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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

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