iPhone flash not working
The iPhone flash is indispensable for taking photos in the dark. If the iPhone flash is defective, you will notice it immediately: the photos are much too dark and you can no longer see clearly what is in the photo. Is it the flash itself or the software? That’s easy to figure out. In this tip we explain what you can do if your iPhone flash is defective.
- Check this first
- Test iPhone flash with flashlight
- Test iPhone flash in the Camera app
- iPhone flash stops when temperature is too high
- Reboot and reset
- Contact Apple Support
iPhone flash broken? Check this first
- Check whether there is any foil or cover that could block the flash.
- Check if the flash works by activating the flashlight in the Control Center of your iPhone or iPad.
- Does the flash only work occasionally? Open the Camera app and tap the flash button to choose a different setting.
#1 Testing iPhone flash with the flashlight
There is a fairly easy way to check whether the flash is really defective. You do this via the flashlight function. By going to Control Center and turning on the flashlight on your iPhone, you can see if the flash still works.
Nothing happens? Then you probably cannot solve the problem yourself. It is best to go to the Apple Store or an Apple Service Provider to have your device repaired. Below you can read how to contact Apple Support.
#2 Test iPhone flash in the Camera app
If the flash does not work when taking a photo, the flash is probably turned off. It is then a good idea to check whether it is really on.
Open the Camera app and see if the flash icon at the top left of your screen is yellow. You can recognize the icon by a lightning bolt. If it is white, the flash is in automatic mode and only works in low light. In that case, turn it on completely to test it. You do this as follows:
- Open the Camera app and tap the up arrow at the top of the screen. You can also swipe up the camera view.
- Tap the lightning bolt.
- Choose On.
Now check whether the flash turns on when you take a photo. Isn’t this the problem? Then you can try to force close the Camera app. You can read how to do this in our tip about forcefully closing apps. If that doesn’t help, try an iPhone reset.
#3 iPhone flash stops at too high temperature
Another cause may be an environment that is too warm. If you use your iPhone in the hot sun for an extended period of time, the flash function will be temporarily disabled. This prevents the iPhone temperature from getting even hotter than it already is so that no components are damaged. This is not a defect, but a measure to protect your iPhone. If your iPhone feels very warm, wait a moment until it has cooled down and then check again whether the flash is now working properly. Even if you are filming for a long time with the flash on, it can be turned off.
#4 Reboot and reset
Still not resolved? Then it is best to take the following steps:
- Restart your iPhone.
- Reboot your iPhone with a hard reset.
- Reset your iPhone settings.
- Restore a previous backup.
- Restore your iPhone to factory settings.
In the Restore iPhone tip we explain how this works.
#5 Contact Apple Support
If that doesn’t help, we can only recommend that you contact Apple Support. You can visit the Apple Store or an Apple Service Provider.
For people who have difficulty with flashes because they have epilepsy, there is the option to turn off the flash when calling.
Do you have other problems with the camera and do you suspect that the iPhone camera is defective? Then we have a separate tip about this.
View our complete iPhone tips overview. With hundreds of iPhone tips, we discuss almost every setting and option!
