How to Fix WhatsApp Camera Not Working on Android

We all see numerous applications serving as a dedicated chat solution, such as Google Chat, WeChat, Telegram, etc. But no one can replace WhatsApp. The reason is the simplicity and convenience WhatsApp provides. No other segmented app provides that feature. It is one of the major reasons that Google Chat, a product of Google, also can’t compete with WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp dominated the whole market and maintained a good digit of the userbase. Now users are so dependent on WhatsApp that even if they don’t want to use it, they are forced to use it because the entire society is using it. Even though WhatsApp is such a dominant app, I still get a camera not opening error. So, here we will discuss everything about that error.

What to do if WhatsApp’s camera does not work on Android

WhatsApp has a good lineup of features, and the in-app camera is a potential one. You can do that through their in-app camera when you want to capture and share any image directly from WhatsApp. Additionally, the in-app camera works the same way when you want to upload your WhatsApp status. The camera feature has been fun until now, but it isn’t working.

When the user taps on that camera icon, it doesn’t open, and the fun is over. I understand how disappointing it is that WhatsApp’s keen feature needs to be fixed. Therefore, we tried to find out the reason behind this error. Based on our research, we identified a few causes that are 100 per cent responsible for this error. If the bug is a developer’s fault, the update will fix it. These fixes can be assured until then.

Ensure camera permissions.

In WhatsApp, a photo and a camera view can only be saved once you permit it to use your camera. When a user logs in for the first time, this is the privacy permission that is always requested. If the camera doesn’t open, you might not have granted camera access permission to WhatsApp. For this reason, you can allow WhatsApp to use the camera. You can do that with the help of these instructions.

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Scroll down to Application Management.
3. Next, select WhatsApp from the list of available apps.
4. Under WhatsApp, tap on the permissions section.
5. From there, select the camera option and allow it to be used.
6. That’s it; now WhatsApp can use your phone’s camera.

Clear WhatsApp cache files.

We send and receive many messages daily, whether text, emoji, or media. But you will have to know that WhatsApp stores a few cache files to work faster. Nevertheless, when cache files are stored for a long time, they become corrupted. From here, it starts malfunctioning, like the camera not opening, the microphone not working, etc. For this, we need to clear that cache. So, to do that, follow the instructions given below.

1. First, head to the Settings menu.
2. After that, scroll down to the Application Management section.
3. From there, select the WhatsApp application.
4. Find and tap on the Clear Cache option.
5. Congratulations! Your WhatsApp Unwanted Cache files are now cleared.

Try forcing the app to close.

If you are using WhatsApp, some other apps might be running in the background. Following that, your phone cannot process it, and the camera won’t open. For that, all you need to do is figure out the apps that you rarely use. Enable force-stop on all so that they don’t consume RAM unnecessarily. If you don’t know how to force a stop, follow these instructions.

1. On your phone, go to the Settings menu.
2. Go to Application Management.
3. Under Application Management, you will see a list of apps installed on your phone.
4. Select the app on which you want to enable Force Stop.
5. Besides the uninstall option, tap Force Stop.
6. That’s it. Repeat the same steps for every app that you want to force stop.

Restart the app.

When an application runs for a long, it often crashes or malfunctions. The reason is that the device it is being used on is full of storage. An instant solution is to restart the WhatsApp app and give it a fresh start. So that the overloaded RAM can be cleared and the system can now function as usual. 

Update the WhatsApp app.

You may need to utilise an updated version that prevents you from taking advantage of all its features. And here, if you are not using the camera feature, you should update WhatsApp to the latest version. You can either update it through an in-app update or via the Google Play Store. Here are the instructions if you need to know them.

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Search for WhatsApp and tap on the first result.
3. Next, tap on the Update button.
4. That’s it. In a couple of minutes, you will get WhatsApp’s latest update.

Besides that, you should also restrict your phone’s camera access. Whenever you open a new app, it asks for multiple permissions, including camera access. You should take a look at them for better privacy as well as proper app functioning. You need to go to settings >> Application Management >> Select the App >> Permissions >> Camera >> Don’t Allow. In this way, you can manage camera access and stop errors like the camera not working error.

Conclusively, WhatsApp had a selfie issue, but you can also fix it with these solutions. If there is any issue concerning the developer’s end, it will be resolved by updating to the latest version. To ensure further security, you can check whether your camera works, reinstall WhatsApp, or do other minor tasks. So with that set, you can manage and fix the WhatsApp camera not opening error. If users have questions, please let us know in the comment section below.

Frequently Asked Questions