It doesn’t matter if it’s Apple’s own pre-installed apps — they can crash too. If your iPhone 8’s camera app keeps closing, freezing, or crashing for no clear reason, don’t worry. This guide walks you through simple troubleshooting steps you can try to get your camera working again.
1. Restart Your iPhone 8
First things first: restart your phone. A simple reboot can clear minor bugs and refresh system processes.
- Press and hold the Side button until the “slide to power off” slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
- After it turns off completely, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.
Tip:
You can also shut down through Settings > General > Shut Down if your Side button isn’t responding properly.
2. Install the Latest iOS Update
Apple regularly fixes software bugs (including camera issues) with iOS updates. Make sure your device is running the latest version.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Download and install any available update.
Bonus Tip:
If you can, update using iTunes (or Finder on Mac) for a cleaner, more stable installation.
3. Update All Your Apps
Old, outdated apps can sometimes conflict with system processes like the Camera app.
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon at the top right.
- Tap Update All to bring everything current.
Keeping apps updated ensures maximum compatibility with the latest iOS version.
4. Reset All Settings
If your Camera app is still acting weird, try resetting all settings — it won’t delete your data, just your Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, and other customized settings.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Confirm the reset.
Once your iPhone restarts, check if the Camera app works normally.
5. Restore Your iPhone 8
If nothing else works, restoring your iPhone can remove deeper software glitches.
How to Factory Reset:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
- Back up important data beforehand — this process wipes everything.
How to Restore from Backup Using iTunes:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Open iTunes (or Finder on Mac).
- Select your iPhone, click Restore Backup, and choose a recent backup.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
How to Restore from iCloud:
- Erase your iPhone first (see Factory Reset steps above).
- On the setup screen, choose Restore from iCloud Backup.
- Sign in with your Apple ID and pick a backup to restore.
6. Contact Apple Support
If the Camera app is still crashing even after a full restore, it could be a hardware problem — maybe with the camera module itself. At this point, it’s best to schedule a visit to an Apple Store or authorized service provider for a hardware diagnostic.