iPhone 16 camera freezes and blurs

Question

Level 1

5 points

iPhone 16 camera freezes and blurs

Hi everyone,

I have a brand new iPhone 16 standard running iOS 26.1.

The camera behaves very strangely:

• When I open the Camera app via the Camera Control button (the new physical button) → blurry preview → freezes after 1–2 seconds (have to force-close or restart phone)

• When I open the Camera app by tapping the app icon → same freeze

• When I open the Camera by swiping right from the Home Screen (Spotlight search camera) → works 100 % perfectly, no freeze, no blur, instant focus

What I already tried:

• Hard reboot

• Macro Control is ON, I manually turn macro OFF in the app (yellow flower)

• Preserve Settings → Macro Control is ON and OFF (tried both)

Does anyone else have this exact same behavior?

Any known fix besides a full erase-and-set-up-as-new?

Thanks a lot!

iPhone 16, iOS 26

Posted on Dec 2, 2025 12:00 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

b1g1

Level 1

0 points

Jan 12, 2026 11:25 AM in response to NanoLWX

I had this exact problem. The unique behavior that it works from the lock screen was absolutely crazy. An android user mentioned to me that the camera phones go wild when the gyroscope isn't functioning in their phones, and it led me to this solution, which is working through force/restarts hard reboots.

Settings > System Services > Compass Calibration (turn so option is GREEN/on)

Same location, Settings > System Services > Motion Calibration & Distance (turn so option is GREEN/on)

For me, Motion was already on but Compass was off, and unbelievably the Compass was what was freezing the full Camera app when it attempted to focus (and perhaps, orient the camera).

I hope this helps!

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Answer 2

Dec 2, 2025 5:19 PM in response to NanoLWX

Disable “Camera Control” temporarily

Go to:

Settings → Camera → Camera Control → Off

Then restart your phone and test launching Camera from the app icon.

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Answer 3

khajotia

Level 6

9,002 points

Dec 4, 2025 2:13 AM in response to azaksalmarzur28

Try a hard reset. It solves most problems

To hard reset an iPhone, perform a force restart by pressing and releasing the volume up button, then the volume down button, and finally holding the side button until the Apple logo appears

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Answer 4

NanoLWX Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 4, 2025 1:11 AM in response to azaksalmarzur28

Thanks. But this works temporarily. I think it is related to this. I’ve now disabled visual intelligence on this camera control button and will test it for a day.

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Answer 5

NanoLWX Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 8, 2025 3:03 AM in response to khajotia

Unfortunately, everything only works temporarily. After a day, it comes back again. Even if I turn the camera controller controller button completely off, the exact same thing happens. Fortunately, swiping to the camera from the home screen still works. It’s probably a software bug?

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