Iphone 12 mini camera not focusing after iOS 17 update

Please consider reporting this to apple by filling in Product Feedback - Apple

I talked to Apple support and after all product reviews/inspections, they recommended me to do that to get escalated attention to the issue so that Apple can investigate it and (hopefully) releases a new software to solve the issue.

Hello mobpsycho100,

For difficulties with your camera, you'll want to take the steps below:

1. Remove any case, accessory, or film that might block the camera or flash or that places a magnet near the camera.

2. Test the camera by trying to take a photo.

1. If the photo is blurry, clean the front and back camera lenses with a microfiber cloth. If you see dirt or debris inside the lens, damage to your iPhone near the camera, or if the camera lens appears to be misaligned or blocked, contact Apple Support to discuss service options.

2. If you see motion blur in low-light situations and you use a lens converter, metallic case, or a magnetic lens mount, try removing the accessory.

3. Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

4. Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS.

5. Test the camera again by taking a photo. If your device has a front and rear camera, check if one or both aren't working. To switch cameras, tap the rotate button .

You can also find those steps in this resource: If the camera or flash on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch isn't working - Apple Support

Should that still persist, you'll want to reach out to Apple Support: Apple Support They'll be in the best position to look into this further.

Take care.

Update 17.4.1 and still having the same issue! This is crazy, I can’t even use apps like Snapchat because the camera will not focus. You can clearly hear the camera trying to focus, but it won’t. This is an issue they have not addressed and it is very frustrating they do not acknowledge this bug!! If you go to an Apple Store, they won’t believe you and will tell you is your own device hardware problem and will charge you to repair it, like seriously??

The camera will focus if you use it on 0.9x or 0.8x but it will not be the same picture quality. Does anyone know how to reach out directly to Apple and address this other than forums and Apple Stores?

Got the same issue just a day after updating to 17.4.1 but on the iPhone 12, normal size. Seems to me if the image stabilization doesnt work as normal. Strangely, using zoom as mentioned before and also using the photo feature of whatsapp has no problems at all, so this happens only if the full sensor is used. I get fuzzy, unsharp results with doubled edges and sometimes wobbly results as shown in the uploaded image. while focusing, the sensor makes a high tone and some clicking noise, I can also see a lot of lens movement when I watch it.

I am also in the 17.2.1 version. I noticed this issue in my 12mini today morning. 1x camera not able to focus. Feels like the camera is trying as i can hear and feel the lens physically moving inside but not able to focus it. In whatsapp its working fine but lens is vigorously moving to find focus . In google pay atleast the camera is working fine. I hope apple realises this issue and comes up with solution.

Logged into communities for the first time ever to say that this also happened to me, and that this is clearly a software issue and not a hardware issue. At worst, planned obsolescence.

I have also the same issue on Iphone 12 mini from 5 months i think. It started after 17.2 update and normal camera is not focusing and making weird buzzy noises sometimes. I thought that would be removed in next updates but its still with me from couple of months. Front and ultra wide cameras are working completely fine.

I bought an iPhone 12 mini for my daughter from a repair shop which had already been upgraded to ios 17. I restored everything from her old iPhone 6s and when she started using the camera, everything was blurry from 1x to anything closer. 0.9x and lower was ok. I brought it to the Apple Store and they checked everything and I mentioned this forum where a bunch of people had the same issue after the update but she said she hadn't heard anything. It was $219 CAN to replace the camera. I brought it back to the store where they thankfully took it back and reimbursed me.

I have the same issue on my iPhone 12 mini, but only in photo mode. With slow-mo and pano the camera is able to focus. The wide lens camera works fine, but the lower rear camera cannot focus in photo mode.

It’s absolutely unacceptable that after updating to iOS 17.5.1, the main 1x camera on the iPhone 12 Mini has ceased to focus. This is a significant issue that has been reported by numerous users. It’s clear that the update has introduced a bug that directly affects the camera’s functionality, which is a critical feature for any smartphone user. The fact that this problem persists without a resolution is frustrating and demands immediate attention. Users have expressed their dissatisfaction on various forums, and it’s high time that a fix is released to address this glaring flaw.

Same issue. Happened right after the update. It is not a hardware fix.

put a small magnet nearby at power button should solves this issue temporarily...

Same issue with IPhone 12 mini since a week ago or so, the 0.5x lens and front camera are still working well though, the rear camera 1x zoom unable to focus.

It is a Software bug. Too many of us have the same issue.

Same issue. iOS 17.5.1. Focus is good on wide angle, but 1.0x or higher is blurry.

Video, when zoomed, is blurry 90% of the time.

Slo-mo is not blurry.

Is this just a 12 mini problem?