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How to fix ''camera failed'' problem on Galaxy S4

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S4 review 2015 9
© nextpit

If you receive the message: “Warning: Camera Failed” on your Galaxy S4, it may seem like a big issue, but the solution is actually very simple. It is usually a software problem rather than a hardware issue, and can often be fixed with the following troubleshooting steps. Here's how to fix the Galaxy S4 'camera failed' problem. 

androidpit samsung galaxy s4 hero h
This is how to fix the camera failed problem on the Galaxy S4 / © ANDROIDPIT

Clear camera cache and data

From the home screen, go to Menu > Settings > Application manager, then swipe twice to the left to choose the All tab. Scroll to the camera and tap it, then tap the force close button, the clear cache button and the clear data button. Note that your preferences and settings may be deleted when you do this. After you've done all this, reboot your phone and see whether the camera is now working

Your camera failures may have been caused by something in the cached data that has been corrupted. Tapping the force close button will stop the app from running, and clearing the cache and the data will delete the files that are used by the camera when it launches its app. It will also delete any preferences and settings that you have set, but only for the camera app, the rest of your phone will be unaffected.

Factory reset

If the above procedure doesn’t work, then you should try factory resetting your S4. Before you do anything else, you should make a backup of everything important in your phone before you proceed with this.

First, tap the menu button from the home screen. Then go to Settings > Accounts. Tap Reset, then tap Factory data reset and select Delete all.

This should delete all of the settings and data that can be reached by Android. There are certain folders and partitions that can’t be deleted by doing this. You can delete those using the procedure outlined below.

AndroidPIT Samsung Galaxy S4 review 2015 5
Still going strong: the Galaxy S4. / © ANDROIDPIT

Wipe the Cache Partition

If the problem hasn't been solved by the previous two steps, try wiping the cache partition. To do this, turn your Galaxy S4 off, then press and hold the volume up, home and power buttons until your phone vibrates. Then let go of the power button but keep holding the volume up and home buttons until the Android System Recovery screen pops up. Press the volume down button to choose Wipe cache partition. Press the power key to select it.

This empties the contents of the cache partition. The files that could not be deleted by doing a factory reset will now be gone. This should solve your Galaxy S4 camera problems.

What do you think of these solutions? Did they work for you? Let us know in the comments.

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Scott Adam Gordon

Scott Adam Gordon
Editor

Originally from the UK, Scott graduated in Popular Music Studies at Newcastle University and attributes much of his success there to his beloved Samsung Galaxy S2. His current aim is to write cool things about Android. And he loves it.

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47 comments
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  • 1
    Alan Roose Mar 5, 2018 Link to comment

    I should have known this, I've got the same issues back then but I already got it fixed at my trusted repair center near me. Do this work to other mobile brands?


  • jomaldo joseph 1
    jomaldo joseph Feb 28, 2017 Link to comment

    Hey everyone.. well I've had the camera failed message a million times and I nearly crazy over it.. litterally then I read a comment from someone who said they had dirt on their camera pins.. well I went to check mines and my camera looks perfectly fine until I replace it with a new one and its working very fine.. I guess they just stop working just like that.. so all those who have this kind of problem i hope this method works for u to.. 😉


  • Martirene Daljeet Olim 2
    Martirene Daljeet Olim Dec 5, 2016 Link to comment

    Guys I have tried 1 and 3 methods. And they didn't work... But my my problem is with my front camera. When I open the camera app it is works perfectly. But if I switch to the front camera my camera freeze... Can you help me?

    Kalesh Chauhan


    • Mardi Jabonete 1
      Mardi Jabonete Dec 20, 2016 Link to comment

      We have the same problem. i almost tried everything.


    • Kalesh Chauhan 2
      Kalesh Chauhan Jan 5, 2017 Link to comment

      i also i have the same problem with my phone samsung galaxy j2 00G
      did you find any solution for yours problem
      plz tell me as soon as possible
      mail me
      kaleshchauhan000@gmail.com


    • 1
      Kristin Doycheva Feb 4, 2017 Link to comment

      I have the same problem with my phone. If you find any solution please contact me. My email is: k.doycheva@gmail.com


    • jomaldo joseph 1
      jomaldo joseph Feb 28, 2017 Link to comment

      Replace your front camera


  • Bruce W 1
    Bruce W Oct 23, 2016 Link to comment

    Unfortunately, none of these worked for my mobile. I guess it's only a matter of time until I replace my S4 with the camera not working.


  • Gayan Deshapriya 1
    Gayan Deshapriya Oct 19, 2016 Link to comment

    www.tipstricksen.blogspot.com/2016/10/your-android-phones-camera-functional


  • 1
    meh Aug 20, 2016 Link to comment

    wow
    thank you so much, it worked
    <3 <3


  • Terance Litschel 1
    Terance Litschel Jul 18, 2016 Link to comment

    the first steop worked for me. I was getting an unknown error everytime I opened my camera app, and now that error is gone.


  • 1
    Angel Jun 19, 2016 Link to comment

    Hola, yo probé con los 3 pasos y no funciona la cámara delantera, me aparece un texto que dice" error de inicio de preview de cámara" que puedo hacer?


  • Simon Bramble 2
    Simon Bramble Jun 16, 2016 Link to comment

    First step did not work, but restoring factory settings worked a treat. Thanks so much for the help

    Kalesh Chauhan


  • Haydn Niuh 1
    Haydn Niuh Mar 29, 2016 Link to comment

    My camera only works for like 45 seconds everytime i reboot my phone even before i knew about these steps. This problem had been happening only recently. None of the steps helped :(


  • David Sandor 1
    David Sandor Mar 25, 2016 Link to comment

    None of this worked.


  • 1
    isabella t Jan 30, 2016 Link to comment

    It worked petfectly only trying the first step!!!
    Thanks


  • 1
    Cindy Jan 2, 2016 Link to comment

    It worked with only trying the first step , problem is that only my back camera works , and every time I press the front camera button it shows a black screen and exits out , what else can I try ?


  • 2
    Deactivated Account Dec 31, 2015 Link to comment

    The specific message I received when trying to record video (only) on my Galaxy S4 was:
    "Warning
    Recording failed
    OK"
    I stopped the (built-in) app, cleared data and cache, then restarted the device but there was no change. As I protect the device with a permissions manager (AppOps by Pixel Monster) I suspected it might be restricting a function the camera app needed. A quick check showed that the 'Record Audio' function was disabled, which, when enabled, now let me record video.

    Peter Charles Richards


  • 2
    Peter McGibney Nov 28, 2015 Link to comment

    Still having the same problem after wiping the cache partition. Is there anything else that I could do to try fix this? Its really irritating me!

    Kalesh ChauhanPeter Charles Richards


    • Maria Chrisabeth Oliva 2
      Maria Chrisabeth Oliva Dec 19, 2015 Link to comment

      Relate much! My ghaddd it's very irritating and made my day worse!

      Kalesh Chauhan


    • 2
      Cheryl Webb Feb 12, 2016 Link to comment

      I've got the same issues and none of the above works. Very frustrating!!!

      Kalesh ChauhanPeter Charles Richards


    • Peter Charles Richards 2
      Peter Charles Richards Mar 21, 2016 Link to comment

      same here, no luck with fix :( anyone got any other ideas?

      Kalesh Chauhan


    • Mohan Dey 1
      Mohan Dey Oct 31, 2017 Link to comment

      I have also similar problem please let me know can you get any solution?


  • rodrigo cardel 1
    rodrigo cardel Nov 9, 2015 Link to comment

    thanks .. it really works.. ^_^


  • 2
    yatnesh prajapati Sep 30, 2015 Link to comment

    tried alll 3 procedures but the error doesnt go.

    please help

    Kalesh Chauhan


  • 2
    Sana Nizar Sep 21, 2015 Link to comment

    it worked............thanks alot......

    Kalesh Chauhan


  • 1
    Krystal Showalter Sep 8, 2015 Link to comment

    First steps worked for me! Thanks a ton!


  • 1
    D-Lo Nine Aug 18, 2015 Link to comment

    I followed the instructions and at first I just deleted cache because I was afraid to delete my pictures. My camera still wasn't working. i went into Gallery and I saw the pictures at first and then they turned to just gray boxes. I decided to try to save my pictures by bluetoothing them to my computer. It worked. I then deleted all of the pictures including the last picture I received via text. After that my camera was functioning normally and my Gallery returned with no empty gray boxes!!


  • 2
    Cindy Valentine Aug 10, 2015 Link to comment

    I tried all of the above and it's still not working. HELP

    Cheryl Webb


  • 2
    Donna Houck Aug 2, 2015 Link to comment

    I did all these as suggested, camera still not working correctly

    Cheryl Webb


  • 1
    Pan Członek Zarządu Jul 22, 2015 Link to comment

    Thanks a lot mate!! Option "1" was enough in my case, I cleared the cache and application data of the camera and the problem is now fixed!! Cheers!!


  • 1
    Grace Kennedy Jul 13, 2015 Link to comment

    i tried all of the above 3 options camera worked first time but no again saying camera failed?


  • Iten Abousaada 1
    Iten Abousaada Jun 26, 2015 Link to comment

    Thanks a million it worked from the first attempt :)


  • 2
    HateAndroid Mar 31, 2015 Link to comment

    nothing worked for me. tried all 3 options.

    Cheryl Webb


  • 2
    Marijke Jansen van Rensburg Mar 24, 2015 Link to comment

    I tried all 3 and nothing has worked.

    Cheryl Webb


  • 1
    Anshul Gupta Mar 16, 2015 Link to comment

    Thank u so much.. It worked for me in the first attempt itself.. I had been facing this problem for a long time now.. Wish i could have seen this earlier.. Thank u once again..


  • 1
    Kristen Blair Mar 2, 2015 Link to comment

    I tried all the above and nothing has worked. since doing the FDR, the camera will work for maybe 2 minutes then give me the camera failed error again. The front camera freezes the phone completely. This has nothing to do with memory or a SD as I have tried all the above with and without.
    I spoke with Samsung and the rep gave me the same options. She had only heard of this issue one other time and the problem was never resolved


    • 1
      Jazmina Mckernan Jul 26, 2015 Link to comment

      I have same problem :(


  • 1
    Jacky Robichaud Feb 1, 2015 Link to comment

    My camera freezes every time I open it now. I can no longer view my gallery either , just shows Grey boxes. I have restarted phone, wiped cache, restored to factory settings and still have the same problems. The phone even started crashing every 30 seconds before I did the restore... what's next?


  • 1
    Harsh Agrawal Jan 21, 2015 Link to comment

    It worked for me.
    The first one itself worked... :)


  • 1
    Olga Pil Jan 6, 2015 Link to comment

    I tried all three options. The first option helps for a limited time, usually for one camera use. Then, the "camera failed" message is back, and I have to do the whole routing again. Needless to say, it is extremely annoying. The later two options did not make any difference at all :(


  • 1
    dbain Oct 5, 2014 Link to comment

    Awesome. Step one fixed it. Very happy.


  • 1
    Brett Cartmill Aug 9, 2014 Link to comment

    My S4 says camera fail even after factory reset/cache format and camera replacement. Phone shop says the only thing I can try is android 4.4.2. any more suggestions?


  • 1
    Mihai Ivan Jun 22, 2014 Link to comment

    Clean cache worked like a charm


  • 1
    Stefanov Zdr May 2, 2014 Link to comment

    If this steps not help you, you must replace your camera.
    Video tutorial:
    http://youtu.be/3nzetqisty0


  • 14
    Saem Sarguroh Mar 30, 2014 Link to comment

    If your battery is miscallibrated then you can even try callibrating it to see if it helps you


  • Anthony Muzonzini 11
    Anthony Muzonzini Mar 30, 2014 Link to comment

    here is a link we wrote about galaxy s4 problems with android 4.4.2. that may explain why you have been having problems. http://www.androidpit.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-update-to-android-4-4-2-littered-with-bugs.

    also Here is a link to an article that will help with battery drain
    http://www.androidpit.com/more-battery-fixing-tips-for-galaxy-s4

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