iPhone XR Camera Issue - Refocusing Endless Loop

Question

iPhone XR Camera Issue - Refocusing Endless Loop

Greetings,

My iPhone XR is having an on and off problem where when I access the camera it gets stuck in a loop of refocusing over and over. Tapping on video and then photo again stops the loop.

I noticed this is happening on both the front and the back cameras.

A couple of times, when I accessed the camera my screen was blurry and then the refocusing loop began.

I am thinking this is an iOS/firmware problem and the actual hardware on my phone is fine. I've been in places like this before on other devices where a distant update fixed my long had issue. Plus as I mentioned above, this is an on and off again problem. I think if this was a hardware issue, the camera wouldn't work at all?

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Does anyone have a fix? Am I waiting for a future update? Perhaps iOS 12.4 or 13 would help?

I'm posting here before I go into the Apple store. I can't be with out a phone while it is in repair because I use my phone for my daily job, and I am hoping for some information first.

Thanks!

Michael

iPhone XR, iOS 12

Posted on Jul 12, 2019 8:16 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

chris_g1

Community Specialist

Jul 13, 2019 3:13 PM in response to Michael-Reisman

Hi Michael-Reisman,

Thanks for coming to Apple Support Communities for help with your iPhone XR camera. It sounds like the front and back cameras get stuck refocusing over and over.

Have you tested this issue in other apps (Facebook or Instagram for example) that use the camera besides the iOS camera app? If you notice it there, the probability of it being a hardware issue increases.

Check out the steps: If the camera on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch isn't working. The final step does recommend contacting support.

Have a fantastic day!

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Answer 2

Jul 15, 2019 11:26 PM in response to chris_g1

I did test the camera in the last couple of days with another app. I didn't see any problems. Then just today I experienced the same problem using the camera app.

If I bring my phone in will they need to take a week to repair it? I need to have a phone as it is vital to my job. I can't be with out it for a week.

What other options do I have? Anyone have any ideas what is happening with my camera?

Thanks.

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Answer 3

Jul 16, 2019 6:13 AM in response to Michael-Reisman

I had the same problem and I visited the apple store for 2 times. For the first time, they changed the lens for me. For the second time, they changed me a new phone. Nevertheless, the problem still exists.

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Answer 4

Jul 16, 2019 11:13 PM in response to EricgNgSL

Thanks for posting Eric! This helps. If you still have the same problem after a repair and a full replacement this indicates this could be a bug in iOS that Apple is unaware of as of yet.

I've been through this before. My desktop computer when I first got it would automatically restart when I tried to shut it down. This was fixed with an update.

I had a laptop with a strange issue that no one could fix or even see happen. I returned it for another and had the same issue. This was fixed after almost a year later in a BIOS update.

Question: When you got your new phone did you install a previous backup from iCloud? Like your contacts and photos, etc? Or did you just use the phone out of the box?

I am wondering if something got corrupted when the old phone was backed up and then recovered onto a new phone?

Thanks.

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Answer 5

Jul 17, 2019 10:58 PM in response to EricgNgSL

It's possible that a problem or something corrupted transferred over when you recovered the new phone with the old backup. I wonder if resetting the firm wear of the phone would help? I understand you can do this while connected to iTunes? The only problem is you would loose all of your data.

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Answer 6

Jul 20, 2019 4:27 PM in response to Michael-Reisman

Eric,

Other people have experienced this "bug."

https://www.iphonetricks.org/how-to-fix-iphone-xs-max-camera-auto-focus-bug/amp/

I just downloaded a different camera app called, "Focos." It was free.

My strategy is to continue to test my camera with this Focos app. If I don't have any refocusing issues, than the problem is with the Camera App in iOS. If I do have refocusing issues, than we are looking at a probable hardware problem with the phone.

I will post back here after I test things out for awhile.

Michael

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Answer 7

Aug 5, 2019 10:32 PM in response to Michael-Reisman

Greetings,

It has been a good while. I have even installed iOS 12.4 since my last post.

I have had no issues with my camera using the Focos app while the same issue I am posting about continues to happen with the built in iOS camera app.

I am thinking that this isn't a hardware issue, but an iOS issue?

Would anyone have any advice as to what to do?

Thanks.

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Answer 8

Aug 19, 2019 7:34 PM in response to Michael-Reisman

Hello!

I went to my local Apple Store and had a Genius Bar appointment. They agreed that this was a software problem.

My iPhone XR was completely reset (erase all content and data.) Since then I have not had any issues with my camera!

Thanks.

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Answer 9

Sep 12, 2019 8:21 AM in response to Michael-Reisman

Hi Michael and other forum users -

I bought an iPhone XR three weeks ago. I had also made a back up of my previous iPhone and installed it on this new 'phone. For the first time (today), I had exactly the problem you describe. There was never such a problem with my previous 'phone's camera, so I am not sure what might have been 'corrupted' in the back up. It sounds to me like a software issue and like you, I have often encountered issues with Apple hardware only to be led to believe that I am one of only a few people experiencing the issue. It eventually gets fixed in a future software update. Problem is, we often have to wait ages for Apple to get round to fixing these little bugs and releasing the updates. The greater problem for me is that I am located in South Africa - there are no 'genius bars' here and for some bizarre reason, Apple has outsourced all iPhone support to the local network operators, who are (to put it politely) utterly useless with customer service & technical issues. I would like to know if possible from you whether the reset was the only thing that the Genius Bar did to your 'phone. Also, as you suspected the back up as being possibly linked to the problem, how did you reinstall all the content & data on your 'phone after reset ? Thanks in advance for your reply.

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Answer 10

Sep 13, 2019 12:35 PM in response to Doctor Zhivago

Hi,

Unfortunately, my phone has gone back to having this refocusing issue. This was after a couple of months with no issues. The only thing I changed was I updated to iOS 12.4.1.

I too still think this is a software problem. One that Apple has yet to discover.

iOS 13 is going to be released in days. I have hopes maybe the update will fix my issue, but I am not holding my breath.

I have no choice now but to go back to Apple and see what my options are. If I get a new phone it is worth a try.

To answer your question about what the Genius Bar did: They backed up my contacts and photos, etc to my iCloud first. Then they did the full reset.

Michael

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Answer 11

Sep 14, 2019 3:02 AM in response to Michael-Reisman

Hi – thanks for responding to my post. Sorry to hear that you issue is still not fixed. It is obviously a software bug. We all need to report this on the Apple feedback form – I think I already mentioned this in my original post. If you haven’t used it before, it is quite hard to find on Apple’s website so the easiest way to find it is to Google it: type ‘ Apple feedback’ which should bring up a link to take you to the appropriate section of the website. Feedback is the only way of communicating directly with Apple software engineers. They will not reply but they do at least read all of the comments and reports.

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Answer 12

Jul 17, 2019 4:17 AM in response to Michael-Reisman

Michael,

I did install the previous backup from iCloud. Is there any problem? This problem troubles me so much.

Thanks.

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iPhone XR Camera Issue - Refocusing Endless Loop

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