iPhone 6 Plus Camera Stuck on Front View or Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It

If your iPhone 6 Plus camera is stuck on the front-facing lens, shows a black screen, or just won’t launch at all, you’re not the only one. From app conflicts to software bugs, there are a bunch of reasons why this might happen. Here’s how to troubleshoot the problem and (hopefully) get your camera working again.

1. Force Close the Camera App

Sometimes the app just gets stuck. Force quitting it can help reset the camera’s state.

Steps:

Double-press the Home button to open the app switcher
Find the Camera app and swipe up on it to close
Reopen the Camera app to check if it works properly

2. Restart Your iPhone

A quick restart can fix minor glitches affecting the camera.

To restart:

Hold the Power button until the slider appears
Slide to power off
Wait a few seconds, then press the Power button again to turn it back on

3. Check for Restrictions on Camera Use

iOS Restrictions can disable certain features—including the camera.

Check it like this:

Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions
Tap Allowed Apps
Make sure Camera is enabled

If you’re still on an older iOS version (like iOS 9), look under:
Settings > General > Restrictions

4. Disable or Uninstall Third-Party Camera Apps Temporarily

Apps like WhatsApp or Messenger sometimes interfere with the camera if they’ve glitched during an update.

Try this:

Uninstall or temporarily delete apps that use the camera
Restart your phone and test the stock Camera app

5. Update iOS

Apple often fixes camera-related bugs in updates.

To update:

Go to Settings > General > Software Update
If an update is available, tap Download and Install

6. Try the Flash and Switch Camera Buttons

If the flash or rear camera isn’t working, tap the lightning bolt icon to change flash settings, or tap the camera flip icon to try switching views again. This can sometimes “unstick” the view.

7. Use Recovery Mode to Update or Restore iOS

If your camera still won’t work, try reinstalling iOS using Recovery Mode.

Here’s how:

Power off your iPhone
Connect it to your computer and launch iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina+)
Hold the Home button while connecting the USB cable until you see the Connect to iTunes screen
Choose Update to reinstall iOS without deleting your data

If that doesn’t work, repeat the steps and select Restore instead (note: this will erase your data).

8. Do a Full Factory Reset (If All Else Fails)

If you suspect corrupted system files are at fault:

Steps:

Backup your data using iTunes or iCloud
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings
Follow the prompts to reset and set up as new

Or use iTunes:

Connect your iPhone to a computer
Open iTunes and select your device
Click Restore iPhone, then follow the instructions

Other Helpful Tips:

Clean the camera lenses with a soft cloth—grime or dust can cause image issues
Remove any phone case that might be blocking the camera
Check for pink lines or glitches—this may point to hardware damage

Still Seeing a Black Screen or Pink Lines?

If your iPhone 6 Plus camera still shows a black screen, pink vertical lines, or both cameras won’t work even after a reset, there’s a good chance the issue is hardware-related—possibly from a drop or internal connector failure.

Your best bet at that point is to:

Book a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple Store
Visit a certified repair center for a camera hardware inspection