Fix your Camera app on your Pixel phone or tablet

Important: Pixel phones have a larger camera that uses additional components to focus quickly. If you shake the phone, the camera may make a slight rattling noise. This is normal and expected behavior. On Pixel 6, you may hear it on the main camera.

If you experience issues on your phone or tablet when you try to capture a photo or video, like:

• Camera app crashes
• “Something went wrong” message
• Camera shutter is delayed
• Can't select different camera functions
• Can't switch between front and back camera
• Focus feature doesn't work properly
• Preview screen flickers
• Flash doesn't work

Try the steps in this article to fix the problem. After each step, open your Camera app and check whether it fixed the issue. If not, try the next step.

Tips:

• If you experience a camera issue with a third party app, troubleshoot the Pixel Camera app with the instructions listed here.
• If the Pixel Camera app works fine, refer to Fix an installed app that isn't working on a Pixel phone.

Follow general troubleshooting steps for camera issues

Step 1: Restart your phone or tablet

1. Turn your phone or tablet off.
   • On Pixel 5a and earlier: Press and hold the Power button for a few seconds. Then, on your screen, tap Power off .
   • On Pixel 6 and later (including Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet): Press and hold the Power and Volume up buttons for a few seconds. Then, on your screen, tap Power off .
2. After your device turns off, press and hold the Power button until it turns back on.

Step 2: Clear the Camera app's cache

1. Locate the Camera app.
2. Press and hold the Camera app icon.
3. Tap App info.
4. Tap Storage & cache Clear Cache.

Tip: You can check other camera apps on your phone or tablet. If other apps crash when accessing the camera, it’s likely a hardware issue. Get started with a repair.

Step 3: Update your apps

Check if an update for the Camera app is available:

1. Open the Google Play Store app .
2. At the top right, tap the Profile icon.
3. Tap Manage apps & devices.
4. Under "Updates available," install any updates available for Pixel Camera.

Check if an Android System Update is available:

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap System  Software Updates.
3. Tap System update  Check for update.

Step 4: Check if other apps cause the problem

1. Turn your phone or tablet off.
   • On Pixel 5a and earlier: Press and hold the Power button for a few seconds. Then, on your screen, tap Power off .
   • On Pixel 6 and later (including Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet): On your screen, tap and hold the Power off or Restart buttons then tap OK.
2. After your phone or tablet turns off, press and hold the Power button until it turns back on.
3. When the G logo appears, press and hold the Volume down button until your device starts in safe mode.
   • The words "Safe mode" show at the bottom of your screen.
4. Open your camera and check if the camera is working.
   • If the camera app works in safe mode, another app might cause the problem.
     1. To turn off safe mode, restart your phone or tablet.
     2. Uninstall your most recently downloaded app.
     3. Open your camera and check if you fixed the issue. If not, repeat the previous step.
     4. If you fixed the problem, reinstall any apps you removed before the last app.
   • If Camera app doesn’t work in safe mode, learn more ways to fix an app.

Try selfie camera

This may help you find out which camera has an issue. After you try the general troubleshooting steps for camera issues, you can try to turn on the front or selfie camera directly:

1. Touch and hold the Camera app.
2. When the pop-up menu appears, tap Take a selfie.
3. If you find an error message or the selfie camera works but can’t switch the camera in the Camera app start a repair or contact us.

You can also use Google Assistant to turn on your selfie camera. Learn how to set up Google Assistant on your phone or tablet.

Fix shutter delay

To make sure that your device is set up correctly to quickly take photos, check the following:

Check your device for issues

• Check that your device isn't hot.
  • High temperature can slow the camera's response.
• Remove any protective cases and gently clean the lens.
  • Some cases and accessories may unintentionally block the lens and affect focus on some devices.
• To carefully clean the back glass panel, which includes the camera lens and sensors, gently wipe it with a soft, clean cloth.
• Check for permanent scratches near the camera lens and sensors.

Check your Camera app settings

1. Close background apps.
2. Open the Camera app.
3. Turn off auto-timer and flash:
   1. In the Camera app, at the bottom left, tap Settings.
   2. Turn off the timer and under "More Light," turn off the flash.
4. Take a photo in good lighting.
   • If you take a photo in a dark environment, the camera might take longer to capture a well-lit photo.

Still have camera problems on your Pixel phone or tablet?

For possible solutions to other issues with your phone’s camera, you can post questions on the Google Pixel Help Community or the Pixel Tablet Help Community.

Related resources

• Change your Camera app settings