How to Fix Front Camera Not Working on WhatsApp for iPhone

Is your front camera not working on WhatsApp for iPhone?

WhatsApp is currently one of the leading messaging platforms for mobile. It has a dedicated iOS app that allows users to make and answer calls with ease. Users can also generate video call links within the app and invite their friends and loved ones for a group call. 

However, none of these features matter if your front-facing camera isn’t working on the app. 

Unfortunately, this is the case for many iPhone users. As it turns out, their front camera is not working on WhatsApp, preventing them from joining video calls. 

Most of the time, this problem on the app is caused by a conflict with your iPhone’s permissions. On the other hand, it can also be due to outdated software, server downtimes, unstable connections, and corrupted app data. 

To help out, we’ve decided to make a guide on how to fix your front camera if it’s not working on WhatsApp for iPhone. 

Let’s get right into it!

1. Check WhatsApp Servers. 

As mentioned, this problem on WhatsApp can be due to server-related issues. Since WhatsApp is an online service, its servers play a major role in providing users with content, features, and services. 

If your front camera is not working on the app, try checking WhatsApp’s servers. You can use third-party sites like Downdetector to view the platform’s status. 

Whatsapp Status

Sadly, server-related issues can only be resolved on WhatsApp’s end. If there are reported problems with the servers, the best thing you can do is wait for their team to resolve the issue. 

On the other hand, you can head to the next solution if there’s nothing wrong with the servers. 

2. Restart Your Device. 

Before changing your configurations, we recommend performing a system restart on your device first. This way, you can ensure that the problem isn’t caused by a temporary bug or glitch. 

Follow the steps below to restart your iPhone: 

  1. Access the Assistive Touch on your iOS device. 
  2. Next, go to More
  3. Finally, choose Restart and wait. 
instagram feed not refreshing

Once your device has restarted, go back to WhatsApp to check if the problem is solved. 

3. Check Camera Permissions. 

One of the most common reasons for your front camera not to work on WhatsApp for iPhone is lack of permissions. It’s possible that the application is not given the correct permissions to access your front camera. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

  1. First, open the Settings app on your iPhone
  2. Now, go to Privacy & Security
front camera not working on WhatsApp
  1. Lastly, access the Camera tab and ensure that WhatsApp is allowed to access your hardware. 

Relaunch the app afterward and see if your front camera works. 

4. Check Your Network Connection. 

Slow or unstable internet connection could also be the reason you can’t join video calls on WhatsApp. Unlike regular calls, video calls require more bandwidth. The feature may not work properly if your device doesn’t have access to a decent connection. 

To confirm this, perform a test on your network using Fast.com to measure its current bandwidth. 

Speed Test

If the test indicates a problem with your connection, power cycle your modem or router to re-establish the link with your ISP. Disconnect your router from the outlet and wait for 5 to 10 seconds before plugging it back in. 

Restart Router

Once done, re-run the test on your network to check if the problem is solved. If not, contact your provider and ask them to fix the issue with your connection. 

5. Switch to Wi-Fi. 

If you are using cellular data, we recommend switching to Wi-Fi if possible. Although mobile data has come a long way and could provide excellent speeds, Wi-Fi connections are far more reliable if you have decent reception. 

If you encounter issues with your front-facing camera on WhatsApp, switch to Wi-Fi and see if the problem persists. 

6. Remove Face ID for WhatsApp. 

Do you encounter issues with your front camera after unlocking WhatsApp to answer a call? This is probably due to a bug on iOS that prevents your camera from activating if it’s recently used for Face ID. 

Besides waiting for Apple to fix the issue, you can try disabling Face ID for WhatsApp in the meantime. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

  1. On your device, go to the Settings app and scroll down until you find WhatsApp
  2. Tap on it and look for Face ID
  3. Finally, disable the feature and restart the app. 
front camera not working on WhatsApp

Try making another call to see if your front camera works. 

7. Update WhatsApp. 

The version of WhatsApp you’re using might have an underlying issue that is related to the front-facing camera. To rule this out, we suggest updating the app on your device to patch any errors. 

See the steps below to update WhatsApp: 

  1. Access your home screen and launch the App Store
  2. Now, tap on your Profile in the upper right corner of the screen. 
  3. Look for WhatsApp from the list and hit the Update button. 
Update WhatsApp

Relaunch the app after the update and check if your camera works. 

8. Reinstall WhatsApp. 

If the update did not work, you could also try reinstalling the app on your iPhone. This way, we can ensure that the application is installed correctly and there are no missing or broken resources. 

Here’s how you can remove WhatsApp: 

  1. On your device, access the app drawer, and look for WhatsApp
  2. Hold down on its app icon until the selection menu shows up. 
  3. Finally, tap on Remove App to uninstall WhatsApp
front camera not working on WhatsApp

Once done, go to the App Store to reinstall the app on your device. Try making another call to check if the problem is solved. 

9. Contact WhatsApp. 

At this point, the last thing you can do is let the professionals handle the situation. Head to WhatsApp’s Contact Us page to submit a ticket regarding the issue you’ve been experiencing on your iPhone. 

front camera not working on WhatsApp

On your report, make sure to provide your account details, the exact model of your iPhone, and other necessary information that can help their team address the issue faster. 

You can also visit their FAQs page and see if you can find any solutions. 

That sums up our guide on how to fix your front camera if it’s not working on WhatsApp for iPhone. If you have questions or clarifications, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • John Sixto

    John is a staff writer at Saint and comes from a SAP ABAP development background. He has a Bachelors in IT and has been writing since 2018, with over 500 posts published. He loves to build PCs and has a deep curiosity in understanding how different components and configurations work. John spends hundreds of hours at a time, researching and testing the software and apps, before he proceeds to write about it. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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