IPhone 15 Camera No Longer works after IOS 27.0.1 update

You’re drawing conclusions that aren’t substantiated by any Apple documentation or my experience as an Apple developer.

A working front camera narrows the problem, but does not clear the rear cameras. Apple treats the front and rear camera assemblies as separately identifiable components in its parts and service documentation. They also use different pipelines of image processing.

WhatsApp briefly working is not an independent hardware health check. Apple explicitly documents that camera part problems specifically in its discussion of nongenuine replacements can cause third party camera apps to freeze, quit, or display a stuck preview. That does not mean this phone has a replacement camera, it demonstrates why third party app behavior cannot exclude a camera related hardware problem.

On supported iPhones, an app can use a virtual camera (Fusion Camera) consisting of several physical cameras. Apple documents that the system can change the active physical camera according to zoom, focus, and exposure conditions. Consequently, successful initial capture does not necessarily exercise every camera that might be used later.

A software bug is possible, but taking photos successfully for the first 10 seconds does not rule out a hardware fault. It only shows that the camera works initially. The front camera working also does not establish that the rear camera assembly is healthy. The important evidence is whether the same rear camera failure occurs in Apple Camera and other apps, whether it affects particular camera selections, and what Apple’s diagnostics report. The SIM issue resolving after an update does not establish that the camera issue has the same cause.

You need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US, please call  1-800-MY-APPLE, or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada, call 1-800-263-3394.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Jota_Jota wrote:

It’s not a hardware issue with the iPhone 15; it’s a software problem. In apps like WhatsApp, the camera initially allows you to take photos, but after about 10 seconds, it freezes, while the front-facing camera works fine. Unfortunately, the iOS 27.03 update doesn’t fix the issue. We’ll just have to keep waiting until they finally decide to bother fixing it.

Hi, iOS 27.2.0 was released yesterday, October 26. Try the update and if that doesn’t resolve the issue it’s most likely a hardware issue.

When you open a camera app Apple’s AVFoundation framework starts a capture session. The pipeline that moves data from camera inputs to outputs such as the preview or recording. Its  startRunning()  method waits until the session either starts successfully or fails; a failure is reported through a runtime error notification. That establishes startup/error handling, not a documented module level self test.

In other words Apple’s app is designed differently from WhatsApp camera. The Camera app fails at startup. The WhatsApp Camera app sends the notification at time of failure rather than startup. Opening an app and starting camera capture are not necessarily the same event. The documented operation is starting the capture session, rather than simply displaying the app.

The most useful distinction is whether the freeze is WhatsApp only. It’s not, both apps are failing just at different points. WhatsApp’s own troubleshooting guidance recommends testing the phone’s default Camera app to separate an app specific problem from a broader device issue. Because both apps are failing it’s most likely hardware and not software.

I’d delete WhatsApp. Restart the iPhone and update to iOS 27.2.0. Then download a fresh copy from the Apple App Store. Restart your device and test again. If they both fail, you need to have Apple perform diagnostics on your iPhone. It can be done in person at an Apple Retail Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can also contact Apple Support and request remote diagnostics.

If you’re in the US, please call  1-800-MY-APPLE, or outside the US, consult the support articles below. In Canada, call 1-800-263-3394.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Welcome and thank you for reaching out. 🤗

There appears to be a problem with the camera and/or related sensors. Only a certified Apple technician can determine the cause and offer a complete solution.

Therefore, I recommend service.

Service Checklist:

• iPhone service pricing.
• Check AppleCare Coverage.
• Get your iPhone ready for service.

Service Appointment:

• Get started with camera service.

Contact Information:

• United States: 1-800-APLCARE.
• Contact Support.

Additional Support:

• iPhone Support.
• iPhone User Guide.
• Check Repair Status.

Good luck! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian | Community Volunteer

You may try some of these steps, please check after each step...

1. Eye tracking relies heavily on the front-facing camera. Ensure the lens is clean and free from smudges or obstructions. Use a soft, lint-free cloth.
2. Ensure adequate lighting. Poor lighting can significantly impact eye-tracking performance.  
3. Sometimes assistive touch settings can interfere. Check your assistive touch settings within the accessibility menu.
4. Ensure your screen protector or case isn't obstructing the front-facing camera. See the poic below
   1. 
5. If you still need help, reset your Face ID, then set it up again. Go to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, then tap Reset Face ID. Next, tap Set up Face ID to set it up again. If Face ID isn't working on your iPhone or iPad Pro
6. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Turn off your iPhone, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
   1. Restart the device. That's it. 
   2. Still not solved --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
7. Corporate iPhone Profile Check and Removal Guide
   1. Is this your corporate iPhone? Then please contact the system administrator of your corporate.
   2. If it is your device, in that case, do you have any profile installed by your corporate/organization/enterprise/School Management? 
   3. Erase the profile added by you If you have installed a profile on your own --> Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone - Apple ...
   4. Please contact the system administrator of the organization who provided the profile to you 
8. Parts and service history
   1. With iPhone 12 models and later using iOS 15.2 and later, you can go to Settings > General > About to see the parts and service history of your iPhone and you can see if the camera has been replaced. If the repair was done using genuine Apple parts and processes, you will see "Genuine Apple Part" next to Camera.
   2. 
   3.  
   4. You will see an Unknown Part  message if the camera installation is incomplete or if the camera:
   5. Was replaced with a nongenuine camera
   6. Was already used or installed in another iPhone
   7. Isn't functioning as expected
   8. This message doesn't affect your ability to use your iPhone or access your camera. Learn more about iPhone parts and service history.
   9. If your iPhone's camera has been previously replaced, repaired, or serviced by an unauthorized service provider, it's worth noting that Apple may decline to provide service for your device. The decision to refuse service will depend on the specific components that were affected by the unauthorized service.
9. If the issue persists, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will not erase your data but will reset all personalized settings to their default values. Go to Settings > General > Transfer & Reset > Reset > Reset All Settings and confirm the action. Note that you will need to reconfigure your settings afterward. All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, the Home screen layout, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. No data or media are deleted.
   1. Reset All Settings: Return iPhone settings to their defaults - Apple Support:- Return iPhone settings to their defaults
   2. You can return settings to their defaults without erasing your content.
   3. If you want to save your settings, back up your iPhone before returning them to their defaults. For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem but returning settings to their defaults doesn’t help, you might want to restore your previous settings from a backup.
   4. 
10. Make sure you have the latest updates installed.
    1. Update Over-the-Air (OTA) —> Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)
    2. Update using iTunes/Finder —> Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (IN)

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it is recommended to reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance. They can provide specific guidance based on your device model and iOS version.

Force restart the phone. Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

If that fails, the camera may be busted. It can happen spontaneously during an update due to the temperature, but it would have failed anyway.

Another issue it experienced was a SIM card failure message, which appeared in the morning, asking me to activate it. After trying every possible solution to fix the problem, it eventually disappeared following the latest iOS update. This was an issue widely reported on various forums.

Every iPhone has its own particularities and behaves differently depending on its language settings and the apps installed.

There is almost certainly a software bug in the update to iOS 27, possibly in version 27.0.1. The camera freezes after 10 seconds, which suggests that the hardware, lenses and other components are working correctly. The front-facing camera works perfectly, taking photos and saving them without any problems.

If it were a hardware issue, WhatsApp and other apps would not be able to take and save photos either. Of course, this works perfectly as long as the photos are taken within the first 10 seconds.

It’s not a hardware issue with the iPhone 15; it’s a software problem. In apps like WhatsApp, the camera initially allows you to take photos, but after about 10 seconds, it freezes, while the front-facing camera works fine. Unfortunately, the iOS 27.03 update doesn’t fix the issue. We’ll just have to keep waiting until they finally decide to bother fixing it.

There are enough instances/ reports of this issue to prove that it is not on an individual level. I am going through the exact same issue with my own device (ever since installing ios 27) and can confirm I have never replaced any parts. I would suggest not listening to some of these comments blaming your usage and hope that they patch this in a future update.

JohnAlty wrote:

latest update IOS 27.0.1 update and her camera no longer works since she did the update,

Not every issue an individual encounters on their device can be attributed to an iOS update. iOS 27 or later may have coincided with what you are experiencing, but that does not mean the issue was triggered by iOS. Coincidence in timing is not, by itself, evidence of causation.

If the update itself were the root cause, then every device running that same version of iOS would exhibit the identical problem. In such a scenario, the forums would be flooded with countless posts reporting the same malfunction, creating an unmistakable wave of complaints that no one could possibly overlook.

The absence of such widespread reports strongly indicates that the issue is not a general, system-wide problem with iOS 27 or later, but rather something specific to the individual device, its configuration, installed apps, settings, hardware, or another interacting factor.

In short: iOS 27 or later may be a coincidence in timing, but there is no basis to conclude that iOS itself triggered the problem simply because the issue appeared after the update.

See what each update does: About iOS 27 Updates, About iOS 26 Updates, About iOS 18 Updates, About iOS 17 Updates, About iOS 16 Updates, About iOS 15 Updates, About iOS 14 Updates, About iOS 13 Updates, About iOS 12 Updates, and so on...

Jota_Jota wrote:

It’s not a hardware issue with the iPhone 15; it’s a software problem. In apps like WhatsApp, the camera initially allows you to take photos, but after about 10 seconds, it freezes, while the front-facing camera works fine. Unfortunately, the iOS 27.03 update doesn’t fix the issue. We’ll just have to keep waiting until they finally decide to bother fixing it.

If it was software we would all be suffering. Your camera most likely failed during or around the update itself due to thermal stressing in an already failing component.. Have Apple look atbis as already recommended by Smilin Brian.

Same here. iPhone 15 Pro the camera stopped working even though you could see it on the camera app/instagram. Forced to upgrade to a new iPhone.