In this article, we will cover 6 reasons why your iPhone front camera is not working, and what you can do to resolve the issue on your own. It might sound daunting, but there are always solutions – you just need to take the time to find them.
At imFixed, we have blogs and guides to help you fix your iPhone power button, poor sound quality on calls, draining batteries, iPhone speaker issues, software update fails, and so much more. We can also help you with dealing with water damage to your iPhone, iPhones that can’t detect SIM cards, won’t charge, won’t vibrate, or won’t turn on – there are solutions to everything.
Some Simple Fixes to Try if Your iPhone Front Camera isn’t Working
Before we try the more difficult solutions, why not start with some quick and easy ones to see if they get your camera working again? If these fail, move onto the next solutions we have lined up.
Clean Your Camera Lens
A grimy camera lens can obscure the lens and make the screen black if it gets dirty enough. Give your camera lens a quick clean with a screen wipe and see if that helps.
Take the Phone Case Off
Recently got a new phone case, now your camera is black? Your new case might simply be blocking the camera, so take it off and see if the camera works without a case. Not all cases are what they are advertised to be, and sometimes we are sent the wrong one – it’s frustrating, but ultimately not a big deal.
This can apply to both the front and back cameras, so check it for both and see if you can use it again when the case is off.
Close and Restart the Camera App
Sometimes the camera just needs a little kick (not a literal one), and closing the camera app before restarting it can do just the trick. This is a quick and easy trick that will help with a lot of app issues, so always try it out if you are experiencing a problem on your device.
Check the Front/Rear Camera Feature
Double-check that you have not accidentally switched the front/rear lens setting on the screen of the app. There’s a small camera symbol in the upper right corner that controls this feature, so flip between the two lenses to see if this resolves the issue.
6 Reasons Why Your iPhone Front Camera is Not Working
If you are still experiencing issues with your camera, let’s explore 6 reasons why your iPhone front camera is not working, and see if we can fix them.
Some solutions are more complicated than others, but they can all be done at home. If your front camera is still not working by the end, it’s time to visit a repair shop to get your iPhone looked at.
Turn the Voice-Over Function Off
This native feature is used to help those who are visually impaired, but this voice-over function has been reported to occasionally turn the screen black when using the camera. So, if your front camera screen has suddenly gone black, you should double-check to see if this feature has been turned on.
To turn it off, follow these steps: Settings → General → Accessibility → Voice-Over → toggle off
Restore from Backup
You will lose at least some of the data on your phone if you choose to restore from backup, depending on when you last backed your phone up. However, this could be the solution you are looking for, so try restoring from backup by:
- Open the latest version of iTunes on a computer
- Connect your iPhone to it
- Sign into iTunes
- Right-click the device under ‘summary’ in iTunes and select ‘Restore Backup’
Restart Your Device
Depending on the iPhone model you have, you will need to take different steps to force restart your device. We will outline the steps for different models below.
For iPhones that Support iOS 16 or Later
- Quickly press the volume up button and release
- Quickly press the volume down button and release
- Hold down the side button
- Release the side button when the Apple logo shows
For iPhones that Don’t Support iOS 16 (iPhones 6, 7, 8 and SE (1st Gen)
- iPhone 6 models and iPhone SE (1st Gen) – Hold down the home and sleep/wake button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 7 – Hold down the sleep/wake button and volume down button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2nd Gen) – Quickly press the volume up button and release, then do the same with the volume down button. Hold down the side button, and release it when you see the Apple logo
Reset All Device Settings
Another option you can try is resetting all the settings on your iPhone. This will make all the settings the default, so you will need to take the time to customise everything to your preferences all over again. It’s amazing how one or two small, accidental changes can alter your experience on a device, so take care when playing around in the settings.
Only do this if you have some time to spare, and follow these steps: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings.
NOTE: Be careful which option you select in this area, as “Erase All Content and Settings” will delete the data on your phone and turn it into a clean slate.
Check Your iPhone for iOS Updates
If your iPhone updates without issue, great! However, if your iPhone refuses to update, you can try to update your iOS in Recovery Mode (you will need the latest version of iTunes on a Windows or Mac laptop/PC).
- Connect your Windows/Mac device to the phone
- Do a force restart (steps outlined in an above section) to get your phone in Recovery Mode
- Don’t let go of the buttons until the phone screen has the Recovery mode screen (a charging cable with an arrow pointed at a laptop)
- Select ‘update’ when the option to restore or update on your computer shows up
- Confirm, then follow the instructions given to you (it can take up to 15 minutes, so have some patience)
- Your phone will restart on its own once you’re done
In the situation where this doesn’t work, the final thing to try is DFU Mode to update the iOS. Because DFU Mode is more complex than Recovery Mode, and varies depending on the device model you have, follow these steps to effectively go through the process.
Just be aware that DFU will restore iOS to a clean slate while bypassing iBoot, which Recovery Mode uses. As such, make sure you back up all your important data before proceeding.
If this doesn’t work, you will need to get in touch with a professional like us, or Apple.
Do a Factory Reset
If nothing else is working, you might need to erase your iPhone to its default state. This will get rid of everything on the device, so make sure you back up all your important data before proceeding
To reset your iPhone, follow these steps: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings → Erase iPhone.
imFixed is Here to Help
At imFixed, we believe that local is best, and offer call-out and in-shop screen repairs in Bury, Rochdale, Manchester, Oldham, and beyond, we are more than happy to help you with anything you might need. We even supply accessories like cases and holders, headphones and adapters, Apple screen protectors, chargers, and cases, so you can always care for your devices.
Find articles about if it’s worth fixing a MacBook screen, what new MacBook users should know, and if your MacBook battery can be repaired to learn more, or go back through this ‘6 reasons why your iPhone front camera is not working’ to fix your device.
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