How to fix iPhone 15 Pro max camera not working issue

Do you want to take a selfie, scan a document, or capture an astonishing view, but the camera isn’t working on your iPhone 15 Pro Max? Does the camera app keep freezing, fail to focus on the main subject, show a black screen in the camera app, or camera flash stop working? This is especially annoying since the moment may have already passed, and you can’t capture it again — it has definitely happened to me a few times. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera is not working and show you how to fix the problem for good!

QUICK ANSWER

If your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera is not working, first try simple fixes, such as removing any camera obstruction, restarting the camera app, updating iOS, restarting your device, etc. other fixes include resetting iPhone settings, factory resetting the device, checking for hardware issues, and contacting Apple for further Support.

Apple has stuffed the iPhone 15 Pro Max full of more pro-level photography tools than ever before. When you take a photo on the main sensor, it combines four adjacent pixels into one to draw in more light more quickly, which is great for lower-light situations. But there’s more. When it takes that shot, it also takes another image in 48-megapixel resolution and then combines the two to create a 24-megapixel image that has greater detail and looks much better. Unfortunately, your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera may stop working because of hardware and software issues. If your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera app is not working, here’s what you can do to fix it.

Note: information in this article apply to iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

How to fix iPhone 15 Pro Max camera not working problem

Run through these troubleshooting steps to get your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera working again.

Ensure your iPhone’s camera lenses are clean and not obstructed

If your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera lenses are not clean, the focus may be affected. The dirt or debris on the lenses may interfere with the focus function.

Get a soft, dry, lint-free cloth and clean the lenses. You also have front cameras. The front camera is located at the top of the screen on your device.

Another thing that may create iPhone 15 Pro Max camera problems is when a case or other accessory covers the edges of the cameras. Sometimes screen covers, or protectors may interfere with the front camera. If the iPhone 15 Pro Max camera sees part of the case, your device will think that it is part of the view that you want to capture and adjust the focus accordingly. Take off your case. Does your iPhone’s camera work properly now? If so, your case is the problem.

Lastly, watch your fingers. This happens to me often. Often my iPhone 15 Pro Max camera does not work properly because my finger is partially blocking the lenses. Ensure that your finger or hand is not blocking the view.

Switch between the front and rear camera

If your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera is not working, it’s possible that the app has not loaded properly. Switching between the front and back camera may fix this problem. Here is how:

1. Open the Camera on your iPhone 15 Pro Max.
2. Tap the Camera Chooser Back-Facing button to switch to the front-facing camera.
3. Switch back to the back camera.

Now, test your problem. Is your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera working properly? If not, move to the next solution.

Restart the camera app

If switching between cameras doesn’t fix iPhone 15 Pro Max camera problems, force closing and restarting the camera app is your next step. Here is how:

1. Open the app switcher:
   • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and stop in the middle. Then find the Camera app and swipe it up.
2. After closing the app, reopen the app and then try again.

Update iOS

If your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera is still not working, make sure that your phone has the latest version of iOS software installed. The Camera app will be updated, too, when you update your iPhone. Here is how:

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap General.
3. Tap Software Update.

Your iPhone will check for updates. If there is an update, follow the instructions to install it.

Restart your iPhone

After ensuring that you are running the latest version of iOS, restart your iPhone 15 Pro Max if camera app is still not working. This may be a temporary software glitch, and a simple restart may fix this glitch. Here is how:

1. Press and hold both the volume down button and the Side button until you see the sliders.
2. Drug the slider from left to right to turn off your iPhone.
3. Press the Side button until you see the Apple Logo.

Is your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera not working while using a specific app?

Is your problem app-specific. For example, your camera works in FaceTime but does not work with WhatsApp? Are you having this problem with only certain apps that require video connections such as Skype, Zoom, Meet, WhatsApp, Messenger, etc? You may have a permission problem. Make sure that you give your apps permission. Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Privacy & Security.
3. Select Camera. Here you can allow apps to access your camera.
4. Turn on the switch next to the app you want to turn on camera access.

The app now has permission to use the camera. Test again.

Another solution is, if you are having an app-specific problem, try to uninstall that app (in the app that camera does not work) and then try to redownload and install again.

Check for camera restrictions in Screen Time

If you can’t find the Camera app on your iPhone 15 Pro Max, or if the app freezes when you switch between cameras, it may be due to your iPhone restrictions. You can check this out from the Screen Time settings:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Screen Time.
3. Select Content & Privacy Restrictions.
4. Tap on Allowed Apps and enter your Screen Time passcode if you have one.
5. Make sure you turn the Camera app on; the toggle should be green.

Reset all iPhone settings

Sometimes you or another app may change settings on your iPhone 15 Pro Max that cause your camera or Camera app to stop working or malfunction. One way to eliminate this possibility is to reset all the settings on your iPhone. Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Reset.
5. Select Reset All Settings.

Factory reset the iPhone

If resetting all settings doesn’t work for you, you may want to try restoring your iPhone to factory settings. This will completely wipe the data and settings on your phone.

First, backup your iPhone. There are two options.

iCloud: Go to Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Make sure that iCloud Backup is enabled. You will be able to see when your last successful backup was. If you have never backed up your phone before or if it has been awhile, select Backup Now.

iTunes (Windows or macOS Mojave or earlier) or Finder (macOS Catalina or later): Plug your phone into your PC or Mac using the charging cable. Click on the iPhone icon in the top-left corner of iTunes. Then follow the onscreen instructions.

Now to Factory-reset your phone.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select General.
3. Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Select Erase All Content and Settings and follow onscreen instructions.

Contact Apple Support

If your iPhone 15 Pro Max camera is still not working, you may want to contact Apple support for more help. It is possible that your camera hardware needs to be fixed. You may also need to make a Genius Bar appointment for hardware repair.