FIX: Camera App Error Code 0xA00F4246 / 0xC00D36B6 on Lumia

The camera app does not open on Lumia phones and shows the message, “Can’t start your camera,” with error code 0xA00F4246 (0xE8010001) or 0xC00D36B6. Error 0xA00F4246 means the system cannot start the camera hardware. Error 0xC00D36B6 means there is a problem with media or driver communication.

This usually happens because of problems with the operating system after installing the Windows 10 Mobile Insider or Fall Creators Update. It can also happen if the SD card is full or if the app data is damaged.

1. Perform a Hard Reset

Press and hold the Volume Down button, and while holding it, quickly press and release the Power button. This action should make your device vibrate.

1. Release the Volume Down button when you see an exclamation mark (!) on the screen.
2. Next, press each of the following buttons, one at a time, in this exact order:

   Volume Up > Volume Down > Power > Volume Down

3. Your device will vibrate, reboot, show the Nokia splash screen, and then display the spinning gears that indicate installation is in progress.
4. Once this process completes, your phone will be reset. After restarting, check if your device’s camera works in the Camera app or any other camera app.

2. Roll Back to a Previous Version of Windows Mobile

If a hard reset does not resolve error code 0xA00F4246 (0xC00D36B6), the next best option is to return to a previous version of Windows Mobile—the one on which your camera was working normally. Please be aware that rolling back may erase some or all of your personal files and data, so make sure to back up anything important first. You’ll also need a Windows computer and a USB cable to connect your phone.

1. Go here to download the Windows Phone Recovery Tool (for Lumia phones with Windows 8 or higher). If you have an older Lumia device or another Nokia phone, download the Lumia Software Recovery Tool.
2. Install the recovery tool on your PC.
3. Open the recovery tool.
4. Connect your phone to the computer with the USB cable. Wait for your phone to be detected automatically. If it isn’t detected, select “My phone was not detected” and follow the on-screen steps.
5. Once your phone has been found, select its model in the Recovery Tool window.
6. The next screen will show all the available operating system versions for your phone. Choose the version where your camera worked properly and click Reinstall software.
7. Click Continue on the next screen.

The required files will likely be larger than 1GB, so please be patient while the firmware is downloaded and installed. It’s important to keep your phone connected to your computer throughout the process.

After the installation is complete, you’ll see a message saying “Operation successfully completed.” At this point, you can restart your device.

3. Wait for a New Firmware Update

If you’ve updated to a certain version of the Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview and your camera is not working because of error code 0xA00F4246 (0xC00D36B6), it’s likely that other users are facing the same problem. Microsoft is probably aware of this issue. If you are able to manage without your camera for a few weeks, you can stay on the Insider Preview and wait for the next update. Hopefully, the upcoming update will fix the camera issues—along with error code 0xA00F4246 (0xC00D36B6).

By following these steps, you should be able to get your camera working again or at least know what to expect moving forward.