Samsung Galaxy S4 Camera not working after update, “Camera Failed” error, other camera issues

I will tackle several Samsung Galaxy S4 (#Samsung #GalaxyS4) Camera problems in this post including the error message "Camera Failed." Some of the issues occurred after an update while others started without apparent reason.

When it comes to the camera, it is imperative you know what causes the problem. You have to rule out one possibility after another but you have to start with apps, then the firmware and then the hardware. Hardware issues need to be handled by a technician especially if you care about your warranty and the safety of your phone.

Read on to know more of these problems and how to tackle them. There's a chance you will experience one of them sooner or later.

Before we go any further, if you were trying to find a solution to a totally different problem, visit our Galaxy S4 troubleshooting page. It's there that we list down all problems we address every week. Find issues related or the same as yours and try the solutions. If they won't work, then fill up this form and hit submit.

Galaxy S4 Camera not working well after an update

Problem: My camera is not working very well. I suspect this is because of the recent update I did a few days ago. The quality of the camera is real unpleasant, it doesn't describe an S4. What should I do, I am already out of ideas?

Troubleshooting: As much as updates address bugs and other issues with your phone, they can sometimes mess up your device's settings and all. So, after the update and your phone started to act like crazy (in your case, it's the camera), then don't hesitate to perform the hard reset to give the phone a fresh start with its new firmware.

Switch your phone off.

Hold down the Power, Volume Up and Home buttons at the same time for about 10 seconds. Release them when the Android logo appears on the screen. This will bring up the unlock/reset menu.

To navigate through this menu, use the volume up/down buttons to scroll up and down and the power button to confirm selections.

Scroll down and select Wipe Data/Factory Reset.

Scroll down and select Yes – Delete All User Data.

When prompted, scroll to and select Reboot System Now. The phone will then reboot to its factory settings.

Galaxy S4 saving only the last photo taken

Problem: Hi. I'm having problems with my phone saving photos. I save all photos on my SD card and have around 55gb of space. I have plenty of other photos on my SD card taken with my phone no problem. However, now whenever I take a photo and then take another one the previous one gets deleted. If I take a few in quick succession, when I go into the gallery all but the last photo just show black broken image boxes. When I come out of it and go back in all the photos I have just taken have disappeared. I've checked all the settings menus I can think of and can't see anything I may have changed accidentally. I have tried shutting the phone down removing the battery etc. but to no avail. I have had another android update fairly recently, 5.0.1, but can't say 100% that the problem started since then. Any ideas what the problem may be? Regards, Pete.

Troubleshooting: Hey Pete. While this problem is not common, we already encountered this issue before; if it's not the Camera app, then it must be the SD card. The first thing you need to do is clear the cache and data of the camera app.

From any Home screen, tap the Menu key.

Tap Settings.

Tap the More tab.

Tap Application manager.

Swipe left or right to go to the All tab.

Scroll to and tap Dialer.

Tap Clear cache.

Tap Clear data, then OK.

Don't worry, none of your photos will be deleted. This procedure resets the Camera app's settings; meaning, it will bring it back to its factory settings. For minor app glitches, the procedure is very effective. However, if the problem persists, then the SD card may have a problem.

Try to check if the phone can still read (and write on) it. It might be the time you back up all your photos and files that are saved in the card and reformat it using FAT32. The very important thing here is that your phone should be able to read and write on it. If all else fails, then buy a new one.

Can't find screenshots

Problem: When I take a screenshot it will say that it saves it but when I clock on it to view it, it says unable to find item.

Troubleshooting: Use your phone's file explorer (My Files) and go to Pictures, inside that directory is a folder names Screenshots. That's where all screenshots are saved. So, as long as you've successfully taken a screenshot, it should appear there.

Galaxy S4 Camera Failed

Problem: I have a Samsung S4 zoom and my camera is stuck. When I click want to take pictures I get the message that reads " warning camera failed. I did clear cache and clear data, but still its still stuck.

Troubleshooting: First of all, you need to clear both the cache and data (which you already did), then perform a hard reset to rule out the possibility that it's just a firmware issue. If that failed, too, then it's time to get the phone checked by a technician. It is more likely a hardware issue and the camera itself needs replacement.

Related Problem: When ever I click camera application, it shows warning camera failed error. Please help me out.

Pictures taken by Galaxy S4 Mini Camera show lines

Problem: Just within the last couple of weeks I am experiencing what I believe to be some kind of after image on my Galaxy S4 mini when I take pictures.  They appear as glowing blue lines in the photos,  always in the same spot.  I downloaded all of my pics to my laptop and erased all of the existing pics off the phone.  The lines appear the same on the laptop as they did in the phone,  and new  pictures I have taken still have the lines. I tried restoring the default settings for the camera,  but it didn't help. The lines appear to be a random pattern of irregular dots and dashes superimposed over the photos,  as if someone drew over them in the "Paint" program.  I haven't changed any settings on the phone. Any suggestions?

Troubleshooting: It's a sign of a damaged or defective camera sensor, which needs replacement. There's not much we can do about it. You need a technician who can physically inspect the phone thoroughly and do some tests. The entire camera itself may need replacement.

Galaxy S4 turns off when taking pictures or videos

Problem: Hi. I think it is after installing new Android 5.0.1 while capturing or recording suddenly the device turns off even if battery charge is full and I can't turn it on unless I plug the charger for a moment and unplug again and turn the device on. When I plug the charger I see the battery status is 40 or 50. I cleared camera cache but the problem is stable.

Troubleshooting: It actually does sound like it's more of a battery problem than a camera issue. The best thing to do is try a different battery, which you know is not defective, and if the problem persists, reset the phone. Lastly, you may need help from a technician if the reset failed as well.

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Source: Samsung Galaxy S4 Camera not working after update, "Camera Failed" error, other camera issues