Front camera stopped working after update ( iOS 26.3.1)

It may or may not be a bug. Yes, there are reports of broken cameras online. Cameras break, but is everyone the result of a software bug? No, absolutely not. The only way to determine that is to have Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider run diagnostics on your iPhone. Did your repair shop do that?

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.

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Hi, this is not Apple Support. Apple and Apple Support do not participate in the communities here. They only moderate our posts to insure all user guidelines are followed in regard to content and user behavior. Your comments will not be reviewed by Apple. 

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

Hi russalina28,

The fact that your Face ID and bank apps still work is actually great news! It means your TrueDepth camera hardware is fine, and the issue is just the 'Camera' app getting confused by the iOS 26.3.1 update.

Since you're in Kazakhstan and can't reach a US Genius Bar, try this 'Control Center' workaround that's been working for others:

1. Don't open the Camera app normally. Instead, swipe down from the top right to open Control Center.
2. Press and hold the Camera icon.
3. Select 'Take Selfie' from the menu that pops up.
4. Often, this jumps the software straight to the front camera and bypasses the black-screen bug!

Also, try going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. It won't delete your photos or apps, but it refreshes the system files that the update might have scrambled.

Also happening to me on 13 Pro. This is definitely a software issue from iOS 26.3.1 since all of these have have work-arounds that will allow use of the selfie and wide angle cameras.

NOTE 1: I have not found a way to make the wide angle lens work without a re-install of iOS... but even then it only works for about an hour, and then gets stuck again.

NOTE 2: 3rd party camera apps seem to have less of an issue switching between cameras, though all still struggle with the wide angle camera.

Test 1:

• Open Camera app using app icon OR tap in control center
• Switch to selfie cam or wide cam

Result: app display does not work, app becomes unresponsive in some cases.

Test 2 (workaround for selfie/front):

• Open control center (swipe down from top right of screen)
• press and hold camera icon
• when sub-menu pops up, slide finger to selfie

Result: selfie camera works as intended, rear 1x will not work

Hello, I have a 15 pro max as well, and front stopped and back is super glitchy, 90% battery all original, I even talked to my repair shop guys they also complained on iOS 26.3.1 there’s this glitch, then seen multiple times, even if you search online you see people complaining, apple needs to hurry up n fix this

Hello~ Your best option is to have your iPhone 13 checked out by Apple. The iPhone 13 was released in September of 2021. Do you have the original battery? Battery health…Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging? If 80% or less you need a new battery. Likely a hardware failure.

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~Katana-San~

russalina28 wrote:

Thank you for your kind reply, dear Katana San🌷 just checked my battery [82%] I bought my phone in California and right now I am in Kazakhstan)) so I can’t get my phone checked 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’ll try to find some apple service here.

Hello once more ~ How kind you are yourself. Good luck my friend…

~Katana-San~

I have the same issue, ever since the update the front camera is not working. T

i recently did factory setting restore but didn’t really fix the problem and also the Face ID stopped working. Can’t add it anymore, for a an iPhone that uses Face ID for security for so many apps it is sad that I can’t use it anymore and there is no fixing it

Will apple going repair this in free bcz my camera stop working after update so this is bug

instead of fixing bug in update apple put bug in system

wale up apple and resolve this error on priority