Why is my camera not working and saying ‘can’t connect to camera’?

Why is my camera not working and saying ‘can’t connect to camera’?
I’m experiencing an issue with my camera where it’s not working, and I keep getting an error message that says ‘can’t connect to camera’. Every time I try to open the camera app, it fails to launch properly and immediately displays this message. I’ve restarted my device multiple times, but the problem persists. The camera was working perfectly fine before, and I haven’t made any significant changes or installed any new apps recently that might interfere with it. This issue is quite frustrating because I rely on my camera for various needs, from taking photos to video calls. I’m not sure what could be causing this problem and would appreciate any insights into what might be going wrong.
5 Answers

If you’re stuck with the ‘camera is not working’ and it says ‘can’t connect to camera’, this might help:
- Update System Software: Manufacturers release updates to address software bugs. Head to Settings > System Updates.
- Reset App Preferences: This step will reset all preferences for disabled apps, notifications, default apps, etc. Go to Settings > Apps > Menu (three dots) > Reset app preferences.
- Check Recently Installed Apps: Some third-party apps might interfere with the camera. Try uninstalling apps installed around the time the issue began.

I’ve faced this problem before, and here’s my detailed approach:
- Reboot in Safe Mode: First, reboot your phone in safe mode to check whether a third-party app is causing the issue.
- Press and hold the power button until the power off menu appears.
- Touch and hold ‘Power off’ until ‘Reboot to safe mode’ appears.
- Tap ‘OK’. Your device will restart in safe mode.
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Open the camera app. If the camera works in safe mode, an installed app is likely causing the issue. Restart the device to exit safe mode and uninstall apps one by one until you find the culprit.
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Check for Conflicting Apps: Certain apps that use the camera (e.g., Instagram, Snapchat) might cause a conflict. Ensure to close these apps or check their camera permissions and disable them temporarily to see if the issue resolves.
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Inspect Camera Slot (if applicable): For devices with removable batteries or swappable camera modules, ensure the camera is seated correctly and securely in its slot. A misalignment can cause connectivity issues.
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Wipe Cache Partition: Clearing the system cache might help.
- Turn off the device.
- Press and hold the Volume Up key and the Power key simultaneously.
- When the device logo screen appears, release the Power key, but continue holding the Volume key.
- Use the Volume keys to select ‘Wipe Cache Partition’ and the Power key to choose.
- After wiping the cache, restart the device.

To resolve the issue where your camera is not working and displays ‘can’t connect to camera’, you can try the following steps:
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Restart the Device: Sometimes, a simple restart can fix minor software glitches. Hold the power button and select ‘Restart’. Once the device reboots, try opening the camera app again.
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Clear Camera App Data and Cache: Go to Settings > Apps > Camera > Storage, then tap ‘Clear Cache’ and ‘Clear Data’. This will reset the camera app, removing any corrupt files that might be causing the issue.
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Check for Software Updates: Ensure your device is running the latest software. Go to Settings > Software Update and check for any available updates. Installing the latest updates can resolve bugs that interfere with the camera functionality.
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Inspect Permissions: Verify that the camera app has the necessary permissions. Go to Settings > Apps > Camera > Permissions and make sure it has access to the camera hardware.
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Safe Mode: Boot your device in Safe Mode to determine if a third-party app is causing the issue. If the camera works in Safe Mode, uninstall recently downloaded apps to identify the culprit.

When your camera is not working and says ‘can’t connect to camera’, it typically indicates a software issue, though hardware problems can occasionally cause it. One approach is to confirm if the problem lies with the software or the hardware:
- Software Check:
- Perform a factory reset: this is a last resort if other troubleshooting steps fail.
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Update your device’s firmware: out-of-date firmware can cause the camera to malfunction.
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Hardware Check:
- Inspect for physical damage: look for any signs of impact or moisture.
- Consider professional repair: if the problem persists, take your device to an authorized technician to diagnose possible hardware failure.

You might wonder why your camera is not working and shows the error ‘can’t connect to camera’. This error is common among smartphone users, and it can be attributed to several potential issues. Let me break it down into a few steps you can follow to troubleshoot this.
- Restart the Camera App: Close the camera app from the recent apps section and relaunch it. Sometimes, the app might fail to start properly due to minor bugs.
- Use Another App: Try using another app that requires the camera, like a video calling app, to see if the issue persists. If the camera works fine in another app, the problem might be with the original camera app itself.
- Examine Storage Space: Ensure your device has adequate storage space. Lack of storage can sometimes prevent the camera app from functioning correctly.