iPhone SE 2020 making a clicking sound when opening Snapchat and camera app

A hard reset?

try replace the entire camera.. still makes the noise. The. REPLACE THE ENTIRE DEVICE UNDER APPLECARE. The new device has the Same Issue. It’s a product defect dude.

Every time I perform a hard reset my clicking noise goes away for a while, then it will come back after a few weeks either in the camera app or an app that access the camera (like YouTube).

Same here, definitely a mechanical "springy/clicky" noise, iPhose SE 2020 too

I recorded the sound using the "Voice Memos" app, you can listen to it here:

https://sndup.net/4sqv/iPhoneSE2020_mechanicalCameraNoise.mp4

That was a bit of a groggy post, so il clarify here.

Since receiving this iPhone SE GEN2 2020 this has been noticed.

Anytime - no matter what application - is used, the mechanical clicking noise occurs. It is very, very easy to tell that it comes from the camera when you perform a software action that invokes camera use.

I am not yet convinced that is necessarily an issue, but it could be a design flaw where parts from other devices used within this configuration have a more audible “open” noise. My concern lies within the repeated use. If for example this should not be making this noise, does that mean:

1) the part is rubbing against something that will cause part failure

2) the part is rubbing against something that could cause multiple part failure (cascade failure mode)

3) replacement under warranty uses the same design, so unless rectified, what’s the point of replacing

alternatively:

1) the part is functioning nominally and there is just a noise that was overlooked somehow during manufacturing and testing

2) software control of aperture speed (if that’s a thing) perhaps could be a fix, if indeed it is an aperture opening and shutting

i am not convinced having a technician look at this issue will actually yield any tangible results.

I have restarted my phone several times and that did not solve this problem.

i performed the hard reset like you mention and the problem has ceased (temporarily, in all likelihood)

So this does change the conversation around the failure mode.

Firmware/Software seems to be the culprit.

Since I don’t have snap chat and simple the camera app on various other apps triggers this issue, is the author able to make the title more generic?

I’ve been having the same problem recently. I reviewed every way you have listed, yet nothing is working. I don’t know if it’s an issue occurring through all iPhone devices or just the iPhone SE.

I find if you turn the phone off and on it’ll go away but then seems to return again after a couple of days

Same for me. It started around the last update, I think the update is doing something strange with the OIS mechanism.

phew, I was so worried it was hardware!

everyone report it on the Apple feedback bug report

I've had the SE for a few months now and only began to notice this noise this week. Not to overshare, but I suffer from misophonia, so I definitely would have noticed this earlier had it been organic to the phone.

Oh wow, this is the exact same sound I’m getting. I hear it occasionally when using the camera (either by itself or within another app). I don’t hear it every time - but I’m hearing it a lot more frequently now.

Does anyone know if this is bad for the phone? I guess I don’t mind the sound if it’s harmless, but I’m worried that it means something in the phone is damaged.

Exactly, that's what I am trying to figure out too. I don't mind the sound too much if that it's what the iPhone is supposed to do. If it is not, although it's not a big deal today, I fear it could develop into some problems further down the line once warranty has expired...

2nd update: I woke up the next morning after updating my phone and talking to apple support for a few hours and no results, to find that it magically no longer makes the noise.. but it just needed a little knock to the head or something? Apple suggested to get it checked at one of their hardware advisers so good luck anyone else that is experiencing this..

JeffStreak wrote:

i am not convinced having a technician look at this issue will actually yield any tangible results.

Yeah, neither am I, to be honest.

I guess what I would like to get from Apple is some form of acknowledgement of this noise being either

a) expected behaviour and nothing to worry about.

b) a sign of an actual design/part flaw accompanied by some options for affected owners of the product.

I think we got enough instances of this behaviour represented on this forum that it seems pointless to have to go into an Apple store to get it checked. It does not sound like this "issue" would be that hard to reproduce for Apple either way.

Are we able to change this thread to something more specific? The title of this assumes it’s only a singular app, and therefore may be over looked. Perhaps I’ll make one more generic then reference this.