Android Camera Not Working? 7 Fixes

Camera app opens to a black screen, crashes, or shows a vague "Camera Failed" error? It's almost always software, not the camera itself. Here's the order to try fixes.

1. Close all apps and restart

Snapchat, Instagram, Zoom, WhatsApp video calls. Any of these can grab the camera and not let go. Swipe away every app, then restart the phone (hold power, tap Restart).

2. Clear Camera app cache

1. Settings > Apps
2. Find Camera (or "Camera by Google" on Pixel, "Samsung Camera" on Samsung)
3. Tap Storage
4. Tap Clear cache
5. Do not tap "Clear data". That wipes your settings
6. Reopen the camera

3. Force stop the camera

Settings > Apps > Camera > Force Stop. Reopen camera.

4. Check permissions

Settings > Apps > Camera > Permissions. Make sure Camera, Microphone, and Storage are allowed. Same for any app that uses the camera (Snapchat, WhatsApp, etc.).

5. Check for system updates

Settings > System > Software update (or Settings > Software update on Samsung). Camera bugs often get patched.

6. Boot into Safe Mode

This disables all third-party apps. If the camera works in Safe Mode, a downloaded app is causing the problem.

1. Hold the Power button
2. Long-press "Power off"
3. Tap "Safe mode"
4. Open Camera. Does it work?
5. To exit Safe Mode, just restart normally

If camera works in Safe Mode, uninstall recently-added apps one at a time until you find the culprit.

7. Clear the camera cache partition (recovery mode)

Last software step before considering hardware:

1. Power off the phone
2. Hold Power + Volume Up (varies by model)
3. Use volume keys to select "Wipe cache partition"
4. Power button to confirm
5. Restart

This doesn't delete personal data, just system cache.

If it's truly broken

If none of these work and the camera still doesn't show preview, the hardware module may be damaged. Common on phones that have been dropped. Samsung/Pixel repair is usually $150-250. Sometimes cheaper to trade in.

Workaround: install a different camera app

Try Open Camera (free) or GCam (Pixel camera ported to other Androids). If a different app works, your stock Camera app is broken and the issue is software, not hardware.