How to fix iPhone camera flashing error

Are you having a flickering issue with your iPhone camera? There are many factors that can cause this issue, so don't assume it's a hardware issue and take it to the Apple Store right away. Try these troubleshooting steps first!

1. Close the camera app and reopen it

One of the first fixes is to close and relaunch the Camera app. Doing so will reset the app’s state, clearing out any temporary data that may be corrupted and causing the flickering issue. Here’s what you need to do:

• Open the app switcher (by double-tapping the Home button or swiping up from the bottom of the screen and pausing in the middle).
• Swipe to the Camera app and swipe up to close the app.
• Reopen the app and check if you are still facing the flickering issue.

Closing and relaunching the app is also one of the best solutions if an iPhone app keeps crashing.

2. Turn off macro mode

Even after restarting the Camera app, the camera flickering issue may persist. In such cases, the built-in macro mode that helps capture detailed close-up shots may be the culprit. If you only experience the flickering issue when taking close-up shots, it may be because your camera is switched to the ultra-wide lens.

Turn off macro mode by following these steps:

• Open the Settings app .
• Scroll down and select Camera.
• Turn off Macro Control .

Macro controls are exclusive to the iPhone 13 Pro, 14 Pro, and 15 Pro models. You won't see it on the camera settings page if you don't own one of these iPhone models.

3. Adjust camera exposure manually

The iPhone camera automatically adjusts the exposure (the amount of light entering the lens) based on the environmental conditions. It will lower the exposure in bright environments and increase the exposure in dark environments. This automatic adjustment may not always be ideal. Sometimes, the iPhone may have difficulty determining a specific exposure value, resulting in flickering.

To solve this problem, you should adjust the exposure manually by following these steps:

• Tap the V icon at the top of the Camera app.
• Next, tap the round button with the plus and minus symbols.
• Now drag the slide left or right to find the ideal exposure.
• Once you're happy with how it looks in the camera preview, tap the shutter button to take the photo.

4. Turn on camera lock in settings

Macro mode isn’t the only feature on your iPhone that can switch camera lenses to help you get the best shot. Your iPhone will also automatically switch lenses at any time while recording video to give you the best results. However, this can also cause camera flicker if it’s not working properly.

Luckily, Apple lets you prevent the Camera app from switching lenses while recording video. Here's how to disable this default behavior:

• Open the Settings app and select Camera.
• On the next page, tap Record Video .
• Turn on Camera Lock .

5. Restart iPhone

Restarting can fix most smartphone problems, so it's no surprise that it's often recommended in almost every troubleshooting guide. Restarting will clear all data stored in memory, thus eliminating any temporary glitches that are causing erratic behavior, such as an iPhone camera flickering.

It also frees up all resources and restarts all apps, including the Camera app, which can help fix the problem. Depending on the model, there are different ways to restart an iPhone.

Hopefully one of the above fixes has helped you resolve your iPhone camera flickering issue. However, if you’ve tried all of the above solutions and your camera is still flickering, it’s time to contact Apple support.

You can easily get technical support for your iPhone using the Apple Support app. If the problem is hardware-related, you will need to take your iPhone to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to have the lens replaced. But this can be expensive unless you purchase AppleCare+ coverage .