My camera doesn’t seem to work anymore after updating to IOS 26.1. It turns dark immediately I open the camera App. It’s impossible to take pictures with both front and back camera.
iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 26
If the camera does not work even after a restart, it may indicate a hardware issue.
In my case, however, restarting the device or changing the system language temporarily restored the camera, but the issue reappeared after a few hours or a few days. When launching the Camera app, the preview appears briefly, becomes blurred (similar to the transition during lens switching), and then freezes after a few seconds.
Even after erasing the device and restoring from a backup, the problem reoccurred a few days later. Over time, the frequency of the issue gradually increased, which made it seem like something abnormal was progressing.
After that, I reset all settings and used the device with default settings only, and the problem has not recurred for over a week.
I have not yet identified which specific setting was responsible, but the non-default camera-related settings I previously used were:
• Video resolution set to 4K
• ProRAW controls enabled
• All “Preserve Settings” options enabled
• Liquid Glass disabled via Accessibility settings
Do any of you experiencing similar issues have these settings in common?
Having same issues since updating to 26.1. Is Apple doing anything about this?
namratha05 wrote:
Same here camera glitch after recent software update 🥲
If you are in the same situation then take the action recommended on page 1 or get your camera fixed
This thread isn’t about audio issue. Please create you’re own thread or post in an existing thread about audio issues.
Seriously regretting the iOS 26.1 update 🙂. Having multiple problems: camera shows a blank screen, contact posters disappear, battery is draining super fast, and the phone is heating up! The camera issues affect other apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp too. Anyone else facing this mess? #iOS261 #Apple #iPhoneProblems #TechSupport"
Nani30 wrote:
Seriously regretting the iOS 26.1 update 🙂. Having multiple problems: camera shows a blank screen, contact posters disappear, battery is draining super fast, and the phone is heating up! The camera issues affect other apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp too. Anyone else facing this mess? #iOS261 #Apple #iPhoneProblems #TechSupport"
Sounds like the phone needs repair.
The process of erasing and setting up again can very often fix a glitch.
Resources…
Backing Up: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support
Restoring: Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support
If that fails, prepare it for repair and Official Apple Support
Your phone doesn’t need a repair.. mine is doing the SAME exact thing since updating it to 26.1! It’s so annoying! My camera will open and if it loads from a black screen at all-it freezes after 2 seconds of it being opened. Hopefully they fix this fast!
Wonderful tip Embraosrs! Thank you very much! I did what you suggested and it works great! The only thing I additionally did was the reset restart (pressing volume up, volume down, and press the right (big) button until it restarts and shows the apple logo. When it started I tested the camera and everything was working normally.
I have a very similar problem, though for me it is not necessarily consistant. So far, when I use the camera app, everything is fine and it will be for a few hours/days, though every other app (snapchat, instagram, files, etc.) cannot access the camera; the screen is simply completely back for both the front and back cameras. What has worked has been to simply restart my phone and after that it'd be alright, however it is quite annoying especially when doing things like document scans, video calls, etc. Hope they fix this with an update soon!
Same issue here. When the phone is restarted, camera works for a while, but then crashes. Face ID works fine, even when the camera isn't. When the problem starts, the Camera app opens for a few seconds, but then it blurs and doesn't take any photos or videos. Other apps also display a black screen for the camera. This problem definitely started with iOS 26 or 26.1 and is definitely related to that iOS version. I'm using an iPhone 14 Pro.
Just upgraded my iPhone and now there is no more portrait setting on my camera. It has been a great camera for years and now it's like downgrading to a basic point and shoot. There are only two settings: video and photo. That's it. I use to have panorama, portrait, slo-mo and others. Where did they go? This is bad.
WAIT! I figured it out. The photo modes are really hidden. You have to slide the "photo" button (when you're in the camera) until they appear. If you want to access things like 4:3, exposure, "live" and all that, you have to tap the photo button. Those settings used to be accessible by tapping the little arrow-like button at the top of the frame but no more. The "live" setting could be turned off a lot more easily than it can now. Now, you have to tap the photo button until the settings appear, then tap the "live" button to turn it off. Meanwhile, your subject has moved... Personally, I don't like "live" unless I want to capture movement. What would be great is if there were a way to turn off "live" for more than one photo. Even though it's a relief to have found all this stuff, what a completely useless update. I don't care about the jelly-looking stuff; I just want the phone and the camera to work. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Exact same issues since updating to 26.1. Tried several things to fix it but all only fix it for a while and then the same issue reoccurs.
Symptom: screen turns greyish or black when opening Camera or any other app using the camera.
Have tried:
1 hard reset (voluptuous, volume down, holding right button till appte logo appears)
2 Reset iPhone (settings - general) which involves reconfiguring Face ID, Apple Pay, all accessibility settings erc
3 turned off the camera setting Lock screen swipe to open camera
I have an iPhone 12. Really wondering what else I can do. So many people face these issues since iOS 26.1.
About time that Apple provides a fix!!
or does anyone still have some tip?
This what I keep getting anytime I try and use my camera. If I try and zoom or if I try and switch from photo to video it freezes. We’ve had two RC builds an neither of them fixed the camera. I got a iPhone 17 pro max and a uses camera
Turn off the new setting for the camera app that says Lock Screen swipe. Turn your phone off and turn it on. That’s what I did to my friends phone and this problem stopped.
Facing same annoying camera blurry issue and until restarting, can't take any picture. But again same problem after sometimes 🥲
I too am having the same camera issue after the update to IOS 26.1. Don’t even tell us it’s an hardware issue.
camera glitch after updating IOS 26.1
