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

Mar 23, 2021 3:46 AM in response to Alvflo

Yes having the same problem. Im going to call Apple today.

Stav1234

Level 1

4 points

Apr 5, 2021 7:56 PM in response to Alvflo

I have experienced the same

Apr 8, 2021 7:14 PM in response to Alvflo

Same issue with camera

nozzavtr

Level 1

14 points

Apr 10, 2021 4:30 AM in response to Censoredbybigtech

I'm having a similar issue with a 12 Pro, it seems to occasionally freeze/black screen when trying to take a picture, so frustrating.

Apr 11, 2021 4:42 PM in response to nozzavtr

Yes it is and apple store has no solution and just ignores the issue. This was my first and last iPhone junk I will be going back to android as soon as I can!

May 1, 2021 1:13 PM in response to Alvflo

same problem here. Try turning off HDR. Never mind. Still happening 🤬

Feb 15, 2021 6:10 AM in response to Alvflo

The fix is replace the iPhone. I fought the problem for 2mts did all the resets. Nothing worked. It was under warranty I got a new one sent to mE and I sent the other back to them. The new iPhone is great no more issues.

Suzdog

Level 1

4 points

Feb 15, 2021 6:25 AM in response to mrapplesee_d

Thanks for the push/recommendation to contact Apple for a replacement phone as I had received mine 11 days ago. (I always put off contacting any type of support because it's usually an hour of my life spent that I can't get back.) New phone is on it's way and am hoping the new one works fine.

abdo70

Level 1

8 points

Feb 15, 2021 12:05 PM in response to stacyfromtexarkana

replace is not the real fix i know alot of people who replaced with a new phone and they found the same problem after some days of using.. i think something wrong with software because the camera is working fine with any other app like instgram whatssapp any other app something is not right and clear even apple stuff dont know what’s the main reason for crashing the camera app only

Dec 13, 2020 10:27 AM in response to birdini

OK. I spent two valuable days out of my weekend last week. They reset. Then we hard reset and lost a lot of my data. Fortunately, I had not sent back my old iPhone. Now I am down $210. This week - guess what? Black screen - freeze - blurr. By the way, our cheap Samsung - GREAT!!!. I was going to call again today, but really cannot afford to lose another day

Alvflo Author

Level 1

34 points

Dec 14, 2020 2:41 PM in response to Alvflo

Hello all. Today I updated my iPhone 12 Pro Max to iOS 14.3 hoping it would fix my camera problem. It did not. So I chatted with Apple Support for the 3rd time & asked them to diagnose the phone & this time they had told me that the ultrawide has failed...

so I’m doing an Apple Express Replacement for $29. Yayyyy...

Alvflo Author

Level 1

34 points

Dec 15, 2020 3:03 PM in response to gerry019

I’ve done iTunes software reboot reset whatever. I was convinced it was a software so I waited for 14.3 but it came & still had the camera ultrawide missing so I decided to chat with Apple Support for the third time to do another diagnostic on their end & they deemed that ultrawide has failed. Apple needs to do better with their QA & QC

Dec 28, 2020 2:29 PM in response to ReidMa

Spent nearly 2 hours with Apple support on chat/phone. Their solution was to restore the iPhone with my Mac And set up as a new device without restoring from the back up. Then use the device for at least a day and check if the issue persists. In other words if there is no issue when the device is set up as a new one then the issue is with the backup itself. In that case the solution would be to set up iPhone as a new device and do not restore anything from the backup which is annoying but not the end of the world. Although if it’s not backup related then their suggestion would be to send in the phone by a post for their technician to have a look at the issue. Which is funny because the issue is not consistently appearing all the time and upon reviewing the phone they might find that “there is no issue at all”. I was requesting for a replacement phone all the time and they refused to issue one. This has cost me already around 6 to 8 hours of restoring my device and hanging in the queues for Apple support to respond and I have gotten nowhere yet. By the way I am in the UK. It is appalling how poor the Apple service was in my situation.

also found the video of exact same issue on YT: https://youtu.be/NJLgUuiXOc0

Jul 16, 2021 4:02 PM in response to ra202

Hi, well I don’t think this is the problem.

I don’t change my wallpaper and my camera keeps freezing. One thing I noticed is that it freezes when I try to shoot in 16:9. And after that is just through reset.

Boy, how do I miss Steve Jobs.

hoping Apple will give me a new iPhone 12 Pro Max or the top model of the next series.

Dec 4, 2020 6:15 AM in response to GabeSD

The same problem... black screen sometimes while opening camera app ... needs to reboot for getting normal functions .. really frustrating !

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iPhone 12 Pro Max Camera Freezing/Black