How to Fix an iPhone Camera Not Working After iOS Update (2025)

If your iPhone camera not working after iOS update has you frustrated, you're not alone. Many iPhone users report their camera freezing, showing a black screen, or lagging right after installing a new iOS version. As smartphone experts at Esmond Service Centre in Singapore, we see this issue often and have helped countless iPhone owners resolve it. In this guide, we’ll use our professional experience (and Apple’s own tips) to explain why this problem happens and how you can fix it at home. You’ll get quick, practical troubleshooting steps to get your camera working smoothly again.

If an iPhone camera not working after iOS update is causing you headaches, this article will help you fix it step by step.

Why it happens: New iOS releases can contain bugs that affect the Camera app, which Apple typically fixes in subsequent patches. For example, iOS 18.0.1 fixed a bug that caused the camera to freeze when recording macro-mode video on iPhone 16 Pro models. Therefore, the first thing to do is ensure your iPhone is running the latest iOS version. Apple Support’s first advice for camera issues is to install any pending iOS updates.

Solution: Go to Settings → General → Software Update and download and install the newest iOS 18.x available. After updating, open the Camera app and test it. In many cases, simply getting the latest software will immediately fix an iPhone camera not working after iOS update scenario. The update contains code fixes and stability improvements that can remove whatever glitch was causing the camera to malfunction.

Why it happens: After a major iOS update, your iPhone will perform background housekeeping (re-indexing photos, files, etc.) for a day or two. During this time the device might feel slow, run warm, and use more battery than usual. Apple notes that this short-term performance impact after updating is normal while the system finishes its setup tasks.

Solution: Be patient and wait for 24–48 hours to let these background processes finish. Keep your iPhone plugged in and on Wi-Fi overnight to speed up indexing. Also ensure you have at least 5–10 GB of free storage so the system has room to work. If your phone gets very hot, let it cool down and avoid heavy camera use until it stabilizes. After a day or two, your camera will likely return to normal once the background tasks are done. (If your iPhone camera is still not working after iOS update after a couple of days, proceed to the next fix.)

If the camera app is still acting up, try these simple fixes that can clear minor software glitches:

• Force-quit the Camera app (and Photos app): On an iPhone with gesture navigation, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to open the app switcher. Find the Camera app’s preview and swipe it up off the screen to close it. Do the same for Photos if it’s open. This ensures the camera process is fully closed.

• Reboot your iPhone: Restarting the device can flush out any errant processes. Use the standard shutdown or perform a force restart (for most models, press volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears). After the phone restarts, launch the Camera app again. Often, a fresh reboot will resolve an iPhone camera issue by clearing any temporary glitch in the system.

These quick steps often fix an iPhone camera not working after iOS update because they clear any minor software hiccups or background errors.

Why it helps: Physical obstructions or interference can also cause camera problems. A phone case that partly covers a lens or uses a magnet near the camera can disrupt the iPhone’s optical image stabilization (OIS) and focusing system, sometimes even causing the app to freeze. Likewise, dirt or smudges on the camera lens can prevent the autofocus from working correctly, leading to blurry or black screens.

Solution: Take off your iPhone case (especially if it’s magnetic or bulky) and remove any clip-on lens attachments. Next, clean the camera lenses gently using a soft microfiber cloth. Clean both the rear camera and the front selfie camera lens to ensure no fingerprints or debris are causing focus issues. Apple specifically advises removing any case, film, or accessory that might block the camera or flash, and cleaning the lens if you see blurry images. After doing this, open the Camera app again. If the camera was struggling due to a case or grime on the lens, it should now function normally. This simple fix can often resolve an iPhone camera not working after iOS update situation when the root cause was a physical obstruction rather than the update itself. This simple fix resolves many “mysterious” camera failures that turn out to be coincidental hardware issues.

If you’re still encountering camera crashes or a black viewfinder, it’s time to dig into settings and deeper software fixes:

• Toggle certain Camera settings: Go to Settings → Camera and try turning off features like Macro Control or HDR Video, then turning them back on. Changing these options can knock the Camera app out of any problematic mode. After toggling a setting, reopen Camera and test again. This alone can get an iPhone camera not working after iOS update to respond again.
  
  

• Reset All Settings: If minor toggles don’t help, you can reset your iPhone’s settings entirely (without erasing your data). In Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone, choose Reset All Settings. Confirm the reset. Your iPhone will reboot, and all system settings will revert to factory defaults (network settings, app preferences, privacy permissions, home screen layout, etc.), but your apps, photos, and personal data will remain intact. Often, resetting the settings resolves the camera issue. Once your phone is back on, test the Camera. In many instances, this step alone fixes an iPhone camera not working after iOS update by clearing out bad configurations. You may need to rejoin Wi-Fi networks or re-adjust some preferences afterward, but it’s a proven way to fix stubborn software bugs.
  
  

• Reinstall iOS (last resort): As a final measure, you can reinstall the iOS firmware using a computer. Back up your iPhone, then use a computer to reinstall a fresh copy of iOS (via Recovery Mode). This process can eliminate any firmware corruption that might be affecting the Camera. If an iPhone camera not working after iOS update still persists even on a freshly installed system, that confirms a hardware defect.

If you’ve tried all the above steps and your camera still won’t work properly, there may be an underlying hardware issue that coincidentally showed up after the update. Consider contacting a repair service or Apple Support if:

• The Camera app still crashes or shows a black viewfinder, even after all the above steps.
  
  

• The camera opens but cannot focus or capture photos, or you hear a strange rattling from the camera (sign of OIS hardware failure).
  
  

• The iPhone overheats or restarts whenever you use the camera, even after software updates (persistent thermal warnings).
  
  

At Esmond Service Centre, our technicians will quickly diagnose whether your camera issue is hardware or software. If it’s a hardware fault, we can often complete a same-day camera module replacement (common parts are in stock). If it’s a software glitch, we perform a calibrated iOS restore to fix the camera without replacing any hardware unnecessarily. Either way, we’ll get your iPhone camera working properly again.

Most iPhone camera not working after iOS update problems can be solved at home with the right approach. Here are the key takeaways to remember:

• Keep iOS updated: Install the latest iOS patches, as they often contain fixes for camera bugs.
  
  

• Be patient post-update: Allow the iPhone to finish its background indexing after an update, and keep about 5–10 GB of storage free for smooth operation.
  
  

• Restart and reset: Force-close the Camera app, reboot your iPhone, and if needed use Reset All Settings to clear any lingering software glitches.
  
  

• Check for obstructions: Remove cases or lens add-ons and clean the lens – an unobstructed, clean camera lens is crucial.

By following these steps, you can resolve most post-update camera issues yourself. If your camera still won’t work, the cause is probably hardware-related – at that point, seeking professional help is the best move. We hope this guide helps you get your iPhone camera back to normal, and if you have any other tips or have experienced a similar issue, feel free to share your experience in the comments (especially if you faced an iPhone camera not working after iOS update issue) – your story might help others. Remember, you’re not alone in facing tech problems, and there’s always a solution or an expert ready to assist!

Enjoyed this comprehensive troubleshooting guide? Follow our FaceBook page, Linkedin profile or Instagram account for more expert insights and practical tech tips. And if you still face an iPhone camera not working after iOS update and need professional help, contact Esmond Service Centre today for a consultation or to book a diagnostic. We’re here to help you keep your iPhone in perfect working order!