20 Ways to Fix Camera Failed Warning on Samsung Galaxy Phones
Life would be different in a lot of ways if it had a pause, stop, rewind, or redo button; but perhaps part of its beauty is that things only happen exactly as they are at one point in time. Perhaps we wouldn’t even need photos or cameras if we could relive the experience.
But since that isn’t really an option, we need our cameras to work to capture these moments in time we can’t get back. That’s why receiving the message Camera Failed can be frustrating, infuriating, or even tragic.
Unfortunately, as a Samsung owner it is also likely that the camera failure error is one you’ll face. You’re in luck, though, in that there are plenty of possible solutions. Also, thankfully, the problem is more often related to software than hardware. Just follow these tips to get your fix.
Must Read: 10 Best Android Camera Smartphones for the Budding Photographer
1. Restart Camera App
You might have to do this out of necessity, because sometimes the camera app force stops and closes in conjunction with the error message. Hopefully when you pull it back up again you will never again see the error message, but this method is unfortunately sometimes only a temporary fix.
2. Restart Phone
There’s nothing like a fresh start to do all of your troubled apps some good. Hold the Power button down until you see the option to Restart.
3. Clear Camera App’s Cache/Data
Go to Settings > Application Manager and swipe right or left to the All tab. Select the Camera app itself (You might first have to select More > Show System Apps to show default apps). Force stop the app, then clear its cache. While you are at it, clear the app’s data.
This can result in lost settings and preferences, and it will clear your temporary files, but it could also clear remove what is causing your problem. This is one of the most recommended ways to fix Camera Failed warning on Samsung Galaxy phones.
4. Remove Memory Card
There have been some instances where the issue is related to the SD card. Try ejecting the card, then check to see if the camera behaves better. If so, you may need to replace the SD card with a new one.
5. Take Photos in Safe Mode
You might as well remove any apps causing problems that you don’t really use. If you aren’t quite sure which app might be creating your issues, try testing it out with Safe Mode.
Safe Mode boots your phone into a default state so that you can compare the behavior of the apps that came with your phone to the behavior your phone exhibits with all of its third-party apps. If your phone doesn’t have this problem in Safe Mode, odds are that your issue is a third-party app.
On the S8 you can enter Safe Mode by first turning your device off. Long-press the Power button and you will first see the model name appear, but keep holding until you see the Samsung logo. Once you release the Power key, immediately press Volume down until the phone finishes rebooting. On other devices, such as the Samsung 7, you will still long-press the Power button until you see an option to Reboot to Safe Mode.
6. Uninstall Third-Party Apps
If you determine that an app is your issue, get rid of it. Go to Settings > Application Manager > All and select the app. Choose Uninstall. Or, long-press the app and drag it to the Uninstall option.
A prime suspect is any alternative camera app you may have downloaded. Unfortunately, the process can be tedious and time-consuming, but you could seek the assistance of apps that can do batch uninstallations.
Download: Easy Uninstaller App Uninstall
7. Wipe Cache Partition
You could lose some data and settings as a result of wiping your cache partition. This process can vary by device, but you will want to access Recovery Mode. For example’s sake, we’ll use the Samsung Galaxy S8. Turn off your S8, then long-press both the Volume Up and Bixby keys.
Now press and hold the Power button. When the Android logo appears, release all of the keys. Use the Volume Down key to navigate to Wipe Cache Partition, and the Power key to select it. A reboot is recommended afterward.
8. Factory Reset
If all else fails, try a factory reset. First, backup your Samsung to retain any changes you might have made. To backup and reset all in one, go to Settings > Backup & reset. Tap on Backup my data. Then go to Factory data reset, Reset my Device, and Erase Everything.
This is probably one of the most drastic ways to fix Camera Failed warning on Samsung Galaxy phones.
9. Disable Smart Stay
Smart Stay is a setting on some models to control how long your screen stays on before it goes to sleep. Unfortunately, it has been known to have an adverse effect upon the camera at times. Go to Settings > Display > Smart Stay and toggle it off. Reboot your Samsung.
10. Refresh Camera Settings
Sometimes all you need is a fresh start. Navigate to Settings > Backup & reset or General Management > Reset settings. Phone settings will return to default.
11. Clear Gallery Cache/Data
Don’t worry, none of your photos will be deleted. Don’t expect your personalized settings to remain the same though. Go to Settings > Application Manager and swipe right or left to the All tab. Select the Gallery app. Tap on Storage and the options to Clear Cache and Clear Data should appear.
12. Talk to Your Retailer
See what your carrier will do for you, especially if your Samsung is newer or under warranty. It’s possible you may have received a defective device.
Other options include taking your phone to a third-party technician (not advisable if under warranty), or contacting Samsung itself. Some customers have been offered replacement devices.
13. Pull Battery, if Applicable to Your Samsung
If you have reason to believe that the problem may be power-related, try this. This problem and its fix can be similar to what laptop users have long experienced, where certain components fail to work until the battery is pulled. Not all phones have a removable battery, however. Don’t pry your phone apart if removal and replacement of the battery isn’t easy.
14. Open the Gallery App for a Moment
Some say that this helps alleviate the issue by allow the app to scan the device for pictures and build a cache. We say it’s easy and harmless enough to try.
15. Connect the Charging Cable
Like pulling the battery, connecting your Samsung to a charger may help if the problem is related to a power defect, such as faulty power capacitors.
16. Stop Using the SD/MicroSD to Store Pics
It may also suffice to simply free some space on the SD card.
17. Update Software
To check for and apply system updates, visit Settings > More > About Device > Software update > Update. You can also visit Samsung’s Download Center and enter information specific to your device.
18. Reflash Firmware
Flashing even stock firmware isn’t without risk, so backup your data first. You can use programs like Odin or Smart Switch, depending on your device and level of comfort.
We have many, many articles about how to flash firmware on our site, and most likely we have such an article for your device in particular if you search for it. This is definitely a drastic way to fix Camera Failed warning on Samsung Galaxy phones.
19. Try an Alternate App
If your current and/or default camera app isn’t working, there are plenty of other options out there. For instance, there’s Camera for Android. One photo editing favorite is Snapseed, which many compare to–and some even say is better than–Photoshop. And it’s free.
Download: Camera for Android
Download: Snapseed
20. Force Stop Camera App
If your camera app is freezing and inoperable, you can force it to stop and thaw its frozen state. Go to Settings > Application Manager and swipe right or left to the All tab. Select the Camera app. You might first have to select More (three dots) > Show System Apps to show default apps. Tap on Force Stop.
Conclusion
Most of the solutions will work on all types of Samsung devices even if the way the procedure is carried out may differ.
On a wide scale, this problem doesn’t typically result in a phone replacement to fix the problem, but can usually be resolved through a little troubleshooting. Try all 20 solutions until you find your answer. If nothing works, it’s probably time to contact your carrier.
Tell us what you did to fix the dreaded “Camera Failed”error. Perhaps you have found a solution not listed here. Share with us and others in the comments.
