Top 7 Ways to Fix Snapchat Camera Not Working

Whether you use the Snapchat app to stay in touch with friends and family or create memories for yourself, Snapchat’s camera is a key part of the process. And there is a lot to admire about those static filters and the unique AR animations that the Snapchat camera offers. But if you’ve been deprived of this fun camera because it doesn’t perform well, then this guide is for you.
If the Snapchat camera seems to be enlarged or is capturing poor quality photos, we’ve compiled some troubleshooting tips that should bring Snapchat’s camera back to its glory. So let’s get started.
1. Check the internet connection
Since the Snapchat camera relies on the internet to load these captivating lenses and AR stickers, you can check the internet connection on your phone first. To do this, Snapchat recommends that you switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data on your device. If that helps, the problem might be with the network you’re connected to.
2. Restart the application
Then you can try to restart the app. If Snap’s camera is not working due to a minor app glitch, you can try restarting the app.
To force close Snapchat on Android, press and hold the app icon and select the app info icon. Now tap on Force Stop to close the Snapchat app.
To close Snapchat on iPhone, bring up the app switcher by swiping your finger from the bottom of the screen (or double-tapping the Home screen button). Locate Snapchat and swipe up to close it.
3. Check the app permissions
If Snapchat doesn’t have permissions to access your phone’s camera, you might find it difficult to use Snapchat’s camera. You will need to check the permissions of the app again.
Snapchat on Android
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your phone and go to Apps & notifications.
2nd step: Scroll down or use the search tool at the top to locate the Snapchat app. On the app info page, tap Permissions.
Step 3: Now make sure Snapchat is allowed to use the camera and microphone.
Snapchat on iPhone
Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone and scroll down to tap Snapchat.
2nd step: Now activate the switches next to the camera and microphone.
After that restart the Snapchat app to see if the above changes help you.
4. Update Snapchat
If you’ve turned off automatic app updates on your phone, you’re probably using an older version of the Snapchat app. You can open the Google Play Store and check if the Snapchat app has any pending updates. If so, install them.
5. Clear lens data
Whenever you try different lenses in Snapchat camera, the app downloads a cache of that lens so that you can use it over and over again without having to download it again. If the Snapchat app fails to load these cached goals, it may display a black screen instead.
So, you can try clearing existing Lens data on Snapchat to see if that helps.
Step 1: Open the Snapchat app. Tap your profile icon in the upper left corner to view your profile. Now tap the gear icon in the top right corner to open settings.
2nd step: Scroll down to tap Lenses. Now tap on Clear local goal data option.
Once cleared, restart the Snapchat app to see if the camera issue is resolved now.
6. Clear cache data
If clearing the lens data doesn’t help, you can try clearing the entire cache data on Snapchat. Besides lenses, Snapchat also stores cache data for memories, stickers, stories, etc. If Snapchat encounters an error while loading this cached data, you might run into issues like this one. To remedy this, you can try clearing the cache data on Snapchat by following the steps below.
Step 1: Open settings on Snapchat.
2nd step: Scroll down to Account Actions and tap on Clear Cache option. Choose Clear when prompted.
Once cleared, go ahead and restart the app to see if you can send snapshots now.
7. Reinstall the app
If our solutions didn’t help, you have no choice but to reinstall the app. You will need to sign in after the app is reinstalled.
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Capture every moment
The Snapchat camera is filled with stickers and lenses that you might not get anywhere else. And such camera issues in the app shouldn’t prevent you from accessing it. Hope the solutions mentioned above make the Snapchat camera work again.
Love to use the Snapchat app but care about privacy? Find out the effective ways to secure your Snapchat account.
Last updated on December 14, 2021
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