iPhone 5 camera not working after ios 7 update

I was in a apple store today. I explained the issue but the "genius" didnt even bother to look at it. He was just interested if I was still under warranty. He told me if I pay 250€ I get a replacement device. I asked him if this was his solution and he replied "electronic parts do break" and I walked out telling him that this was definitly my last iPhone.

I even told him about this thread and that there are 85.000+ views on the topic already.

Apple just doesnt care about customers AT ALL!

Just for the record I have a white iPhone 4 with the same problem. I just bought it today. Again this started with an update to iOS 7. The rear camera works just fine but when I change to front camera it goes black and freezes the app. I can get the back camera working again only by closing the camera app and restarting it. I have done a factory reset and don't have any additional apps installed. The only redeeming thing for me is I bought it cheap from someone who was fed up with fighting with the phone and Apple. He is now proud owner of an Android phone. I'm hoping 7.1 fixes the problem.

Unfortunately I joined the club. My Iphone 5, which is very well cared for, suddenly stopped taking clear pictures form the main (back) lens. Images about 6" away are clear but anything further gets blurrry. The images look clear for a split second, but when the camera auto focuses it gets blurry. The front camera is fine.

Tried a full resinstall through Apple support with no success. Downloaded a 3rd party photo App as suggested in this form - no success. Tried letting the battery go dead while the camera was on - no success.

Apple, please help out users like me. Encountering this problem after 14 months of ownership (2 months out of warranty) is dissappointing. I purchased an Iphone for the reputation, quality of hardware/software. I'm not in a position to pay $$$ for repairs. Please let the thousands of your customers know what Apples position is. If Apples position is that all who suffered this malfunction are just out of luck - say so and I'll be headed back to Androids and not look back. Or, stand by your reputation and provide a software/hardware fix. I'll respect that you addressed the problem and made it right - that's what builds loyalty and I'll an Apple customer.

Hey Guys! I just want to update regarding to my phone that was having camera issue. I got a phone replacement although my phone was out of warranty pass 3 months. I spoke with Apple support and contacted them twice in separate occasions. I was patched to their Customer Service Relation. It seems that it's a different type of department dealing with customer issues beyond warranty. Anyhow, I was really happy that I got helped and got my phone replaced with a new/refubished phone without any cost on my end. I spoke with Sarah Elizabeth, I must say she was probably one of the best customer relation advisor I ever spoke with from Apple support; within the next day I got my phone replacement via UPS express!!!!. Anyhow, I would recommend to phone apple support and speak to their customer relation advisor especially to those people who are loyal to apple products. I explained how my house runs with apple products, the lady was shocked how many devices I have registered under my account. Anyhow, I was really happy with over all process. I explained to them that I called before hand and I didn't get help, and now I am calling again hoping to get help! As for the camera issues itself. I really have mixed feelings, my scenario was the same, the phone was working right before update but then again, the new replacement phone was running 6.1.4 and when updated to 7.0.4 it was working properly as well! So I don't really know where to draw the line here if it's S/W or H/W issue. Anyhow, good luck to all of you, hopefully somehow apple support helps you as well.

I have had this problem for months, extensively searched for a solution but nothing works :(

It's definitely bad programming by Apple as both cameras were perfect before updating my iPhone 4 to iOS 7 (and subsequent updates)... Shame on you Apple...

Good news! I figured out a solution:

1. Kill camera

2. Tightly cover and maintain covered the front and back cameras with thumb and index fingers (or other members if preferred)

3. Go to settings > wallpapers & brightness > turn on auto brightness (keep covering)

4. Go back (left) to main settings to save changes (keep covering)

5. Now go in again and turn off auto brightness, save changes again by going back to main settings (keep covering)

6. Open camera app (keep covering)

7. Finally release thumb and index fingers

Et voilà!!!

Please like if it works for you

Not working

I used the same method for more than a month - I posted it here too.

Faster and faster my fingers became, until I could reactivate a dead camera in a few seconds.

Then last week my phone entered recovery mode never to emerge.

I took it to the apple store and the guy told me I owed $269 if I wanted a new one because I was 86 days out of warranty.

I told him my phone was fine before the ios7 update. He ran a quick diagnostic to confirm my phone was not a water or drop victim and replaced my phone for free.

Take your phone to the store. It's the only real solution.

I had exactly the same problem described is this thread for weeks. I resolved it removing the Vimeo app and restarting the phone (5s).

iOS is not perfect, third party apps can cause problems. Check your crash log in settings and look for recent app crashes and look for coincidences when your camera fails. Try uninstalling all the third party apps that are using the camera.

Went for my genuis bar appointment to report the problem - they ruled it as a hardware fault and becaue my phone was 95 days out of warranty asked me to pay £209 for a replacement handset. If you bought your phone from the EU you might still get away with paying for a replacement set as EU consumer laws dictate a 2 year replacement period. Unfortunately for me, I got my phone from Singapore so don't get that benefit 😟. I'm going to try deleting apps that use the camera but if that doesn't work, proceed to claim on my mobile phone insurance.

oh sorry I mean't to add:

6b. Once camera opens touch the screen to focus and wait 5 sec in order to get focus square

same issue as everyone here, however it didnt occur directly after an update. as a developer, i was using 7.1 at the time, and on new years eve, in a dark restaurant, i removed my phone from my pocket and attempted to take a picture. the screen was blury just like the screenshots posted. my later attempts at downgrading and reflashing did not solve the issue either. this has been happening with both front and back cameras, however occasionally the front camera does work.

today i contacted online support and they requested i take it to a genius bar. it was very busy, but i was able to get a slot around mid day. upon arriving i waited for an available tech and when he arrived i was asked the typical questions but he didnt seem too intregued. it was my impression he had seen this before. i was asked if it'd be okay to take my phone into the back for inspection. i was fine with that, i treated my phone well. always had a cover on it, and knew no physical damage had occured. 5 minutes later he returned with my phone and an explanation that everything checked out ok. cables were fine. camera was fine. and board appeard fine. if i wanted it fixed, it would cost $269 for a replacement due to the fact the "camera was soldered on" and couldnt be replaced. knowing the hardware, i knew this was bs. he just told me the hardware was fine! i said theres no way im paying $269. he then said fine. put away his ipad and walked me to a macbook air, just incase i wanted to reformat my phone again, and left.

I'm livid right now by the lack of support I've recieved, especially after reading that everyone here has faced the same cold shoulder. this is rediculous, horrible service, and unless this issue can be resolved soon, i dont see any reason why i should stick with apple in the future. and i've been a long time user since '92. what the heck?!

Rick, I was in the same boat (I've posted in this thread), had tried the Genius Bar to no avail, and finally called Apple customer support today. They told me again I could pay $269 for a replacement; I politely expressed my dissatisfaction with that idea. Longer story short, they finally decided to replace the phone for free, and I picked up my new phone from the Genius Bar literally an hour later. You may not be able to achieve the same outcome, but I think if you are talking with the right person you may get somewhere. It can't hurt to try (and try again if needed). Good luck.

I had the same experience as magedowning. My phone was about 2 months out of warranty. Genius Bar tech told me $269 for a replacement. I came home and called Apple. They spent about 3 hours on the phone with me trying different things. When none were successful, they arranged for me to go pick up a replacement phone (free!) at my local Apple store. I was very pleased with the response I got from Apple - and yes, I was very polite when I expressed my dissatisfaction at having to pay for a replacement. I hope everyone affected gets this issue resolved!!!

Even if at first glance I thought it was a software issue, now i'm reconsidering that. Think it's a hardware issue. Since my Iphone 5s is brand new they will replace it in warranty. I'll let you know.

I'll repeat myself but think it's important: I had exactly the same issue in my new iPhone 5s and resolved it removing the Vimeo app.

I think iOS7 has a bug that can make camera to fail due to third party apps and related background tasks.

Check your crash logs under:

Settings > General > Information > Diagnostic & Usage > Diagnostic & Usage data

Search for repeating crashing apps, that's the way I discovered Vimeo app crashing periodically even I was not using it.