Level 1

34 points

iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera Freezing/Black

Hello all. My iPhone 12 Pro Max’s camera freezes. For example I point it to the tv then after a few it just freezes. Like the image is frozen. So I swipe up to exit the camera app & then force close it. And I go back then it’s just black. I can still click on stuff but can’t take pics or videos. However if I scroll through Panorama, Slow Mo & Time Lapse I do see images & selfie cam works ok.

I have contacted Apple Chat & they ran a diagnostic & told me the hardware on my phone is good on their end. I’m on iOS 14.2.1 so my software is up to date. I’ve soft reset the phone multiple times. I even did an iTunes restore using a PC which was recommended by a local Apple Store but no dice. Is anyone else experiencing this issue? What’s the fix??

iPhone 12 Pro Max, iOS 14

Posted on Nov 23, 2020 7:07 PM

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mrapplesee_d

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Feb 14, 2021 11:42 AM

Really sorry to disappoint you but there is no fix that I’m aware off and have spent multiple hours with the Apple support online and even have sent the phone for mail in repair - they were not able to fix it for me (they didn’t even identify it as an issue) and they just said that everything is “okay” as far as technician managed to see and this is how it is supposed to be. Obviously after spending 5 minutes with the phone they didn’t replicate the issue and deemed the phone OK. At long last managed to convince them that it’s not the way it should be and they FINALLY agreed to make a massive exception (sounded as if I should be eternally in Apple’s debt because they have agreed to exchange it) and send me a new device so now I’m going through that.

If you have bought it from Apple 10 days ago I urge you to contact them ASAP and request an exchange because they have said me multiple times that if I have asked for a new phone within 14 days from the delivery date I would have gotten that with no questions asked more or less but now because I have waited more than two weeks to ask for a replacement they are no longer this flexible and had to make an exception rather than just replace it. Action in the UK...

good luck!

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92 replies

Dec 26, 2020 7:34 PM in response to mrapplesee_d

Apple should replace the defecti e phone rather tan wasting your time.

de51

Level 1

4 points

Nov 25, 2020 11:24 PM in response to Alvflo

Just got the IPhone 12 Max Pro and the Camera keeps freezing with a black screen and only corrects with a phone reboot. This was a known problem in the IPhone 11 as well. I noticed it gets pretty warm running brokerage software and charging with OEM cord. I really miss Steve Jobs he made sure the roll outs were flawless. What’s up Apple?

Alvflo Author

Level 1

34 points

Nov 27, 2020 9:32 AM in response to Alvflo

Today I’ve restarted my phone & now I have photo 1x & 2x available 90% of the time but ultrawide is nowhere to be seen. Portrait mode is also not working. Video 4K 60 & 1080p60 also works fine. This is unbelievable from Apple.

Alvflo Author

Level 1

34 points

Nov 27, 2020 2:20 PM in response to gerry019

I’m not sure what the fix is. I’m hoping it’s a software issue because Apple Support told me there’s no hardware issue on their end when they do diagnostic. So if I do the volume up & volume down & hold power button till restart I am able to get photo 1x & 2x but no ultrawide. But if I just do the regular volume up/down + power button then slide to power off & when the device restarts I get the ultrawide option for a few seconds then the camera just goes to black. Very frustrating.

Alvflo Author

Level 1

34 points

Dec 13, 2020 10:51 AM in response to gerond288

Problem still persists on my end. Now the 0.5 ultrawide doesn’t even show anymore regardless of soft reset or hard reset or whatever. Portrait mode is not working. The 0.5 option is not available on the photo. Video. It is available on pano time lapse & slo mo but not accessible. I really hope 14.3 fixes these issues. Oh and also, I’m not receiving most of my notifications from texts to FB messenger lol

Get an iPhone they said. It just works they said. #2020

Dec 14, 2020 3:55 PM in response to birdini

Yes! I have noticed it’s warm also.. the phone is unusable! I have been at several occasions needing to get the photo.. it freezes .. sometimes it jerks then freezes then goes black. I called and they had me do a restore from my laptop.. I haven’t taken any pics yet .. we will see.

Dec 22, 2020 1:44 PM in response to Alvflo

Are you guys in the us? I’m in the uk and my 12 pro max doesn’t have any problem with the camera... at night I reckon it is harder to swap between functions (video to photo, to portrait, etc). In the portrait mode, it shows only 2,5 but if you press it, it will give you the option for 1x, right? Or before it didn’t?

Dec 26, 2020 3:56 PM in response to neodragon

Same with my 12 Pro. Been having theese crash/black screen issues in all camera modes since day 1 in November and after couple of resets it's not even slightly better - Apple geniuses did run remote tests and "everything was fine". I am terribly dissapointed.

Dec 27, 2020 7:12 PM in response to Lionking2021

I am in the US. It’s not an issue all the time it comes and goes. In the middle of trying get important shots usually! Freezes, sometimes lens is cloudy, sometimes black. I also have problems with messages sending.. it takes forever sometimes never sends. This also comes and goes. I have restored the phone 3 times once from iCloud, then as new, then with my apple lap top doing the updated software with apple help. Still having problems I will have to call them back.

Jan 3, 2021 12:28 AM in response to Alvflo

The issue of the freezing. And blank screen happens only on the portrait mode of the main lens.

this is extremely frustrating I have tried soft reset , hard reset, factory reset

and since based in india no apple care

on top of it apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most expensive in india

that is called a bummer

cos compared to US we pay 400 dollars more for buying it in the first place

Jan 10, 2021 9:47 AM in response to Alvflo

I have exactly the same problem. I bought my iPhone 12 Pro Max 3 days ago and I am facing exactly the same problem.

Just to add to that some of my apps hang or froze as well. I was asked to update the software. I did update the software but still having the same problem.

5646

Level 1

22 points

Jan 13, 2021 7:05 PM in response to de51

I experienced the same thing with my new iPhone 12– black screen... Not sure what the problem is. I corrected it with a reboot. Also noted that my FITBIT app on the phone seized up and would not run. Corrected that problem with a reboot as well. I have no idea what is causing these problems.

MigSan94

Level 1

4 points

Jan 24, 2021 10:26 AM in response to Alvflo

I just got the iPhone 12 and I’m having the same issue with the camera. Every time I open it all I see is a dark screen it looks like it’s in some kind of zoom mode because I see the number 1X on the lower half of the screen but I can’t seem to exit. If I use the camera option in text message it works but if I try to use the camera independently I can’t get it to exit that dark mode.

Jan 26, 2021 1:01 PM in response to neodragon

Did you actually had to send them the device upfront to run tests or did they agree to send you a new one? I spent another hour on the phone and they were swearing by God there are no options except to send the device to repair center to have looked at here in the UK...

Jan 26, 2021 1:04 PM in response to stacyfromtexarkana

Did you actually had to send them the device upfront to run tests or did they agree to send you a new one? I spent another hour on the phone and they were swearing by God there are no options for exchange or return except to send the device to repair center to have looked at first here in the UK...

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iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera Freezing/Black