iPhone camera remains black - what to do?

If the camera stays black on your iPhone and stops working, you can usually fix it yourself. A software update may already be available for this problem. We show which solutions are available.

IPhone / iPad camera stays black - you can do that

With the following tips you can try to get the camera ready for use again from your iPhone or iPad:

• A simple restart of the iPhone or iPad should fix the problem in most cases.
• Also take a look at the camera. It may be covered or soiled by paper or the like.
• Check if the camera works in other apps. If this is the case, there is no defect in the hardware. If the camera only doesn't work in some third-party apps, you should check the permissions in the settings. The app may not have access to the camera at all.
• Instead, you should check whether there is a software update for your iPhone or iPad. Sometimes updates are enough to fix minor bugs.
• If this does not solve the problem either, you should perform a hard reset on the iPhone. All settings are reset to the factory settings. Be sure to make a backup beforehand so that no data can be lost.

Further solutions in the event of a hardware defect

If the hard reset was unsuccessful, the camera may be defective.

• You will need to have the camera replaced in such a case.
• If you still have a warranty on your device, you should claim this from Apple.
• If your device is already out of warranty, you have to pay for the repair yourself.

We will tell you in our next practical tip what you can do if the front camera of your iPhone is defective.