My camera doesn’t seem to work anymore after updating to IOS 26.1. It turns dark immediately I open the camera App. It’s impossible to take pictures with both front and back camera.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: camera glitch after updating IOS 26.1
iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 26
If the camera does not work even after a restart, it may indicate a hardware issue.
In my case, however, restarting the device or changing the system language temporarily restored the camera, but the issue reappeared after a few hours or a few days. When launching the Camera app, the preview appears briefly, becomes blurred (similar to the transition during lens switching), and then freezes after a few seconds.
Even after erasing the device and restoring from a backup, the problem reoccurred a few days later. Over time, the frequency of the issue gradually increased, which made it seem like something abnormal was progressing.
After that, I reset all settings and used the device with default settings only, and the problem has not recurred for over a week.
I have not yet identified which specific setting was responsible, but the non-default camera-related settings I previously used were:
• Video resolution set to 4K
• ProRAW controls enabled
• All “Preserve Settings” options enabled
• Liquid Glass disabled via Accessibility settings
Do any of you experiencing similar issues have these settings in common?
Apple ran the software hardware test three times on my phone all past. Best Buy had a camera test that they did and showed the Camera failed when they put in the other app it worked. It’s attributed to iOS 26. there was never an issue prior to the update which proves it’s an iOS issue not a hardware issue.
Your issues don’t sound like a software issue. You could try resetting all settings and if that doesn’t work, backup your iPhone to iCloud, erase your device and then restore from iCloud. If that sounds like a lot of work, it can be. An easier patch would be to contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics on your iPhone. In my experience it sounds like a defective .05X camera module.
If you’re in the US, please call 1-800-MY-APPLE, or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada, call 1-800-263-3394.
Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
Please contact Apple Support for assistance with recovering your photos. You nay also want to post in the Photos app community. Members there may have more insights into your specific issue.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/applications-services/photos
If you’re in the US, please call 1-800-MY-APPLE, or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada, call 1-800-263-3394.
Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
Developers have access to actual bug reporting software etc. If you want to go that deep register for the public beta program (you don’t have to actually participate) and then you should be able to download the Feedback app which is used for bug reporting. If they have additional questions they’ll message you through the app.
Most consumers are better off using the feedback link. It’s much simpler, but rarely will they contact the feedback submitter.
Each product will require a separate feedback submission. Ideally, if you’re experiencing multiple issues with a single product, you submit multiple feedback forms. The best path forward is opening up a support ticket either online with Apple Support or in store at the Genius Bar.
In the US, please call 1-800-MY-APPLE, or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada, call 1-800-263-3394.
Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
Good luck!
There are two Apple Stores very near Disney World. Both Florida Mall and Millenia Mall have Apple Stores and they are generally open early for service etc. Try making an appointment using the link below.
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
I just went into setting , camera and found the Macro setting
Turned it off as it seemed it was using a wide angle lens and everything was zoomed in
so far it works 🤞
Hi, do you have any kind of screen protector that covers the front facing (selfie) camera? If so, please remove it.
What you’re observing is called lens flare. It’s an optical phenomenon and all optical instruments are subject to its effects to one degree or another. It is not a software issue and cannot be “fixed” via a software update. It’s possible the selfie camera itself has some hardware issue. Apple would need to examine the device to determine the status of the camera.
I did not install an alternative camera app. Yet when the issue occurs then all other apps that require the camera also fail. Restarting the phone then temporarily fixes the camera. After a while the issue reoccurs.
Sorry, your logic is flawed. Apple has a base of over 1 billion installed iPhones. That fact that different model iPhones fail when updating and concluding that it must be software is not a conclusion that it must be the software update or even related to any software. There will always be iPhones that fail when updating. There will always be iPhones that fail when dropped. There will always be iPhones that fail when they get wet. There will always be iPhones that fail when you set them down and when you pick them up, they failed. A fact of life is electro mechanical devices will always fail. Some fail prematurely and are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. The others will fail for a mired of reasons. But they all fail at some point.
Next step, if you haven’t done so already, open a support ticket by calling Apple Support, visiting an Apple Retail Store or Authorized Service Provider. Then follow up with Apple Support and take notes on the calls and request that Apple escalate the service issue. Apple will eventually resolve the issue, but unfortunately resolution isn’t always in the owners favor. When that happens, remember all devices eventually failed and make future purchasing decisions based on your overall customer experience. Good luck!
I’m sorry to tell you this, but there are substantial differences between shooting video and shooting still photos.
Still photos rely heavily on computational photography, including multi-frame capture, semantic rendering for elements like faces and skies, and aggressive post-processing for sharpness and noise reduction via the Image Signal Processor (ISP). Videos, in contrast, process frames in real-time with tailored pipelines optimized for motion, stabilization, and formats like Dolby Vision or ProRes, applying less intensive per-frame computational enhancements.
Your iPhone probably has issues with the computational pipeline and/or ISP.
When the Apple Camera app is opened the camera software does various hardware configurations and verifications. It sounds like the hardware is passing this phase, but when actually running can’t perform certain functions. It could be hardware or software.
In person iPhone diagnostics can detect this kind of issue and properly diagnose. Remote diagnostics cannot access certain system functions remotely and may pass. Are you near an Apple Retail Store or Authorized Service Provider?
My iPhone 13 phone camera appears to be working better, and by that I mean actually working (most of the time), after the iOPS 26.3.1 update.
To all of the people suggesting hardware error, let this be a data point for you.
The previous behavior was that the phone camera would fail to show an image 2 - 3 seconds after being launched through the Camera app, Messages, WhatsApp and so on.
On the down side, the phone does overheat now simply by keeping any application using GPS mapping on.
At least I have a hot camera now. : /
Turn off the new setting for the camera app that says Lock Screen swipe. Turn your phone off and turn it on. That’s what I did to my friends phone and this problem stopped.
Did you slide/swipe right?
Does it work with third party software?
iPhone camera not working after iOS 26 update
