Front Camera / Selfie Camera Not Working

The front camera — used for selfies, video calls, and face unlock — is something many people rely on every day. When it stops working, it disrupts both personal communication and, for many coaching students in Kota, their online classes and study group calls. At our Keshavpura shop we see front camera problems regularly, and the approach is methodical: software first, hardware second.

Is It Only the Front Camera?

The first thing to establish is whether only the front camera is affected or whether the rear cameras are also failing. Open the camera app and switch to the front camera (selfie mode). Then switch to the rear camera. If the rear camera shows a live view but the front does not, the issue is specific to the front camera module or its software path. If both cameras fail, the problem may be at the OS level or in a shared hardware component.

Software Checks to Do First

Before assuming a hardware fault, work through these steps:

• Force-stop and reopen: Go to Settings, then Apps, find Camera, tap Force Stop, then reopen the camera and switch to the front camera.
• Restart the phone: A full power-off and restart resets hardware drivers and clears temporary faults. This resolves a surprising number of front camera failures.
• Clear camera app cache: Settings, Apps, Camera, Storage, Clear Cache. A corrupted cache file can cause specific cameras to fail on launch.
• Check permissions for video call apps: If the front camera fails only inside WhatsApp, Zoom, or Google Meet but works in the stock camera app, those apps may have lost their camera permission. Check each app's individual permission settings.
• Try a third-party camera app: Download any free camera app and switch to its front camera. If it works there but not in the stock app, the stock app has a settings issue rather than a hardware fault.

Front Camera Failing After a Drop

If the front camera stopped working immediately after you dropped the phone, a hardware cause is far more likely. The front camera module — located at the top edge of the phone — is one of the components most exposed to impact in a face-down drop. The damage is usually one of:

• A loose or partially disconnected ribbon cable between the front camera module and the motherboard — this is actually the most common cause and is inexpensive to fix
• A cracked or shattered front camera module, which requires full module replacement
• Physical damage to the connector on the motherboard in severe drops

On phones with an under-display camera or a punch-hole design, the camera sits very close to the display assembly. A screen replacement done by an inexperienced technician can inadvertently disconnect or damage the front camera flex cable — so if your front camera stopped working after a screen repair elsewhere, the cable is the most likely suspect.

Front Camera Failing After Getting Wet

Water that reaches the front camera module — through the earpiece grille, the screen edge, or any gap after a monsoon downpour — can corrode the module contacts or the connector on the board. We see this especially during Kota's monsoon months. If the camera stopped working after water exposure, bring the phone to us as soon as possible. We clean the board and connectors and assess whether the module itself is damaged.

Under-Display and Punch-Hole Cameras

Modern phones use a punch-hole cutout in the screen or, increasingly, an under-display camera. These designs make the front camera more integrated with the display assembly, which means replacement is slightly more involved than on older phones with a separate camera notch. However, repair is still straightforward for our technicians.

Typical Repair Costs in Kota

Prices vary by phone model and the specific fault found. We do not charge for the diagnosis — you only pay once we have identified the fault and you approve the repair.

Come to Our Keshavpura Shop

If the software steps above have not restored your front camera, bring your phone to us. We will open the device, reseat the front camera connector, and test the module with diagnostic tools. Most front camera repairs are quick and affordable — and we give you a clear, honest assessment before any work begins.