iPhone 12 and later: Camera Issues
Troubleshooting camera or LiDAR issues
Troubleshooting TrueDepth camera or Face ID issues
Troubleshooting camera or LiDAR issues
Identify issues
Read this article if you notice any of the following issues:
Photo or video image issue
Blurry or fuzzy
Too dark or too light
Colored lines or bands
Spots
Incorrect color balance
Abnormal flare, haze, or spot near the edge
Brightly colored scratches
Camera issue
Can’t take photos
Can’t record video
No preview visible in Camera app
Camera app quits unexpectedly
LED flash not working
Camera app doesn’t switch between camera and TrueDepth camera
Camera has issues switching to the telephoto camera for optical zoom beyond 2x in bright light conditions
Dust or other foreign material in camera lens
LiDAR issue
LiDAR Scanner won’t measure
If the camera or flash on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch isn't working
If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article, continue to the next section.
Try quick troubleshooting steps
Clean all camera lenses with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth — for example, a lens cloth.
Important: Unplug all cables and turn off the iPhone first. Don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge the iPhone in any cleaning agents. Don't use compressed air.
Remove any case, accessory, or film that may block the camera or flash or that places a magnet near the camera. Remove all accessories before testing. Magnetic accessories might interfere with iPhone cameras.
Inspect the iPhone for damage around the camera. Any damage to the camera, such as from dropping the iPhone, may require a camera repair.
Run manual and diagnostic tests
If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article or checking for potential causes, run these diagnostic and manual tests to help isolate the cause of the issue:
Take a photo from the lock screen using the Camera app to test camera quality.
Open and inspect the iPhone
If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following support articles or running diagnostics tests, refer to the iPhone repair manual to open and inspect the iPhone. A damaged or out-of-place part may be causing one of the issues.
Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.
Replace the part
If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following the previous steps, replace the camera. Replace the back glass in iPhone 14 and 14 Plus models to resolve camera flash issues.
Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.
Troubleshooting TrueDepth camera or Face ID issues
Identify issues
Read these articles if you notice any of the following issues:
Photo or video image issue
Blurry or fuzzy
Too dark or too light
Colored lines or bands
Spots
Incorrect color balance
Abnormal flare, haze, or spot near the edge
Brightly colored scratches
Camera issue
Can’t take photos
Can’t record video
No preview visible in Camera app
Camera app quits unexpectedly
Camera app doesn’t switch between camera and TrueDepth camera
Dust or other foreign material in camera lens
Face ID issue
Can’t set up Face ID
Can’t recognize a person's face
Can’t unlock iPhone using Face ID
Can’t make a purchase using Face ID
“Face ID has been disabled” alert appears
If the camera or flash on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch isn't working
If an alert says Face ID has been disabled on your iPhone or iPad Pro
If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article, continue to the next section.
Try quick troubleshooting steps
Clean all camera lenses with a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth — for example, a lens cloth.
Important: Unplug all cables and turn off the iPhone first. Don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don't submerge the iPhone in any cleaning agents. Don't use compressed air.
Remove any case, accessory, or film that may block the camera or flash or that places a magnet near the camera. Remove all accessories before testing.
Ensure that your eyes, nose, and mouth are fully visible to the TrueDepth camera. If you're wearing sunglasses that block certain types of light, try using Face ID without sunglasses.
Ensure that the iPhone is 10–20 inches from your face.
Run manual and diagnostic tests
If the issue wasn’t resolved by following a support article or checking for potential causes, run these diagnostic and manual tests to help isolate the cause of the issue:
Run the Face ID diagnostic suite.
Take a photo from the lock screen using the Camera app with the TrueDepth camera to test camera quality.
Open and inspect the iPhone
If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following support articles or running diagnostics tests, refer to the iPhone repair manual to open and inspect the iPhone. A damaged or out-of-place part may be causing one of the issues.
Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.
Replace the part
If the issue wasn’t resolved or isolated by following the previous steps, replace the TrueDepth camera.
Note: This section requires ordering parts and tools. Replacing a part may not resolve the device’s issue. You can find other service options at support.apple.com/repair.