Unable to get my camera to focus on my iPhone 12

I have an Iphone mini 12 and this started a few days ago for me as well. 0.5x zoom works 1x does not. It is definitely a software issue because I can open Instagram and take a picture directly from the app and it works perfectly.

ThomasMauritz,

In this case we'd suggest reaching out to Apple Support directly here: Get Support

Take care.

I got this issue a week before ! I use protective case to protect both my camera and phone! Did not drop my phone even once !! I got freaked out when I heard the short circuit like sound whenever I open my camera! After doing my research I came to know that this problem is happening in majority of iphone 12s. Apple please give us a solution!

I have the same issue with my iphone 12 mini starting today. The weird thing is that in video mode my 1x lens is trying to focus and sometimes successfully, but in photo mode totally blurry. Along with scratchy sounds this looks like the software cannot correctly operate with camera hardware.

Hello, for me it works when I take photo and my phone is straight up but when I turn it horizontally (for example, to take a picture of a document on a table) then it can't focus anymore. Seems to be a HW issue if related to the phone position. I dropped it in the past (but have a very good spigen case).

mc

My 12 mini with iOS 17.5.1 also started to have the same issue. I just could not focus except the wide angle. Same issue apply for video taking as well.

Hate to upgrade to the new iOS 18. And regret upgrading my iOS at all. Should have stick with what is working best.

Hello Thomas , my camera currently started doing the same thing as you described . How did you fix this issue if i may ask?

Hey do you do mountain biking or shooting? Those are two of the most common causes. At least that’s what I read.

This problem just started happening to me too today but when you use 0.5x the picture is less blurry and works fine, Also i have been hearing those same noises

Same Issue. Iphone 12 Mini

It feels like something is short circuiting inside but its not able to focus at all. Please let me know if anyone got a solution or got to know the price of getting this fixed.

this issue started happening to me too and i WOULD believe it was a problem of me dropping my phone and something breaking loose BUT why are there so many other people here in the past month with my same phone having this same issue after this was posted a year ago? this makes me believe it’s a software issue and Apple should do something about it. i don’t want to take it to the Apple Store because they’re just going to tell me it’s broken and i need a new one like they did with my laptop that ended up not even being broken. How is everyone’s iPhone 12 just happening to do this all within weeks of each other?

I have a 12 Pro Max (17.4) and it’s having trouble focusing with 2.5X Telephoto Lens. And also to not forget the 2.5X Telephoto is making a lot of noise as if the OIS or the focus motor is going haywire.

This is also happening to my iPhone 12 Pro! Started last Thursday out of nowhere - 1x camera lens is unable to focus. Sometimes it will attempt to focus and make the clicking/scratching noise but most of the time now it just remains stuck focused up close. Telephoto and fisheye lenses are still fine

Same thing started happening to me a few months ago on my iPhone 12. The main camera suddenly started making sounds that the creator described and can’t focus (only manages to focus close ups, sometimes). Third party apps don’t work either. The sound sounds like hardware but the majority of people having the same problem makes me think it could be software. No one found the solution?