iPhone 5 camera not working after ios 7 update

@loftypro - when I took it to the Genius Bar, they restored they setup the phone from scratch as if it were brand new. I got the same black screen when it started up, and this was even before restoring from my backup from iCloud. My thought was that, similar to an OS upgrade on a laptop, if it doesn't work with a clean install then it must be something internal/hardware related.

From what I'm reading now, people seem to be pretty convinced that this is a software issue, not a hardware issue. What confuses me is why this would be happening to a relatively small segment of the iPhone population. I don't know anyone else personally that this has happened to, which is probably why Apple has this as a pretty low priority for getting a fix out.

Unfortunately I don't have $269 to drop on a new phone just to get a camera that works. My warranty expired a month before this happened, and by replacing the camera and trying to DIY the problem, I would have voided a warranty if I had one anyway. I'm also not eligible for an upgrade for another year thanks to the ridiculous contracts that cellular companies have us roped into. So where does that leave me? Pretty much screwed unless Apple does something to fix this.

Does anyone at Apple even read these threads, or are we all just here ranting for no reason other than moral support?

Apple sources components from multiple suppliers and even if the same supplier provided all of the iPhone 5 cameras, there would still be multiple lots of cameras and logic boards. IMHO - this is why the problem is not more commonplace.

In my opinion it's software related... if it worked properly before you update it, only the software that controls the hardware changed... something is not right with the software/firmware...

Agreed, but apparently only with certain units containing either a specific camera, logic board or combination which are affected. Otherwise, the problem should affect all users.

For those that are experiencing these problems, contact customer support and be routed to a "senior advisor" and get a case number. No success yet but maybe if we have enough complaints directing to the senior advisors and have it documented with a case number, they should do something. My next step is to take this to the media. This is just not ethical business practices producing software upgrades that disable functions on your phone. It's Apple's fault and they expect you to pay it. How is this right? Is this their new business model to make more money on top of the volume sales they do? It's all about how we consume this product. Don't give into their extended warranties, costly repairs or replacements. If they realize they can't make money that way, they will have to improve their product and service to compete with the superior competitors out there like the Android. So dissappointed with Apple. Android comes with a 2 year warranty and phone contracts are also 2 years instead of 3. So your always covered. Good bye Apple!

I have an appointment at the Genius Bar, having exhausted apples very limited online support. I'm not holding out much hope as my phone is one month out of warranty, but at the end of the day it was apples update that broke my phone.

I bought my iPhone recently. I installed the ios7 update without testing the rear camera. The problem was there at the first time using the rear camera with the ios7. The camera app freezes. I chatted with Apple Support and I was asked to carry the phone to any Apple Store to fix it or replace it. As I live in Argentina, I don't have any close. My friend who is travelling to the States is carrying the phone with him. At his return I will tell you my (hope good) news. 😕

When my camera is black or Blurry, I Wait 20-30 seconds and then the camera starts working. Would this confirm a software problem?

Sorry the bad english

Had the same problem after upgrading to 7.0.1. Restoring from backup did not help, but restore without backup did. Afterwards i disabled the passcode and was very concious about using the cam. Today it came back after i upgraded to 7.0.3 last thursday. No cam, even the front was dead this time. No torch/flashlight.

Then, upon reading this thread again, it hit me: the Lockscreen Passcode! Someone posted he entered the wrong code until the phone was disabled and then it was ok on reboot. This didn't work for me, but simply disabling the code did (after a reboot and a minute or so).

Apple plugged holes in their lock screen, didn't that even have something to do with the camera? Anyway, i think this quick fix was a rather bad hack and is causing those camera blackouts for us.

Plus this might explain why it is only us "few": most users don't use passcodes. I for one did not, until iOS 7 coerced me to do so.

tried it, still didn't work.

Update: camera stayed ok after my post, but the touchscreen would hang every ten seconds or so while the camera bug hit me the second time. I thought that would also go away but it didn't, so i reset all settings via iPhone menu. Afterwards the touchscreen was dead for good.

DFU-Mode restore fixed this to the extent that it only hangs every few seconds again. *sigh*

I might have to go to the genius bar again.

WOW! Tried every solution posted on this thread. Yours worked!

Passcode is the issue. Disabled it, did a hard reset and it's all good!

Had it on my iPad 2 every since the first ios7 update. Front camera was not working, just frozen on a blurred screen.

Have the same problem? Disable passcode and do a hard reset. It will work.

SOFTWARE ISSUE. SHAME ON YOU, APPLE!

That's great but rather lazily, I have never had the pass code on so I'm not sure that helps me.. One thing I did notice yesterday - when I call someone, with the new style,the background blurs which is exactly the same as what my camera looks like. When I try to use my camera, it's either black or a blur which is like the background of a call. Rather hypocritically, I've never liked Apple but always used iPhones and iPads. I would rather Apple say sorry there is a problem and we're working on it.

Maybe you could try turning on the passcode, run the camera, turn off passcode, hard reset and then run the camera again.

Believe me, it is related to passcode FOR SURE. Turned it of on mine, and everything is working again. Even could turn passcode on again and it is still working now that the glitch is gone.

Will observe it and update you guys.

Unfortunately this doesn't seem to work for me.

I too have been through this entire thread and yet no luck. I've tried most things a few times.

I did bring my iPhone 5 into the Apple Store. They took it to the back to open it up, came back and said it was a hardware issue and that it would cost the standard $280 fee to replace it as it was out of warranty by about 30 days. Decided to pass for the moment having fully read this thread before going. Brought the phone home and noticed the brightness controls no longer worked. Brought it back to the Apple Store, they opened it up again and realized they hadn't connected a cable correctly. Brightness controls now work. Camera is still a no go.

Just to clarify one point, by hard reset you are referring to holding down the Sleep/Wake button and Home Button until it reboots correct?

Really perplexed where to go from here as paying the $280 seems crazy if a software update comes out in a month that fixes it. And yet, if said update never comes out....then what?

Message was edited by: CodenameMacintosh - fixed spelling.