When the camera on your smartphone is not working, it doesn’t always indicate that the physical camera is busted. In fact, most widespread camera problems are tied to software errors than hardware damage. This means that they are rectifiable by end-users. Highlighted in this post are generic solutions and recommended workarounds used to deal with a relevant problem transpiring on the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 camera. It’s about the dreaded camera failed error. Read on and get help when needed.
Before anything else though, if you have other issues with your device, then visit our troubleshooting page for we have already addressed several common problems with this phone. Odds are that there are already existing solutions to your problems so just take time finding issues that are similar with yours. If you can’t find one or if you need further assistance, feel free to contact us by completing our Android issues questionnaire. Please provide us with as much information as possible so that it would also be easier for us to troubleshoot the problem. Don’t worry as we offer this service for free, so all you have to do is give us sufficient information about the problem.
First solution: Force close Camera app and restart.
If it appears as a random issue like when you only see the camera failed warning when using a certain video or image file through the camera app, then it’s an isolated issue that can be rectified by forcing the camera app to close and then restart it. Here’s how:
- Swipe up or down from the center of the Home screen to show the Apps tray.
- Navigate to Settings then tap Apps.
- If necessary, tap the Dropdown icon then select All apps.
- Tap to select individual apps then tap the option to Force Stop.
- If prompted, tap Force Stop again to confirm.
To apply the changes and refresh your apps and phone system, perform a soft reset or simply restart your phone. Doing so will also help clear up the internal memory of your phone for better and smoother functions.
- Press and hold the Power button until the Power Off prompt appears.
- Tap the option to Restart.
- Tap Restart again to confirm.
In the case where your device gets frozen as the camera app becomes erratic, a forced reboot would be necessary. It’s a simulated battery removal procedure that works the same as a soft reset does without affecting any data stored on the internal memory of your phone. And here’s how it’s done:
- Press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button simultaneously for up to 45 seconds.
- Release both buttons when the phone reboots.
Once your phone has rebooted completely, try to launch the camera app again and see if the camera failed error is gone. If not, then move on and try the next solution.
Second solution: Clear app cache and data/wipe cache partition.
Cache are temporary files that are stored on apps and phone system too. These files are important for fast reloading of similar information but can also trigger errors when they get corrupted. To rule corrupted app cache from the possible triggers, try to clear cache and data from the Camera app with these steps:
- Swipe up on an empty spot from the Home screen to open the Apps tray.
- Tap Settings then select Apps.
- Tap on Camera app.
- Go to Storage.
- Tap the option to Clear Data then tap OK. Selecting this option will delete any stored data in the app including settings and other saved information thus it’s optional.
- Tap Clear Cache. This option clears temporary files or cache files from the Camera app.
Restart your phone when you’re done clearing app cache and data and then try to open the camera app. If it still shows a camera failed error, then try wiping the cache partition on your Galaxy Note 8 with these steps:
- Turn off your phone.
- When it’s powered down, press and hold the Volume Up, Bixby (Home), and Power buttons simultaneously.
- Release all buttons when the Android logo appears. The Android system recovery menu options will then show up following the Installing system update prompt.
- Press the Volume Down button several times to highlight wipe cache partition from the given options.
- Press the Power button to confirm selection.
- Press the Volume Down button until Yes is highlighted.
- Then press the Power button to confirm.
- When the Reboot system now option is highlighted, it denotes that the wipe cache partition is finished. At this point, press the Power button to restart your device.
Third solution: Boot into safe mode and diagnose apps.
All third-party apps are temporarily disabled when you boot your phone in safe mode. This then allows you to determine whether a third-party app is triggering the Camera failed error upon loading the camera app. Follow these steps to enable safe mode and diagnose apps on your Note 8:
- Turn off your phone.
- Press and hold the Power button past the model name screen.
- Release the Power button when the Samsung logo appears on the screen.
- Immediately after releasing the Power button, press and hold the Volume Down button.
- Continue to hold the Volume Down button until the phone completely restarts.
- When you see the Safe Mode label at the bottom left corner of the screen, release the Volume Down button.
Try using the camera app while in safe mode. If the error is gone, then you will need to find out which from your downloaded apps is the culprit. To give you some clues, try to think of which app you’ve added before the camera error started to show up. You may need to uninstall your recent apps individually in this case.
If the camera failed error still occurred with safe mode enabled, then you need to continue troubleshooting software problems on your phone that might have caused the camera app to become this erratic.
Fourth solution: Update device software to the latest version available.
New software updates not only bring in new features but also offer security enhancements and fix patches to address existing errors and software problems. If you haven’t already, then check for any available software update for your Note 8 over-the-air (wirelessly) with these steps:
- Open the Apps tray.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Software update. If an update is available, back up all important data for safekeeping.
- To instigate update downloaded, select the option to Download updates manually.
- Tap OK.
- Tap Start.
- If prompted with a restart message, tap OK to instigate device reboot or soft reset. Doing so will apply the new changes from the recently installed update on your device.
Reboot your phone when the update is completely installed. This will implement all new changes from the recently installed software update on your device. Then test the camera app to see if it is already working flawlessly.
Fifth solution: Backup and reset your device to factory defaults.
As your last resort if all else failed to fix the camera failed error on your Samsung Note 8, you may go for a master reset to wipe everything from your device system including bugs and malware that might have caused this error to persist. After the reset, your device will be restored to its factory defaults settings. This means the need for you to set up everything again. If you’re willing to give it a shot, then follow these steps to get started:
- Swipe up on an empty spot from the Home screen to open the Apps tray.
- Tap Settings then go to Cloud and accounts.
- Tap Backup and Restore then enable the switch to Back up my data or Restore option.
- Wait until the backup creation is finished.
- Then go back to the Settings menu by pressing the Back key.
- Tap General Management.
- Tap Reset.
- Select Factory data reset from the given options.
- Tap Reset.
- When prompted, enter your screen lock credentials.
- Tap Continue.
- Tap Delete all to confirm.
Your phone will restart automatically when the reset is finished. By then you can proceed with the initial device setup. A setup wizard will walk you through the entire process so it should be quick and easy.
Seek further assistance
You may contact Samsung Support or your carrier for other options and recommendations especially if the problem started after installing a new software update. Doing so will allow them to make necessary assessment to determine whether the Camera Failed error you’re dealing with is triggered by some update bugs. If the problem only occurs to the pre-installed camera app on your Galaxy Note 8, then you can try using other similar app as temporary option.
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