Snapchat Camera Not Working? Here’s Fix
Imagine this: you are about to record a new Snap to upload it to your story - there are new trendy filters around, so you better use them!
Then, all of a sudden, Snapchat presents camera issues out of nowhere - why did this happen?
If your camera shows a black screen or you simply can’t access Snapchat camera whatsoever, then this post is for you.
Many users have experienced this same issue before.
Fortunately, we at GrowFollowing are experts at bug fixes and know what to do whenever Snapchat is not working!
Read further to learn more about:
- Why is Snapchat camera not working?;
- Troubleshooting tips to get rid of camera issues on Snapchat;
- What to do if the Snapchat camera app continues to fail.
Why Is Snapchat Camera Not Working?
Snapchat camera issues are not that common, but they can happen nonetheless. The main reasons behind this problem are:
- Software issues: the Snapchat’s camera cannot work properly if the app has problems processing the information;
- Hardware issues: perhaps your Android or iOS device is the problem - that remains to be seen;
- Platform issues: Snapchat’s camera will not work if there are outages on the Snapchat end.
In most cases, you can use your phone’s camera normally - the problem appears when you try to capture photos or videos with the built-in camera on Snapchat instead.
How to Fix Snapchat Camera Not Working
Fortunately, troubleshooting the Snapchat camera is relatively easy, so we can get the app working properly again.
We have identified 8 proven methods that will help you get rid of bugs in the Snapchat application once and for all, so let’s do it!
1. Check Your Internet Connection
First things first - if you are trying to access Snapchat, but the app’s camera is not loading, then your Internet connection might be the problem.
Try to turn off Wi-Fi and turn it on again. Send snaps to other Snapchat users using your mobile data and check whether your connection is the problem.
If your connection doesn’t work, then you need to contact your Internet service provider and ask them to fix the issue - there’s no way around it!
2. Update the Snapchat App
If you don’t update Snapchat as you should, the app will start to fail without further notice.
Perhaps you will be unable to send pictures as Snaps! Therefore, in order to avoid this, you must perform app updates in the following way:
- Android apps are updated through the Play Store. So, open Google Play Store, search for Snapchat, open the app info page and download the latest version;
- On the other hand, iOS users must open the Apple App Store, find Snapchat, and update it properly.
3. Check Camera Access Permissions
If you fail to provide camera permissions to Snapchat, then forget about using it on your phone.
Snapchat camera works through enabled camera permission on most phones, so this is what to have to do to allow camera access on Snapchat:
- If you own an Android, open Settings, go to the App option, look for Snapchat, tap on it and enable camera permissions;
- iPhone users must open Settings app, go to Apps, locate Snapchat and enable permissions on the phone’s settings.
This should be enough for you to be able to use all required app permissions on Snapchat.
4. Close All Apps and Restart Your Phone
This little trick works sometimes, but it’s a sign that your phone is failing, and you might need to replace it in the near future.
- Force close Snapchat on the phone’ settings app menu;
- Likewise, force stop all installed apps on your phone;
- Open Snapchat, and check if the black screen on the camera has disappeared.
If you cannot fix Snapchat camera issue with this method, then move on to the following fix.
5. Clear Cache Files on Snapchat
Maybe too many apps, including Snapchat, are affecting your device’s storage.
In this case, deleting Snapchat cache might be the little trick you are looking for to solve this camera issue/
- Open Snapchat on your phone and tap on the little icon at the top left corner of the screen;
- Then open settings by tapping on the gear icon;
- Scroll down to the Account Actions option and tap on it;
- Select “Cache Files,” and on the next tab, simply tap on**“Delete Cache Files.”**
After you clear cache, close the Snapchat app and check if you can now take a picture or video Snaps on your phone.
6. Delete And Reinstall Snapchat
If nothing has worked for you until now, your best shot is to entirely delete the Snapchat app and start over again.
Don’t worry, your Snapchat app credentials won’t be lost. Simply delete the application and then download it again to see if this does the job.
If not, move on to the next fix.
7. Upgrade Your Mobile Device
Sorry to break it to you, but if none of the aforementioned solutions has worked, then your phone’s hardware or software is the problem. You have two options here:
- Upgrade your phone’s OS and reinstall the Snapchat app;
- Change your phone entirely or take it to a specialized technical service so they can check it out.
8. Report Snapchat Camera Issue to Support
Unfortunately, Snapchat Support can’t do much against technical errors such as the camera not working.
If you have updated the Snapchat app, applied permissions, cleared cache, and followed all steps in this guide, then you need to report this bug to Snapchat Support Team.
It might take a while before they answer, but at least you sent them a message.
We are confident that you will be able to solve this app problem sooner than later.
Need more Snapchat insights? Check all articles on GrowFollowing!
FAQ
Is Snapchat Camera Failing Due to Server Problems?
In order to check whether Snapchat servers are working or not, we recommend you go to reliable sites, such as DownDetector.com. You can also ask your friends if Snapchat is working on their devices as it should.
Karen is a senior technical writer and copywriter here at GrowFollowing. Her area of expertize are social media apps and new media.