Fix: TikTok Camera Not Working (Black Screen Issue)
When using TikTok, some users encounter an issue where the camera does not respond inside the app. Strangely, the same camera works perfectly with other applications like Instagram, Snapchat, or even the phone’s default Camera app. This bug prevents users from recording videos or taking photos directly within TikTok.
In many cases, when the TikTok camera is launched, the app only displays a black screen while the rest of the interface appears normal. This typically happens due to one of the following causes:
- Camera permissions being denied
- Corrupted or outdated app cache
- Temporary software glitches
- Another application using the camera in the background
Before moving on to solutions, it is important to verify that your phone’s camera works in other apps:
- If the camera does not work anywhere, the issue is hardware-related. In this case, you may need to claim your phone’s warranty or consult a professional repair expert.
- If the camera works fine in other apps, follow the troubleshooting steps below to restore TikTok’s camera functionality.
1. Restart Your Phone
A simple restart is often the quickest fix for the TikTok black screen issue. Restarting your device closes all background apps, clears temporary glitches, and refreshes system memory (RAM). This frees up resources and resets camera access, allowing TikTok to function normally.
How to restart: Hold down the power button for a few seconds, then select “Restart” from the menu.
Once the phone powers back on, reopen TikTok and check if the camera loads without showing a black screen.
2. Enable Camera Permission for TikTok
One of the most common causes of this issue is camera permissions being disabled. Mobile operating systems require apps to request explicit permission before accessing hardware like the camera. If this permission is denied, TikTok cannot use the camera, leading to a black screen.
By enabling camera access, you ensure TikTok can record videos and take photos without restrictions.
For iOS:
- Open Settings, scroll down, and tap “Apps”.
- Find and select “TikTok”.
- Under Allow TikTok to Access, enable the “Camera” option.
- Reopen TikTok and test the camera.
For Android:
- Go to Settings and search for “TikTok”.
- Tap “Permissions” under App Info.
- Select “Camera”.
- Choose “Allow only while using the app”.
- Reopen TikTok and confirm if the issue is fixed.
3. Clear TikTok Cache
TikTok stores temporary data such as thumbnails, previews, login details, and personalized settings. Over time, these cached files can become corrupted or outdated, causing the app to malfunction and preventing the camera from loading correctly.
Clearing the cache deletes these problematic files, frees up storage space, and refreshes the app’s performance. This often fixes camera glitches, reduces lag, and ensures smoother video recording.
- Open TikTok and tap “Profile”.
- In the Profile section, tap the three lines at the top-right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy”.
- Under Cache & Cellular, tap “Free up space”.
- Tap “Clear” next to Cache and confirm.
- Restart your phone.
- Reopen TikTok and check if the camera now works.
4. Factory Reset the Phone
If none of the above methods solve the problem, performing a factory reset may be the last resort. This process restores your phone to default settings, removes hidden software bugs, clears corrupted system files, and eliminates conflicting third-party apps that may block TikTok’s camera access.
Important: Back up your important files before resetting, as this process erases all data on your device.
For Android:
- Go to Settings > General Management (this option may vary by phone model).
- Select “Reset”.
- Tap “Factory data reset”.
- Tap “Reset”.
- Finally, tap “Delete all”.
- Your phone will reset and restart automatically.
- Reinstall TikTok and check if the camera works.
For iOS:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select “Reset” and follow the prompts.
- After the reset, reinstall TikTok and test the camera.
