camera glitch after updating IOS 26.1

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?

Thank you for posting the tip, that worked for me. I normally hold off on doing major IOS updates due to glitches/bugs but against my better judgement, did it anyway. I'm surprised that this issue fell through the testing cracks. I've been in IT for over 40 years and would imagine the functionality of a camera would have been in an automated regression test...

My variation is a bit different. After updating to 26.1, I have no problem with the normal camera on the back of the phone. However, when I take a picture with inside of the phone (selfie), lights in the background appear to be warped, as in a lightbulb will show with a horizontal “warp” line (think Starship enterprise) extending to the side of the screen. This ruins selfies. I didn’t have this issue until 3 days ago when I upgraded. Thoughts?

Updating to 26.2 did not fix the issue for me. The camera worked for a day or so and then again the same issue reoccurred: the screen turns greyish/black making it impossible to take picture and brewing all apps that use the camera.

I had reset all settings, put all camera settings back to defaults and now am clueless what to do to fix this.

i now regularly restart my iPhone (volume up, volume down and hold side button till apple logo appears) to get it working again for a while.

Pretty fed up with this issue. Any new clues from anyone?

updating to 26.2 didn’t do anything for me. As you can see from this example, whenever there is a light in frame on the front facing camera foreground (side with the screen), I get a warp looking line(s). Most selfies are now ruined because of this. And yes, I cleaned the lens before taking this photo

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.

Hi Jeff

i do have a screen protector. However, I didn’t have this problem prior to iOS 26 and had the same protection. Perhaps the new version uses more of the potential lens area. But I’d have thought that they’d have said some Thisbe about that

Robert-D-333 wrote:

Hi Jeff

i do have a screen protector. However, I didn’t have this problem prior to iOS 26 and had the same protection. Perhaps the new version uses more of the potential lens area. But I’d have thought that they’d have said some Thisbe about that

iOS 26 could not change the lens area used by any of the cameras on your iPhone. And Jeff is correct that what you captured is a naturally occurring Lens Flare. When you looked at the screen on your iPhone before you took, the photo, the lens flare was there in plain sight. Had you angled the camera differently, you'd have been able to reduce or eliminate the lens flare. There is nothing in the photo example you showed, which could logically be attributed to iOS 26.

Baunddoc - does your camera still work? Asking as for most (all?) in this thread the issue seems to reoccur even after a reset of all settings. A phone restart only fixes it for a while and then the camera fails again. Also upgrading to IOS 26.2 did not fix it for me.

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.

Hi, if all camera apps are failing I suggest having Apple do diagnostics on your device. There is a good chance you have a hardware failure and not a software issue.

You need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

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

Explore Service Locations

Official Apple Support

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.

iphonewontring wrote:

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.

If iOS caused the camera to fail, it would cause it to fail for everyone, but it didn't. And this forum would be flooded with people complaing, yet it's not. And the tech press would be posting articles about such a failure, but they're not. iOS didn't cause your camera to fail.

It would depend on what phone model you have. Software updates affect each phone version differently. That comes directly from a software engineer who writes software for a major defense contractor i use to work with.

Really? Just searching for camera issue iOS 26 gives plenty hits. Including articles eg from the MacObserver and several YouTube videos with tips on how to try fixing it.

Possibly It only affects phones with iOS 26.x in combination with some other app (upgrade) or iOS setting or whatever. Yet the issue was not there prior to the iOS 26.1 upgrade and I didn’t install new apps for a while.

bottom line: to me it is an iOS issue.