If the camera or flash on your iPhone or iPad isn't working

Get help with camera or flash issues. After troubleshooting, you might need to get service.

Get help with these issues

  • Photos are blurry, have visual artifacts or lens flare, or show poor visual quality

  • The variable aperture on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max won't change

  • The camera screen is black

  • The camera flash keeps blinking or other issues with the flash

Try these steps first

  1. Remove any case, film, or accessory (such as a polarizer, extender, or magnifier) that might block the camera or flash or that places a magnet near the camera.

  2. If photos are blurry, clean the front and back camera lenses with a microfiber cloth.

  3. Restart your iPhone or iPad.

Troubleshoot the camera

  1. Update your iPhone or iPad to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.

  2. Test the camera by trying to take a photo or—with iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max—changing the variable aperture.

  3. If your device has a front and rear camera, check if one or both aren't working. To switch cameras, tap the rotate buttonNo alt supplied for Image.

  4. If you see motion blur in low-light situations and you use a lens converter, metallic case, or a magnetic lens mount, try removing the accessory.

  5. If the camera screen is black, use iOS Diagnostics to test the camera:

    1. Start Recovery Assistant by turning off your device and pressing and holding the side button when your device starts up.

    2. Tap Diagnostics Mode, then follow the on-screen instructions. When asked to choose a diagnostic, tap Mobile Resource Inspector, then tap Start Diagnostic.

    3. If Mobile Resource Inspector finds an issue, get service.

Learn more about Recovery Assistant

Troubleshoot the flash

  1. Try the flashlight in Control Center on your iPhone or Control Center on your iPad. On an iPhone X or later or an iPad, swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen. On an iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom edge of any screen. Tap the Flashlight button.

  2. If the flash works only sometimes, your camera might be set to Flash Auto. To choose a different setting, open the Camera app and tap the flash button.

  3. Learn what to do if the flash blinks repeatedly.

Get service

If the camera or flash still isn't working properly, you might need service. Get service.

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