iPhone 5 camera and flashlight suddenly stopped working - still not working after iOS 8.4 update

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Level 1

6 points

iPhone 5 camera and flashlight suddenly stopped working - still not working after iOS 8.4 update

A couple of days ago, the flashlight and camera on my iPhone 5 spontaneously stopped working. The phone has not suffered any damage or has been wet, the functions just simply didn't work anymore. One night I noticed the flashlight wouldn't work, and then the following day the camera wouldn't work.

I get the same symptoms as most of the issues I've read, with the black screen and the occasional ability to get the app to activate front camera. Front camera will work sometimes, and then if I can get the app to turn back around to the rear camera, I get a blurred image that then freezes. Other photography apps will access the front camera and will not turn to the back camera.

I can take a screen shot with no problems.

I have read the COUNTLESS other questions about this exact same thing. Here is a list of the things I have tried (in order):

- update to iOS 8.4 - no change, camera and flash still not working

- restore as new phone - no change (painful process as I hadn't backed up in three weeks, so I lost that)

- restore to previous backup - still no change

It is obvious to me that this is a software problem rather than a hardware problem, otherwise why would it be happening to so many of us exactly the same way?

Can an Apple tech please advise when a fix will be available for this?

iPhone 5, iOS 8.4, Camera and Flashlight

Posted on Jul 2, 2015 7:27 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

bryan.vance

Level 3

918 points

Jul 2, 2015 7:32 PM in response to lemonsparkly

If you restored and setup as a new phone and the issue remains, it is not software related.

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Answer 2

lemonsparkly Author

Level 1

6 points

Jul 2, 2015 7:38 PM in response to bryan.vance

A valid point. But note in the iOS 8.4 update it mentions bug fixes for other things and NOT the camera/flashlight. Meaning, I think the software glitch hasn't been addressed in the new update.

For this to be happening the exact same way for so many users, it either is a iOS bug, or it is a hardware issue and Apple needs to do a recall of the affected phones.

If I had have dropped the phone or wet it or done anything damaging to it, fair enough. But it is always protected and safe and dry - there is absolutely NO reason for these things to spontaneously stop working!

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Answer 3

Red Aine

Level 1

0 points

Jul 16, 2015 1:55 PM in response to lemonsparkly

I Have the same problem!! Anyone have a solution out there!!?? Sounds like resetting my phone is a waste of time!

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Answer 4

Jul 17, 2015 6:48 AM in response to Red Aine

I have the same problem that camera is not working (screen show black only) after upgraded to IOS8.4. Have try out many setting on the phone but the problem still not able to solve it, hope some expert can help us...thank you

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Answer 5

Jul 17, 2015 7:04 AM in response to lemonsparkly

I'm agree with your point, this should be a software bug.....Apple should response us FAST....we can't bring a phone with no camera and some more it show the "APPLE" trade mark....Steve definitely don't like this to happen with his products....

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Answer 6

Jul 17, 2015 10:47 PM in response to lemonsparkly

hello my iPhone 5s camera is not working black comes and flash light not working

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Answer 7

Jul 17, 2015 10:48 PM in response to Rameshnaidu

Sir I am waiting for your reply and I hope u will solve my problem

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Answer 8

Ebonyp93

Level 1

0 points

Jul 19, 2015 6:55 AM in response to lemonsparkly

I have a iPhone 6-plus, I updated to IOS 8.4 on 7-15-2015, and on 7-16-2015 my rear camera and flash light stopped working. My front camera freezes if you use it a few times back to back. I contacted Apple and they, after having me restore through iTunes, (which I did 2 times), and having me reset settings on phone (which I did 3 times), they are sending me a new IPhone. Now, if this isn't a software issue which I truly believe it is, then obviously the software is shorting out the hardware (rear camera and flash) Either way, Apple should check their update for possible bugs. Also side note, I heard that Apple is about to release an update to 8.4 that is possibly addressing this issue with camera and flash. (8.4.1?). They might not own up to this problem if it leads to replacing (recalling) devices.

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Answer 9

wegras

Level 6

15,305 points

Jul 19, 2015 7:00 AM in response to Rameshnaidu

Who are you waiting for ?....................

Apple are not here this a user to user community

Apple neither read nor respond here

If you have restored as new and the Camera still does not work in the factory settings state it is a hardware issue

Take it to an Apple Retail store Genius bar or an Authorised Apple iPhone Service Provider

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Answer 10

Jul 20, 2015 10:50 PM in response to lemonsparkly

I am having exact same issue on my iPhone 5S newly purchased. I turn on flashlight and it stays lit for about 5 seconds and then automatically turns off.

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Answer 11

wegras

Level 6

15,305 points

Jul 21, 2015 7:24 AM in response to jellismac

and what trouble shooting have you done ?

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Answer 12

Jul 21, 2015 7:32 AM in response to wegras

I haven't reset my phone because of all the other posts here of people doing this and it not working

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Answer 13

wegras

Level 6

15,305 points

Jul 21, 2015 8:59 AM in response to jellismac

Then you will have to live with it then if you believe it is a worldwide issue which it clearly isn't

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Answer 14

Efrmac

Level 1

0 points

Aug 13, 2015 11:22 PM in response to Ebonyp93

I had just updated my software to IOS8.4.1 but still nothing new happened to my rear camera....... It still freezes whenever i try to switch it from front camera to rear camera......

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Answer 15

Aug 21, 2015 10:16 AM in response to lemonsparkly

Same issue here. I have this issue with my iPhone 5S that started almost immediately after I updated to ios 8.4.1. The screen is grayed out whenever I try to use the rear camera, and the flashlight button from control center doesn't even highlight when I tap it. As a test, I tried to use the flashlight app and got this error message when I tried to turn it on. Haven't changed anything at all other than the ios update, and this is really frustrating...

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