A black camera preview can be an app lock, another app holding the camera, permission state, temperature protection or hardware failure. Compare front and rear cameras in a second app. Close video and social apps that may use the camera and try again.
Differential
Likely causes of “Pixel camera opens to a black screen”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Another app is holding the camera
What separates it The camera opens to black after using a video call or a social app, and it works after the other app is closed.
How to confirm Close video and social apps that may use the camera and try again.
- 2
The camera permission or the app state is wrong
What separates it A permission is off, or the camera app is stuck after an update, and it works in another app.
How to confirm Check the Camera permission and open the camera from a second app to compare.
- 3
Temperature protection is disabling the camera
What separates it A warning appears or the camera closes after the phone got very hot, and it works again once it cools.
How to confirm Let the phone cool in the shade and try again.
- 4
A hardware fault in the camera module
What separates it One lens is black in every app after restarts and updates, while the other lens works.
How to confirm Switch between the front and rear cameras and the lenses to see which one fails.
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which lenses and cameras show black and whether the camera works in another app.
- Any error message and whether the phone was hot.
- Whether the problem began after an update or a drop.
Try in this order
0 of 4 completedCapture the exact symptom
ReversibleSwitch lenses, record any error and close video/social apps that may be using the camera.
Run the smallest isolation test
ReversibleRestart, check Camera permission and storage, then test in the built-in Camera and one calling app.
Correct only the proven cause
ReversibleUpdate Pixel Camera and Android; clear Camera cache before considering its data.
Verify before changing anything else
ReversibleCapture and play back one photo and short video from each working lens.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Clear the Camera app's cache before its data, and contact Google if a lens fails in every app after a restart and update.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my Pixel camera show a black screen?+
Another app may be using the camera, the app may be stuck, or the phone may be too hot. If one lens is black in every app, it is likely hardware.
Why is the camera black?+
A software glitch or camera app problem may be the cause.
Is it hardware?+
If safe mode also shows black, the camera may need service.