- Fix 1: allow camera access
- Fix 2: check another app isn't using the camera
- Fix 3: test your phone's own camera
- Fix 4: update, restart and reopen
- Camera not working on WhatsApp video calls
- Camera not working on WhatsApp Web or desktop
- Black screen in WhatsApp's camera only
- Camera works, but photos won't send
- When a reinstall makes sense
- A note on photos you receive
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
If WhatsApp's camera isn't working, check camera permission first: WhatsApp can't take photos or videos without it. On iPhone it's Settings, Privacy & Security, Camera; on Android it's Settings, Apps, WhatsApp, Permissions, Camera. Then close any other app using the camera, and test your phone's own camera app.
When WhatsApp's camera shows a black screen, freezes, or won't open at all, the cause is nearly always a permission or another app holding the camera. WhatsApp's own help article for this gives exact steps for both phones, plus one quick test that tells you whether WhatsApp is even the problem. Here's the order to work through, quickest first, so you're not reinstalling an app that was never the problem.
Fix 1: allow camera access
WhatsApp says it won't be able to take photos or videos unless you give it permission to use the camera.
| Phone | Steps |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings, Privacy & Security, Camera, then turn on WhatsApp |
| Android | Settings, Apps, All apps, WhatsApp, Permissions, Camera, then Allow only while using the app |
If permission is already on, turn it off and back on. WhatsApp lists toggling permissions as a fix, and it clears a surprising number of camera glitches after phone updates.
Fix 2: check another app isn't using the camera
Your camera can only serve one app reliably at a time. WhatsApp's help suggests looking for the green dot at the top of an iPhone screen, or the green camera icon on Android. If it's showing before you open WhatsApp's camera, something else has it. Close video calling apps, social apps with the camera open, and scanning or banking apps, then try again.
Fix 3: test your phone's own camera
This is the quickest way to save time. Open your phone's normal camera app. WhatsApp says that if the default camera app also doesn't work, the problem may be with your device rather than WhatsApp. In that case, restart the phone, and if it's still black, it's a job for the phone maker or a repair shop.
Fix 4: update, restart and reopen
- Update WhatsApp from the App Store or Google Play.
- Force-quit WhatsApp and open it again.
- Restart your phone.
- Check you have some free storage, since a full phone can stop photos and videos saving.
Camera not working on WhatsApp video calls
If the camera works for photos but not calls, check you haven't switched your video off in the call controls, and that your network is strong enough for video. On WhatsApp Web or the desktop app, WhatsApp's help says the browser or app needs camera and microphone access, and no other app should be using them. Close meeting apps like Zoom or Teams before the call.
Camera not working on WhatsApp Web or desktop
- Allow the camera when your browser asks. If you blocked it earlier, use the padlock or site settings icon in the address bar to allow it.
- In your computer's privacy settings, allow your browser or the WhatsApp app to use the camera.
- Close other apps that use the webcam.
- If you have an external webcam, unplug it and plug it back in.
Black screen in WhatsApp's camera only
- Clean the lens. A smudge or case edge can block the view more than you'd think.
- Switch between front and rear cameras to see if one works.
- Check you aren't in low power or battery saver mode, which some phones use to limit background camera access.
- Free up storage, then try again.
Camera works, but photos won't send
If you can take a photo in WhatsApp but it sits with a clock icon or never sends, the camera is fine and the problem is the connection or storage. Check you're online, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and make sure the phone isn't almost full. Large videos can also take a long time on a slow connection, so try a shorter clip to test.
When a reinstall makes sense
Reinstalling is the last resort, not the first, because you'll need a backup to keep your chats. Only do it after permissions, other apps, updates and a restart haven't helped, and after you've confirmed your phone's own camera works. Run a fresh chat backup first, uninstall WhatsApp, reinstall it, restore, and allow camera access when WhatsApp asks for it during set-up.
A note on photos you receive
Sometimes "camera not working" turns out to be photos that won't open rather than a camera problem. If pictures sent to you won't load, that's a download or storage issue. And view once photos behave differently by design: WhatsApp says recipients can't take a screenshot of view once media, so a blocked screenshot isn't a fault.
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For pictures that won't download, see WhatsApp images not loading, and if your gallery is filling up, stopping WhatsApp saving photos frees space that the camera needs.
My verdict
Check camera permission, close any app showing the green camera indicator, and open your phone's own camera to test it. If the normal camera works, update and restart WhatsApp. If it doesn't, WhatsApp itself is telling you the problem is the phone, so save yourself the reinstall and get the phone looked at instead.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my WhatsApp camera not working?
Usually WhatsApp doesn't have camera permission or another app is using the camera.
How do I allow camera access on WhatsApp?
On iPhone: Settings, Privacy & Security, Camera. On Android: Settings, Apps, All apps, WhatsApp, Permissions, Camera.
Why is the WhatsApp camera black?
Another app may be holding the camera, or the lens or case is blocking it. Test your phone's own camera app.
Why doesn't my camera work on WhatsApp video calls?
Check video isn't turned off in the call, and on desktop that the app or browser has camera access with no other app using it.
Should I reinstall WhatsApp to fix the camera?
Only as a last resort, after permissions, closing other apps, updating and restarting. Back up your chats first so you can restore them.
What if my phone's normal camera doesn't work either?
WhatsApp says the problem may be your device rather than WhatsApp.
