Camera Not Opening on My Android - Help Needed!

General Discussion
1

I’ve been having some serious trouble with my Android camera lately. No matter what I do, it just won’t open. Here are the details:

Device Information

  • Model: Samsung Galaxy S21
  • OS Version: Android 12
  • Camera App Version: 11.0.00.01

Issue Description

When I try to launch the camera, it either shows a blank screen or crashes immediately. I’ve tried to troubleshoot using the following methods:

  1. Restarting the Phone: I’ve powered off and restarted my device several times.
  2. Clearing Cache: Cleared the cache of the camera app through Settings > Apps > Camera > Storage > Clear Cache.
  3. Updating the App: Checked if there are any updates available for the camera app. Everything is up to date.
  4. Safe Mode: Booted the phone in safe mode to see if third-party apps were causing issues.
  5. Uninstalling Recent Apps: I uninstalled a couple of apps I recently downloaded, thinking they may have caused conflicts.

Additional Notes

  • I have enough storage space on my phone.
  • The rear camera and front camera are both affected.
  • I haven’t dropped my phone or exposed it to water or extreme temperatures.

Questions for the Community

  • Has anyone experienced this issue before? If so, what steps did you take to fix it?
  • Do you think this could be a software issue or something that’s gone wrong with the hardware?
  • Any other troubleshooting tips or solutions you could suggest?

I really appreciate any help! I’m missing out on capturing great moments with my kids, and I need to find a fix fast!

2

Have you tried clearing the app cache? Sometimes that helps with the camera issues on Android devices.

3

I hadn’t! How do you clear the cache for the camera app?

4

To clear the app cache, go to Settings > Apps > Camera > Storage and then tap ‘Clear Cache’. That often fixes things!

5

Restarting your phone can also do wonders! It’s a classic fix for many Android problems.

7 Likes
6

I’ll try that next! What if that doesn’t work?

7

You should check the camera permissions in Settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Camera > Permissions and ensure it’s allowed to access your camera.

8

That makes sense! I think my permissions might have changed after an update.

5 Likes
9

That sounds like a likely issue, mathew13. Updates can sometimes change the way permissions are handled!

10

If all else fails, try uninstalling and reinstalling the camera app. Sometimes that refresh can unblock something.

11

It’s a shame we have to jump through so many hoops just to take a picture! Why can’t it just work?

12

That’s just technology for you! But hey, it’s worth it for good photos, right?

13

Sometimes, just taking a break and walking away for a bit can help too. It’s like letting the tech breathe!

14

LOL, that’s one way to look at it! Tech needs its downtime, just like us.

8 Likes
15

I think I’ll try everything mentioned here, thanks everyone! Fingers crossed my camera will be back in action soon.

16

I had the same issue a few weeks ago! It turned out that a third-party camera app I installed was conflicting with the built-in camera. Have you tried uninstalling any recent apps?

17

I had a similar problem! After a recent software update, my camera wouldn’t open either. Maybe check if there’s another update available that could fix it?

18

That’s interesting, ewarren! Software updates can be tricky. Sometimes they create compatibility issues. Have you checked if the camera app has permissions turned on?

7 Likes
19

I faced a software compatibility issue last month too! I had to reset my camera settings, which helped. Consider that as an option.

7 Likes
20

That’s a good point! But make sure to back up anything important before resetting, just in case.