No live picture in the viewfinder
Usually the camera permission is off, another app is holding the camera, or the phone paused the camera to cool down. The viewfinder says which, in a line over the picture or in the capsule under the top strip.
A camera you have not allowed never locks the app: Shots, Setup and Settings still work without it.
Camera permission
- Camera access is off: tap Open Settings, turn on Camera for Viewfinder, come back and tap I've turned it on.
- Camera unavailable: camera access is restricted by Screen Time or by whoever manages the device. Ask them to allow it.
The camera is busy or stopped
- The camera is in use by another app: close the other app, such as a video call.
- The camera was interrupted: something took the camera for a moment, such as a call. It comes back when that ends.
- The camera is not available in the background: Viewfinder is not the app in front. Bring it back.
- The camera paused to cool down: the phone is too hot. Let it cool in the shade; the picture returns by itself.
- The camera is not available while other apps share the screen (iPad): make Viewfinder full screen.
Starting up
- Starting camera… in the capsule means the camera has been asked to start and the first picture is on its way.
- Camera not running or The camera session did not start: close Viewfinder from the app switcher and open it again.
- Choose a camera and a lens: Setup is not finished. Tap the top strip and pick a camera, a mode and a lens.
If that didn't work
If none of these lines shows and the picture is still black, restart the device. On an iPad with a second Viewfinder window, the camera stays with the first window; close the second one. If the problem stays, write to us with the device model, the iOS version and the app version from Settings, About.
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Updated November 2, 2026