Phone camera blurry or not working — software glitch or hardware fault?

It sounds too simple, but fingerprints, grease and a case lip over the lens cause a huge share of 'blurry camera' complaints. Wipe the rear and front lenses with a soft cloth, and take off any case or screen protector that crowds the lens. Re-test in good light.

If the lens is clean and it's still wrong, software is the next suspect:

• Force-close and reopen the camera app
• Restart the phone
• Try a different camera app to see if the issue follows
• Install pending updates — camera bugs are often patched
• Toggle between front and rear cameras to isolate which one is affected

Two different hardware faults look similar. A cracked or scratched rear lens glass scatters light and produces hazy or flared photos, while a failed module gives you a black preview, a frozen image, or no focus at all.

A telltale sign of a module/OIS fault is a buzzing or rattling sound near the camera and shaky, never-sharp shots. Our free camera test opens the front and rear cameras so you can confirm whether the preview is black, frozen, or simply soft.

Match what you see to the likely cause:

Depending on the fault, the fix is a rear lens glass replacement or a full camera module swap. iTweak diagnoses which, shows you before quoting, and repairs Apple and Android cameras with warranty and a digital invoice — doorstep in Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai or free pickup nationwide.