yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] soeperkoe:
shutdown and full charge

Hi guys,

I just got the S4 a week and suffered from the same camera fail error.

Sometimes the screen remained black. Sometimes I got image and after couple of seconds the camera would freeze, subsequently followed by the "camera fail" error. And when using a different camera app (e.g. Camera 360) it didn't work either.I didn't get the latest firmware update yet, but from what I read, it doesn't address this particular issue.

I did try clearing the cache/data of the Camera app, reboots etc. but it didn't resolve the issue. Hence, I was prepared to send the phone back for repair/replacement.

However, yesterday and today I noticed the error was gone. The only thing I did was completely shut down the phone and let it charge fully. Afterwards, I started the phone and the camera app is walking fine again. Even when changing modes and front/back cameras.

I can't tell if this "fixed" the issue permanently, but it seems more a software then a hardware issue to me; if it's hardware, the camera would just fail every single time, not?

Anyway, you may try the complete shutdown, full charge and see if this annoying issue is resolved. If it pops up again, I will let you know.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Pinion:
Potential Power Supply Issue?

I've had the same problem and it seems that as long as I'm over 90% on the battery, the camera works. I suspect this is down to a current/voltage issue, but haven't been able to confirm yet - still playing. Can anyone else confirm that 100% charge followed by reboot (to flush the system) gets their camera working again? I know there are plenty of problems that could lead to this fault, but I'd be interested to know if the camera unit is operating at the limit of the batterie's ability.

I should add that I've got a 5500mAH battery installed, which was suspiciously cheap. Sadly, I can't find the stock battery and can't be bothered buying one just to find out.

I've tried *#0228# to bring up the battery status, but can't quite correlate the voltage to camera operation [yet?]. I am getting ~4100mV, which seems odd for a 3.8V battery, but may be ok.

One final point, is that there seems to be a border condition when the camera will start very slowly with a purple hue to the picture just before getting up to 90% charge, this again leads me to think it's a power issue.

Question: does anyone know how to get information on the live current draw from a battery so I can add that to my experimentation?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
This is a hardware issue, without a doubt. If you run the hardware test, it will fail. The front camera will work fine. When the repairshop was messing around with my phone, they got it to make photo's (which it NEVER did in my case) but quickly stopped working after again. It's now at Samsung for repair. I've also read someone who could make it work/fail by tapping on the phone. The repairshop replaced my cam module, that didn't help. So it most probably is an issue with the print/connectors.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jdport:
Can you tell me how to run the hardware test on a Galaxy S3? I have this same issue on the S3.... Camera worked fine as of just last week but now I get the "camera failed" message every time I try to open the camera app.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] heara:
hello, good news, my module just arrived and changed by myself, just took me about 20 minutes, and camera is working again, thank God. i hope this help you all!!

this is a hardware issue. first the camera no focus, then warning camera failed, reset the phone, update, changing rom with no success, the only thing that worked is changing the camera module, now is working fine..
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Freka:
Hey can you please give me a link to a guide on how to install the module myself? I have the same problem...
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] heara:
hello i dont know if i can post a link here but you can search youtube ( disassembly galaxy s4)...
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Samsung+Galaxy+S4+Teardown/13947/1
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] qazmed:
Dude just take it back and ask for another one
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] wahzeemu:
I had the same problem. But it was not a hardware issue, took it back to the dealers and they sorted it out. Been snapping pics since then. :)
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
??? What did they do ?? Some people reported that in their case it was the SD card. But at least in my case it's most definitely a hardware issue. Might be that this problem has several different possible reasons. My phone is now almost 3 weeks at Samsung for repair, after 2 highly specialized repair shops couldn't fix it. Pretty sure it isn't a software issue ;) My cam never worked from day 1, out of the box, while the frontcam worked just fine. Of course I did a factory reset but of course that didn't help either, since my phone was still in factory settings as I didn't change anything.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] soeperkoe:
Failed...fixed...and failed again...

The results of above "fix" was that the camera worked correctly for couple of days. And then....it suddenly returned..and the same "fix" (shutdown, full charge) didn't resolve it anymore. Also clearing cache, factory reset didn't resolve the issue of the black screen and "camera fail" error.

So it does seem to be a hardware issue with the camera. And I went to a Samsung Service point. The guy checked the camera and also concluded that it didn't work properly. Unfortunately he couldn't exchange it directly for a new phone (Samsung policy...eventhough the phone is just 2 weeks in use). He did propose to order a new camera module and replace it on the spot. If that wouldn't resolve the issue, then a full replacement could be offered.So, I'm keen to know if the camera module replacement will fix the failing camera permanently. And the funny thing: when I came back home after the repair shop, the camera worked again. For 2 times and then failed again :-S

So whatever the root cause of the failure is, there doesn't seem to be just one single cause to it given the various results posted here. It looks like a combination of hardware failure and buggy software (also because the camera fail isn't reported just on the S4 but also on previous/other models as well). Hope Samsung will further improve their product quality, because I do like the brand, phone and the efforts to keep innovating in this competitive market.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] soeperkoe:
Fixed by remplacent

So, finally the camera module was replaced and now it works fine again.....case closed!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
So you're already the second report who confirmed that replacing the cam module fixes it ! I brought my cam to a repairshop, they said replacing the cam didn't work but I don't believe them. I've just ordered a cam module myself, will let you guys know if it worked out.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] wahzeemu:
I was told that it was a software issue. I think they either did a camera firmware update.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] wastegate76:
Yep, same issue here too. Has been working perfectly for 3 months since I got it.

I have tried multiple roms and camera apps, same issue with full wipes. Front camera seems to work just fine though.

Also tried the reboot tricks, full charge, full wipe.

I'm going to restore it to factory rom and try, if still no go then I guess it's back under warranty.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Freka:
For those wondering... I had the same issue only my camera app would start but would not focus, it would then freeze and crash. Could not take any type of picture... I bought a camera module off eBay and that fixed the issue, def hardware issue.

Case closed.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] anuradhakelum:
Simple problem
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
That's interesting. The moments my cam does work, I can't focus it either. It then mostly crashes rather quickly. Anyway my new cam module is hopefully coming tomorrow, will certainly let you guys know how it worked out ! So far everybody that replaced the cam module reported success.

---------- Post added at 08:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:58 PM ----------

Are you sure you've solved your problem ? I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with firmware. I'm on the latest FW and still the same thing. Well technically it could be that sometimes this problem is hardware related and sometimes software (different issues causing the same problem), but at least in my case this most definetely is a hardware issue
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gidian:
Solution

Replacing the kernel will solve the problem. This error usually occurs with adam kernel. Try flashing a stock kernel that matches your rom.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
Mate, I'm on (the latest) stock kernel. At factory reset too. This is not a software problem, at least not in my case. And in other case's, that's why everybody that replaced the camera module reports success. Some people reported success with newer FW's but I'm highly skeptical towards these reports.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] midhunug:
camera failed

i had the same issue .. it is a hardware problem.. you can get the camera replaced
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] peakcelln:
I had a customer come in with the outer lens smashed and I figured thats why the camera wasnt focussing. Ordered a new camera module, installed it, and now get the camera "Warning Camera Failed". I'm gonna put the old one back in and see if that message appears. It may be a bad part, but it looked new to me. I hate these easy fixes that go south quick...Seems I've had a lot of them lately with the newer phones.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zorril.nz:
Oh no... I have the same problem with my camera.... I thought it may having something to do with an old micro SD card causing the issue - Slow write speed perhaps. I'm going to try record to internal memory and see if I get the same error message - REALLY don't want to have to send my phone away for a new camera module. ;(
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
If you don't want to send your phone away, then you can order a cam module yourself. Get one from ebay.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tiptip13:
Had same problem, Solved...

Hello guys, i had the same problem, after reading alot i almost went to factory, but at the end i solved it...

i do not know exactly why this problem on s4... but i have rooted phone but with stock firmware, and one day camera just stop work and show me this message "camera failed" ... i try to use other camera software, didnt work, try to use app to turn on flashlight , not work, try app to use front camera, again not working...

after read on net i turn of my phone for 20 mins and open it(didnt work), i cleared camera cash and restart it, cleared phone cash, made hard rest... didnt work...

at the end i downloaded the original firmware of my phone, flashed it using odin, then i made Wipe data/Factory rest, that took my phone to the fresh start and finally my camera start work again...

like i say i have no idea what is this problem or why some of us got it, but if i solve it at the end i guess it is a software problem and not hardware..
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
Yess !! Finally got my cam module in today and it works !! Previously my camera would never focus and it would just crash after shooting 2-3 photo's (or it would show camera failed). Now everything works fine !! So happy. And then to consider that I brought my phone to a repair shop, who SAID they replaced the cam but that it didn't work ... Either they didn't even bother or they replaced my faulty module with another faulty one.

Anyway, if you have this problem, first try to install the latest samsung Firmware, do a factory reset, remove the SD card and if you still have this problem, your camera module is defect and you should order one (they're cheap on Ebay). Or just bring your phone back to the shop of course.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zamrong:
fix and work for me

i had the same issue

but i flash Adam Kernel GalaxyS4 V1.6 via CWM

camera, work again :laugh:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
You did try to reboot your phone previously ? Normally a reboot causes the camera to function just for a bit. To me your report sounds like after the flashing, the phone rebooted and now it will work a few times but tomorrow it won't. I just don't see how flashing a new kernel could solve this problem. You can run the hardware test, I think that bypasses kernel and accesses HW directly. If the frontcam works in the HW test and the backcam doesn't, I just don't see how a new kernel could make any difference. Or any software setting for that matter. Unless of course the hardware test would call the kernel API, but even if it did that, why would the kernel cam *API* fail ? Doesn't make sense to me.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] netnerd:
when i take out the microSD, it records on phone device memory no problems!

i formatted my 64gb to fat32, maybe that' the problem.

going to format the 64gb microSD to NTFS to see what happens.

UPDATE: i fixed the problem by inserting 64gb microSD into card reader. (windows PC)

then right click on that drive and click Properties -> Tools -> Error checking, click Check -> then Scan drive and fix errors
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
I think this camera error is caused by two possible different reasons: a defective cam or a SD card with problems (like in your case).

I see people resetting to factory and flashing new kernels claiming that it solved their problem. To me it just seems impossible this is a kernel issue. I think the reason these people are reporting success is twofold: either their factory reset wiped the settings which caused the camera to write to internal memory instead of the sdcard. This would solve/circumvent the problem in case the sdcard was bad. Or they didn't solve the problem at all, the cam just works a few times but will fail soon again (every time I'd reboot my phone I could shoot a few pictures before it would crash again).

Anyway, I've replaced my camera module about 2 weeks ago and never had any problems anymore ever since.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] PrearoL:
Nope

I bought my S4 in july and my camera started to fail a few weeks ago. I found this topic and I bought another camera, hoping that this would work.

It Didn't.

So... That's it. I don't know what to do :/
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
Did you restore everything to factory default (kernel + settings) ? That's something you should always try first. If that doesn't solve it and replacing the cam doesn't work, then I'd say you have a very serious problem and the only thing that remains to do is sending the device back to either the store you purchased it or directly to Samsung in the country you purchased it.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] smep:
You guys make sure its a vietnam or korea made others places may have issues
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
Mine had a defective cam from the start and was made in China.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] smep:
China have master in cloning electronics

And when i say cloning , i mean 100% doing the clone, including the imeis and serials numbers, but the are going to mess up with quality and the functionality

I personally witness several genuine cell phone straggling doing the first time use online register because of a clone already did that in the samsung's or any brand's server,,, they even manufacture devices and stamp another country made

so i guess you won't ever know, unless you buy it from official dealer in china,

I prsonaly avoid them as much as possible, specially in high end devices

When you buy any device from any unofficial dealer with cheaper price you are allways going to take this risk
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chinoquezada:
I fixed this by installing original firmware thru odin after nothing else (cwm restore, new kernel thru cwm, new rom thru cwm, etc) worked.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
LOL. Do you have any idea how complex a phone like the S4 is ? Do you have any idea what it takes to 'clone' even a single chip like the processor ? Even if you have the technology to decap it and analyse the billions of transistors, do you know what kind of investment it would take to produce a copy ? And I'm not even talking about the time it would take. Yes, China is good at reverse engineering and cloning technology but believe me, it would take years before they could ever 'clone' the S4.

Sorry, but suggesting that you could buy a S4 'clone', within a few months of release, is just totally ridiculous.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] smep:
most chips and inelegant circuits inside S4 are not even samsung made, in the other hand its easy to get any thing in the black marketing including diagrams and designs not mentioning that inside sumsung its self have many agents who are reday to sell with a price even before the product is released, what i mean is samsung is actually doing the damn advertisement and someone else is just cloning and selling the same product hahaha
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
Sure man. It's really easy to get those Snapdragon diagrams from Qualcomm and then manufacture those cpu's yourself, haha. Come one, stop smoking that stuff, it's totally ridiculous. Yes, China does clone stuff and yes, they're quite good at it too. But suggesting that there are S4 clones, a few months after release, is just totally ridiculous.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gekkehenkie11:
Interestingly there's not a lot of activity anymore regarding the subject of camera failed. Not here and nor on other forums. It seems the problem was mainly just 1 batch of S4's wtih this issue.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ijaz__ahmed:
There are still people with same problem. I owned a Galaxy S4 for last 4 months and all of a sudden, the camera started saying "camera failed" while front camera works fine. I found out that after a factory reset, the camera starts showing preview but with quite a jitter if you move the phone to some other view. Also deleting camera app cache and data has the same effect. I can even take one or two pictures but that's all.

I re flashed firmware, same situation. Right now downloading old firmware, will check what effect it has. Alternatively I have ordered a new replacment camera (for the worst case). I will post later about the solution which works for me.

I have been using Samsung phones since Galaxy S, then S2, S3 and now S4. The S2 was best. Galaxy S4 camera's field of view is not good.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MiniSid17:
I have the same problem. But fortunately the S4's camera is nowhere near as good as my actual camera. So I guess I'll just use the S4 as a phone!
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Fouad Aslam:
Did you get the module replaced? did it work?

I am in a similar situation here, camera failed within days and now only works intermittently.

What I have seen is that the camera will work but will fail after it has gone to deep sleep. It will also fail after being charged for a while. These are situation in which the problem can be replicated almost for sure.

If you use the rear camera it shows a black screen, settings and functions become very laggy, after sometime the front camera starts working and then slowly the rear camera as well.

I have flashed stock firmware through odin, new roms, factor resets etc but nothing works on a permanent basis.

My problem is that I9505 is not the official version in Pakistan, we have the I9500 here. I bought the I9505 from a local shop and the phone actually is from UK and has an international warranty, so I really dont know how to go about claiming any warranty on this.:rolleyes:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jimmy Moretti:
Video fails

HI Guys ,

I have a different problem. When i press the video icon the camera fails. I tried all the solutions and flash via odin solves the problem. After a week or two the camera stops again :eek:

I am rooted .....
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ijaz__ahmed:
Hi Fouad

My problem got solved as the S4 was under local warranty. I went to the service center one day just to ask them how much time they need. They offered me a cup of tea and during the time I finished tea, my phone was ready and camera was running perfect. The service center guys told me it was some lose connection of camera module to the main board and they just cleaned and re-connected. They supposed the handset fell down and thus the cause of the problem. As a matter of fact, I had dropped my phone many times.

They even offered me to replace the camera module which I refused and I am now happy with with my phone. If you are in Islamabad, MNP guys in blue area are authorized and they can offer you the same service but of course they will charge you.

All the best..
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Fouad Aslam:
Great to hear that your phone was repaired under warranty, also something positive to know that MNP guys are capable of handling such stuff. Lesson is not to buy imported stuff from the market, maybe direct from someone coming from abroad but not from these shops. I found out that they get stuff from UK/USA etc, which maybe used or whatever and then repack it all in Karachi!

Anyways I got mine replaced from the shop where I bought it and the second one seems fine atm.

Thanks for the advice and the information:good:
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] plctech:
solved by ktkat rom

hi, i loaded the kitkat rom and the problem was solved,

its strange that there are 2 different problems,

maybe its the same problem with 2 different solutions.

i need to run my phone unrooted because of the stupid barclays app so i've ordered a camera to see if it fixes it on a stock rom
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] -uniQ-:
hey man i got this same problem. have u found a fix to this?

as soon as i press the video record it crashes and says 'camera failed'
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Ali Omran:
Are u on stock firmware? If yes, try reinstalling it, if that didn't work, maybe u r unit is defected
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zorril.nz:
I updated my external SD card to a class 10 (Was on class 4) and that fixed the problem for me.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] -uniQ-:
Mine still doesn't work. I tried using phone storage to save photos/videos. Should I unroot and take to samsung?
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jimmy Moretti:
I use to get the video recording problem and many times "SD card unexpectedly removed" message

Well What I did to fix this was :

1: Back up all your file from SD card

2. Format it using the phone

3: Bring back your files to Sd card.

Result: Never had a problem again

Hope help u too
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lithiumgold:
Had the same issue...unmount then mount your SD card. My camera works fine now.
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] -uniQ-:
I tried that and did not work

Will try resetting it later

edit. i found the problem

it was rootcloak app that was causing it too crash.

uninstalled and it is working.

PS. it was also crashing 8Ball Pool and that works aswell now
[Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] simon7997:
When I bought my new i9500. I faced random freezes n reboots when ever I tried to used camera. So I found out it might be cos of low ram space at that moment. So I downloaded clean master app. Which automatically clears your space. I never faced the problem again. U can try that too and provide feed back