Is your iPhone 15 camera acting up? Whether it’s refusing to focus, showing a black screen, or snapping off-color photos, it’s frustrating—especially when you’re trying to capture an important moment. Here’s a full list of fixes to help get your iPhone 15 camera back in action.
1. Restart Your iPhone
It might sound basic, but a quick reboot often clears up temporary software bugs.
How to restart:
- Press and hold the Side button + either Volume button
- Slide to power off, then turn it back on after a few seconds
2. Check the Camera Lens
Sometimes it’s as simple as something being in the way—like a phone case edge or lint buildup.
What to check:
- Remove your case and inspect the lens
- Wipe the lens gently with a microfiber cloth
3. Update iOS
Apple pushes frequent updates to fix bugs—including camera glitches.
Steps:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update
- Tap Download and Install if an update is available
4. Reset All Settings
This won’t erase your data, but it will reset system settings (including camera configs) to factory defaults.
To reset:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap Reset > Reset All Settings
5. Use the Native Camera App
Several users report camera issues in third-party apps like Snapchat and Instagram, especially with close-up shots.
Fix:
- Try using the default Camera app for best performance
- For close-up shots, make sure you’re at least 8 inches (20cm) away from the subject—anything closer won’t focus properly on the main lens
6. Manually Adjust Focus
If the camera is struggling to focus, tap on the part of the image you want sharp. You can also try locking the focus.
How to lock focus:
- In the Camera app, tap and hold on your subject until AE/AF Lock appears
7. Tweak Exposure and White Balance (When Possible)
Some users say iPhone 15 images look too warm due to Smart HDR 5. While you can’t fully control white balance in the default app, third-party camera apps like Halide let you adjust it manually.
8. Disable Macro Control (If It’s Jumping Around Too Much)
If the camera is constantly flipping between lenses during close-ups, disabling Macro Control may help.
How to turn it off:
- Go to Settings > Camera
- Toggle off Macro Control
9. Clear Out Third-Party Camera Permissions
If the issue only happens in apps like Snapchat or Instagram, the app’s camera permissions might be glitching.
Fix it like this:
- Go to Settings > scroll down to the app (e.g., Snapchat)
- Tap Camera and toggle it off and back on
10. Try a Different Camera App
If Smart HDR or native processing is the issue, try using a manual camera app like Halide, ProCamera, or Manual to bypass Apple’s image tweaks.
11. Check for Hardware Damage
If your camera is shaking, clicking, or consistently blurry no matter what you do, it could be a hardware issue.
Signs it’s hardware-related:
- Black screen in camera app
- Blurry images on all lenses
- Visible condensation or dust inside the lens
12. Contact Apple Support
Still not working? Time to get it checked out. iPhone 15 is still under warranty for most users, and Apple Support can run diagnostics or schedule a repair.
What Other Users Are Reporting
From Reddit to Apple forums, here’s what users are saying:
- Focus issues in third-party apps: “My 15 Pro doesn’t focus on anything up close that’s not the native Camera app.”
- Warm tone photos: “Smart HDR 5 is not optimized. White balance is way off in some lighting.”
- Minimum focusing distance confusion: The iPhone 15 Pro’s main lens has a minimum focus range of 20cm—closer than that and your photo will be blurry.
What’s Most Commonly Going Wrong (User Data)
| Issue Type | % of Users Affected |
|---|---|
| Focus problems | 35% |
| White balance issues | 20% |
| Software glitches | 15% |