Last updated on October 19th, 2022 at 07:12 pm
Samsung Galaxy digital camera and Samsung Galaxy smartphones can take great photos. But like all electronic devices, sometimes the technology doesn’t want to work properly. One of the most common errors encountered is “Camera failed”. What exactly does this mean and how can you fix it? Below are some potential causes and solutions.
This article provides troubleshooting steps for Camera Failed error on both Samsung Galaxy digital camera and built-in cameras on Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
Causes of camera failed error on Samsung devices
The Camera Failed error does not include any error code or details about why the camera is not working properly. This makes troubleshooting difficult. However, it is not impossible to fix as in most cases it is a simple software issue. The error can be caused by an incomplete firmware update, expired third-party apps, or an SD card that the camera suddenly doesn’t recognize.
How to Fix Camera Failed Error in Samsung Galaxy Camera
You may have to try several strategies to fix Camera Failed error on Samsung Galaxy camera. Try these steps, from the simplest to the most complicated.
Make sure the camera battery is fully charged before trying any of these troubleshooting steps. Some may take a few minutes to complete, and if the battery dies while you’re taking a step, you may encounter other errors and have to restart the troubleshooting process.
- Restart the camera. Many problems that cause software errors can be solved by a simple restart. Press and hold the Power button to turn off the camera. Once turned off, let the camera sit for at least 30 seconds before turning it back on.
- Boot into safe mode. If the camera works properly in Safe Mode, it’s likely that a third-party app is conflicting with the device’s software. Restart the camera and remove recently installed or updated third-party apps one at a time until you find the one causing the problem.Fastboot must be disabled to boot into safe mode. To disable fast startup, go to apps > settings > Power then tap Fast startup to disable it.
- Clear app memory and app data. After the cache is cleared, restart the camera and test it to see if the error is gone.
- Reformat the SD card. Occasionally, the Samsung Galaxy camera encounters an error while reading the SD card, which can cause the camera to fail. Reformatting the card may solve the problem.Reformatting an SD card erases all its data. If you don’t want to lose the images on the card, transfer the files to your computer using an SD card reader before reformatting.
- Update the camera firmware manually. An update might have a solution for the problem you’re experiencing.Before starting this step, check your firmware version against the versions available on the Samsung Support website. If you have the most current one, skip this step.
- Perform a hard reset. This restores the camera to factory settings.If you choose to perform a factory reset, your apps, pictures, and data on your internal storage will be lost. Be sure to back up these items before starting the reset process if there is anything stored on the camera that you cannot easily replace.
- Get help. If none of these options restore your camera, contact Samsung Support for further assistance. Their contact information is at the bottom of the web page.
How to Fix Camera Failed Error in Samsung Galaxy Smartphone Cameras
Samsung Galaxy smartphones may experience the same Camera Failed error that affects Samsung Galaxy cameras. But, some of the troubleshooting steps are different. We present them below.
Some carriers install their software on top of the Galaxy platform, which may create slight variations in the steps listed below. If you encounter such an instance, please let us know at feedback@lifewire.com.
- Restart your Galaxy smartphone. Many problems that cause software errors can be solved by a simple restart.
- Check for system and application updates. An outdated operating system or app can cause the camera failed error.
- Boot into safe mode. Then check if your camera is working properly. Otherwise, the problem could be a third-party app conflicting with the camera software. Restart your phone normally and remove recently installed or updated third-party apps one at a time until the problem goes away. You may need to restart your phone after removing each app to make sure it is completely removed. Third-party apps commonly cause the Camera Failed error, so don’t skip this step.
- Clear app cache and storage data. After the cache is cleared, restart the camera and test it to see if the issue is resolved.
- Remove then reinsert the microSD card. Occasionally, the Samsung Galaxy smartphone camera encounters an error when reading the microSD card, which can cause the Camera Failed error. Reformat the card if prompted. Reformatting a microSD card erases all data on that card. If you have pictures or apps you don’t want to lose, transfer those files to your computer using a microSD card reader.
- Turn off Smart Stay. This feature uses the front-facing selfie camera to monitor the position of your face while looking at the screen for a long time without touching it. Since this uses the camera, it can sometimes cause a conflict if you use the rear camera when Smart Stay is active.
- Perform a hard reset. If nothing has worked up to this point, the last thing to try is a hard reset. This resets the phone to its factory settings, which means you have to go through the entire setup process again as if it were a new device. A factory data reset erases all apps and data from your phone. Make sure you have a backup of any information you don’t want to lose before starting the factory reset process.
- If none of these steps work to fix the Camera Failed error for your Samsung Galaxy smartphone, contact the Samsung Mobile support team for further assistance.
Read also: How to use second screen to set the galaxy tab as a secondary monitor
