameras
Your iPhone camera not working and showing a black screen may be caused by the camera being stuck between the two modes (front and back camera). Switching between the two camera setups may fix the issue. Here is how you can do that:
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Step 1. Open the “Camera” app.
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Step 2. Tap the Camera “switch” icon.
The switch icon is two curved arrows in a round shape and it is located at the lower-right corner of the screen
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Step 3. Wait a few seconds and tap again to flip back.
This way you would have switched between the front and back camera, fixing the iPhone camera’s black screen issue in case it was in a blocked state.
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Solution 3. Disabling the Voice Over Feature
Sometimes, disabling accessibility features – particularly the Voice-over feature can fix the iPhone camera’s black screen issue. Here’s how to do that.
Note: when Voice Over mode is on you will have to tap once to select an app or item menu and then double-tap to go inside. Use also three fingers to scroll.
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Step 1. Go to the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
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Step 2. Scroll down with three fingers & enter “Accessibility“.
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Step 3. Enter the “VoiceOver” option.
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Step 4. Double-tap the “VoiceOver” toggle to turn it off.
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Step 5. Open the “Camera” app and try again.
If you want to catch a larger shot on your photo, you should use iPhone’s ultra-wide lens. Find out which iPhones have a .5 camera.
Solution 4. Restarting Your Camera App
Sometimes, the iPhone camera’s black screen issue is caused by the Camera app not loading properly. Restarting the app might fix the issue. This is how to do that:
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Step 1. Navigate to the iOS App Switcher.
If you use an iPhone with the home button, double-press it. If your iPhone has Face ID, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold in the middle.
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Step 2. Swipe the “Camera” app up.
Swipe through the app cards till you find the Camera app.
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Step 3. Open the “Camera app” to confirm the fix.
Solution 5. Restarting Your iPhone
When all prior fixes described do not work, the next option is to restart your iPhone.
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Step 1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
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Step 2. Scroll down and tap on “General”.
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Step 3. Scroll & select “Shut Down”.
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Step 4. Slide the “Power Off” slider.
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Step 5. Press and hold the “Side or Top button” of your iPhone to turn it on again.
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Step 6. Launch the “Camera” app to confirm if the fix worked.
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Solution 6. Resetting Your iPhone
At last, if nothing helps, consider resetting all the settings. This will erase all settings and restore them to the default state, thus potentially fixing the black camera issue.
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Step 1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
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Step 2. Scroll down & tap on “General”.
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Step 3. Scroll to the bottom & tap on “Transfer or Reset iPhone”.
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Step 4. Select “Reset”.
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Step 5. Tap on “Reset All Settings” & enter your passcode.
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Step 6. Confirm by clicking “Reset All Settings” again.
Please note: Resetting all settings will erase all your saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings, and cellular settings. However, your data and media files will not be affected.
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Step 7. Launch the “Camera” app to confirm the fix.
Solution 7. Updating Your iPhone
An outdated version of iOS may also be the reason for the iPhone camera not working and showing a black screen. To fix this, follow the steps below:
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Step 1. Open the “Settings” app.
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Step 2. Scroll down & tap on “General”.
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Step 3. Tap on “Software Update”.
If there is a pending update available for your iOS, you will see a message prompting you to download and install it.
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Step 4. Tap on “Download and Install” to initiate the process.
Solution 8. Contacting Apple Support
If, after trying all the fixes described above, you are still having the problem, the next best thing is to contact Apple Support. Your iPhone may be having a major hardware problem. When you contact them, they will explain the appropriate steps for you to take to get a final solution.
However, it’s crucial to have some basic information available when contacting Apple Support, such as your iPhone’s model and serial number. This will help the support team identify your device quicker and provide more targeted assistance.
You can also sell your broken iPhone to make some extra cash for a new one.
How Do You Know If Your iPhone Camera Is Damaged?
These are some indications that hint that the camera hardware and software of your beloved phone are faulty:
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Blurry Photos. When all pictures you take come out blurry, there is something wrong with your device’s camera. Make sure the lens are clean from the outside. You can clean it with a lint-free cloth.
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Black Screen. This is when the camera app keeps showing a black screen instead of the traditional viewfinder. If you have done everything we describe above on how to fix this issue and still no change, it means your camera is damaged.
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Camera App Missing On Home Screen. The camera app is a default app. It is meant to always be on the device and unremovable by the user. However, if you can’t find it on your Home screen or app menu, it means something is wrong.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix an iPhone Camera?
Fixing an iPhone camera will cost between $169 to $699 depending on your iPhone model, according to Apple. If you are enrolled in an AppleCare+ plan, the price point can go as low as $0. Also, iPhone models below iPhone 12 are not recognized by Apple as they have reached their end-of-life stage in Apple’s terms.
If you seek external professional service to fix your iPhone camera’s black screen, the cost starts from the $699 mark and increases or decreases depending on the model of your phone. However, you face the risk of an imperfect fix.
