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

Top-ranking reply

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

Jan 27, 2021 8:01 AM in response to Alvflo

I have the same problems, device is only 1 month old. All fixed proposed which can be found on internet, some of them work but those are workarounds it should get fixed from the root cause, software/iOS I guess?

Feb 4, 2021 9:35 AM in response to Alvflo

My less than two weeks old is doing the same thing. Pictures shows on photo then goes black. I missed taking pictures of a crime scene thanks to my new phone. I dud the reboot after reading these posts and now wonder how long before it stops allowing pictures again.

Djnedksm

Level 1

4 points

Mar 18, 2021 4:12 AM in response to cubanovsky

Totally the same for me! I noticed it before when I was using my powerbeats pro and my camera app was open it would lag, however, last night it went nuts! I was listening to spotify and I wanted to take a quick pic so I opened the camera app and the shutter button was completely unresponsive so I tried a couple more times and just gave up, swiped back to home screen and left the phone for about 15 mins, when I picked it up again and tried to open settings nothing happened, tapped the icon a few more times, still nothing.. so I tried to close all open apps and tried again, nothing.. tried other apps.. nothing, ok, tried to reboot it... nothing! hardware buttons dont work, couldnt even lock the screen! but it pulled up siri? so asked siri to open settings, no cant do that sorry!? lol ok, left the phone for another 15 mins and tried to reboot it again, nothing.. then just held the buttons pressed for ages and it tried to call emergency services after like 5 mins, cancelled the call and tried again and it worked finally! what a mess! I am now afraid to open the camera app.. Iphone Xr FYI

Mar 22, 2021 6:56 PM in response to Alvflo

I notice this too it is SO annoying. I have noticed this issue with my previous phone the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The phones will randomly stop loading videos despite me watching them all day. I have to click on the video to start it instead of it automatically playing like with the for you page on tik tok for example. My camera also does not load. I get the black screen I have to completely restart the phone. Apple has just been a pain the butt these last couple of years. Nothing seems to work correctly even turning the phone back on is an issue as when pressing the power button it have to hold and release it about three long times and within that time the apple logo flashes quickly and disappears. I decided to research this because I honestly knew I couldn’t be alone

Apr 10, 2021 5:13 PM in response to Alvflo

So I see I'm not the only one with this issue as well, I recently updated my iPhone 12 Pro Max and today I noticed my front camera was acting off on Snapchat so I tried it on Instagram and there too it just wasn't working. Finally I checked the camera app and the outer camera works just fine but the front camera just shows a blurry screen that freezes and switches back to the outer camera. I've restarted my phone twice and it's still the same issue.

Aug 18, 2021 9:28 AM in response to Alvflo

I have exactly the same problem with my iPhone 12 Pro max...that every other respond has aswell...I am onto my 1st replacement phone and it still has the same issue....Apple what are you doing about this????....you can't ignore all these people's issues.

I am now looking to trade down, maybe to an iPhone 12 or less or demand a refund...and go back to my iPhone 7...after years of using Apple products...this is the first time that it has been this way....come up with a fix Apple.

Nov 24, 2020 12:22 PM in response to Alvflo

I have similar problem, tried everything and nothing.

here is a video with my problem:

https://youtu.be/FnhNif60nN8

gerry019

Level 1

4 points

Nov 27, 2020 12:21 PM in response to Alvflo

What is the Fix for above?

Alvflo Author

Level 1

34 points

Dec 4, 2020 6:36 AM in response to zengnoris

I'm hoping update ios 14.3 would resolve the problem or I might have to go to the Apple Store & get it sorted. Restarting the phone makes it work for about a few minutes lol.

gerond16

Level 1

4 points

Dec 5, 2020 11:31 AM in response to Alvflo

I have an iphone 12 Pro Max and have exactly the same issues. I bought it from Apple online. How do I contact a 'person' about exchanging or returning it. Is there a fix?

Dec 7, 2020 12:06 PM in response to stacyfromtexarkana

I am having the Same issue! I could scream. This is a lot of money for a phone that doesn’t work...🤬

darcy108

Level 1

4 points

Dec 8, 2020 7:12 PM in response to stacyfromtexarkana

Brand new 12 Pro Max and I’m having the black screen camera issue.

Dec 14, 2020 3:31 PM in response to Alvflo

Did you have apple care +? Wondering if it’s worth getting for this reason? Can’t believe spent 1,200$ on a mew phone and have to deal with this!🤬

Alvflo Author

Level 1

34 points

Dec 15, 2020 2:11 PM in response to JeanMarie from nj

I do not have Apple Care. Yes $1200 for this lol

Dec 22, 2020 12:30 AM in response to Veteran41

Same issue. Just a black screen. Doesn’t happen all the time but twice so far in the past few days. 14.3 and 12 pro max.

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iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera Freezing/Black