iPhone SE (2nd gen) camera not working

Hi. This morning my back camera no longer works (black screen). I can toggle to the front camera which seems to work, but then I’m stuck on front camera, and can’t toggle back.


Restarting the phone does not help.


I would really like to avoid a full reset.


Anyone else having this problem? Tx

iPhone SE, iOS 18

Posted on Jul 26, 2025 3:43 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 26, 2025 8:29 AM

Restarting the phone does not help.


How about a Forced Restart? Have you tried that a few times?


Force restart iPhoneApple SupportOfficial Apple Support › guide › iphone › ios


If the Forced Restart won't work, I don't think a full reset will either. You are likely looking at a hardware issue that will require repairs at the Apple Store / Genius Bar or an authorized Apple service shop.






3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 26, 2025 8:29 AM in response to kmarohn

Restarting the phone does not help.


How about a Forced Restart? Have you tried that a few times?


Force restart iPhoneApple SupportOfficial Apple Support › guide › iphone › ios


If the Forced Restart won't work, I don't think a full reset will either. You are likely looking at a hardware issue that will require repairs at the Apple Store / Genius Bar or an authorized Apple service shop.






Jul 26, 2025 10:25 AM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks all for the help! Esp re the warning about the forced restart vs full reset.


In fiddling around for a while, I turned off all access to camera by other apps. Restarted once, camera showed up (!!) but was very glitchy. Restarted twice and now everything’s fine :)


So it seems to have been one of the apps that caused the problem. I have several, haven’t turned them back on one by one to identify yet. But that’s that.


Thanks again!

Jul 26, 2025 8:24 AM in response to kmarohn

You may try some of these steps, please check after each step...


  1. Ensure your screen protector or case isn't obstructing the front-facing camera. See the poic below
  2. If you still need help, reset your Face ID, then set it up again. Go to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, then tap Reset Face ID. Next, tap Set up Face ID to set it up again. If Face ID isn't working on your iPhone or iPad Pro
  3. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Turn off your iPhone, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
    1. Restart the device. That's it.
    2. Still not solved --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
  4. Corporate iPhone Profile Check and Removal Guide
    1. Is this your corporate iPhone? Then please contact the system administrator of your corporate.
    2. If it is your device, in that case, do you have any profile installed by your corporate/organization/enterprise/School Management?
    3. Erase the profile added by you If you have installed a profile on your own --> Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone - Apple ...
    4. Please contact the system administrator of the organization who provided the profile to you
  5. Parts and service history
    1. With iPhone 12 models and later using iOS 15.2 and later, you can go to Settings > General > About to see the parts and service history of your iPhone and you can see if the camera has been replaced. If the repair was done using genuine Apple parts and processes, you will see "Genuine Apple Part" next to Camera.
    2.  
    3. You will see an Unknown Part  message if the camera installation is incomplete or if the camera:
    4. Was replaced with a nongenuine camera
    5. Was already used or installed in another iPhone
    6. Isn't functioning as expected
    7. This message doesn't affect your ability to use your iPhone or access your camera. Learn more about iPhone parts and service history.
    8. If your iPhone's camera has been previously replaced, repaired, or serviced by an unauthorized service provider, it's worth noting that Apple may decline to provide service for your device. The decision to refuse service will depend on the specific components that were affected by the unauthorized service.
  6. If the issue persists, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will not erase your data but will reset all personalized settings to their default values. Go to Settings > General > Transfer & Reset > Reset > Reset All Settings and confirm the action. Note that you will need to reconfigure your settings afterward. All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, the Home screen layout, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. No data or media are deleted.
    1. Reset All Settings: Return iPhone settings to their defaults - Apple Support:- Return iPhone settings to their defaults
    2. You can return settings to their defaults without erasing your content.
    3. If you want to save your settings, back up your iPhone before returning them to their defaults. For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem but returning settings to their defaults doesn’t help, you might want to restore your previous settings from a backup.
  7. Make sure you have the latest updates installed.
    1. Update Over-the-Air (OTA) —> Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)
    2. Update using iTunes/Finder —> Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (IN)


If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it is recommended to reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance. They can provide specific guidance based on your device model and iOS version.



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iPhone SE (2nd gen) camera not working

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