If you’ve ever tried to make a Snapchat call and noticed that your camera is sideways or flipped, you’re not alone. This is a common issue that many Snapchat users encounter. Don’t worry, there are a few easy ways to fix your sideways camera on Snapchat calls.
Understanding Why Your Camera is Sideways
When making a Snapchat call, the app uses your device’s front-facing camera to capture video of you. The app then sends this video feed to the person you are calling.
However, sometimes the camera feed gets rotated or flipped, causing your video to display sideways or inverted for the other person. There are a few potential reasons for this:
- Your phone is physically rotated sideways when you answer the call
- Snapchat incorrectly detects your phone’s orientation
- A bug or glitch in the Snapchat app
If your phone is vertically oriented but your camera still appears sideways, then it’s likely an issue with Snapchat misdetecting your orientation or a bug in the app. The good news is there are solutions for both of these problems.
Fix 1: Check Your Phone’s Physical Orientation
The easiest fix is to check that your phone is vertically oriented when you answer or make a Snapchat call. Snapchat’s camera will display however your phone is being held. So if your phone is held horizontally, your camera feed will be sideways. Simply rotate your phone to vertical to correct this.
To avoid issues:
- Hold your phone vertically when making or answering Snapchat calls
- Use your phone’s portrait lock to prevent accidental horizontal flipping
- Adjust your grip on the phone to keep it oriented properly
By keeping your phone vertically aligned, your Snapchat camera should display properly right from the start. This takes care of any physical alignment problems with your device.
Fix 2: Close and Reopen the Snapchat App
If simply adjusting your phone’s orientation doesn’t work, the next step is to close out of the Snapchat app entirely and reopen it. This resets the app and forces it to reconnect the camera. Here’s how to do it:
- While on the Snapchat call with the sideways camera, tap your phone’s home or overview button to minimize Snapchat.
- Open your phone’s app switcher and swipe up on Snapchat to fully close out of the app.
- Reopen Snapchat from your home screen or app drawer.
- Return to the call, the camera should now display properly.
This quick reset will often force Snapchat to detect your camera’s proper orientation. If it’s still sideways after reopening the app, move on to further troubleshooting steps.
Fix 3: Allow Snapchat Camera Access
Snapchat requires access to your phone’s cameras in order to display your video feed. If this permission gets disabled, it can cause camera errors like a sideways view. To check if this is affecting your Snapchat calls:
- Go to your phone’s Settings app.
- Select Apps or Application Manager.
- Choose Snapchat.
- Tap Permissions.
- Ensure the Camera permission is enabled.
If Camera access was disabled, enabling it can allow Snapchat to regain proper control of your camera feed.
Fix 4: Update the Snapchat App
An outdated version of Snapchat could also be the culprit behind a sideways camera feed. Snapchat regularly releases app updates to fix bugs and issues. So make sure you’re on the latest Snapchat version:
- iPhone – Go to the App Store and check Snapchat for any available updates.
- Android – Open the Play Store, go to My Apps & Games, and check Snapchat for updates.
Install any pending Snapchat updates and test your camera again on calls. Keeping the app up-to-date can prevent bugs related to the camera and orientation.
Fix 5: Uninstall and Reinstall Snapchat
If all else fails, the nuclear option is to completely uninstall and reinstall Snapchat. This gives you a clean slate in case any core app files got corrupted on your phone. Here’s how to uninstall and reinstall:
- Delete Snapchat from your phone – find the app and select Uninstall.
- Reboot your phone.
- Reinstall Snapchat from the app store – search for it, download, and install as usual.
- Log back into your account.
Hopefully after this clean reinstall, Snapchat will work normally again when making calls. Be sure to backup any important memories or media before uninstalling.
Preventing Sideways Cameras in the Future
Once you’ve resolved your sideways Snapchat camera, here are some tips to avoid it happening again:
- Check your phone’s physical orientation before calls
- Close and reopen the Snapchat app if it occurs again
- Keep Snapchat updated to the latest version
- Restart your phone occasionally to clear out bugs
- Use your phone’s portrait orientation lock during Snapchat calls
Staying aware of your phone’s position, keeping Snapchat updated, and restarting your device can all help minimize odd camera behaviors. Also report any persistent camera bugs to Snapchat so they can improve the app.
Understanding Snapchat Camera Settings
Beyond troubleshooting your camera feed, you can also customize Snapchat’s camera settings to your preference. Here are some of the camera settings available:
| Setting | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Face Lenses | Applies fun augmented reality effects and filters to your face. |
| Cutout | Trims the background around your body for a floating cutout effect. |
| Time Machine | Ages your face up or down. |
| Speed Filter | Alters the playback speed of your Snaps. |
| Flash | Toggles your camera flash on or off. |
| HDR | Enhances colors and lighting in your videos. |
| Facing Mode | Swaps between front and rear facing cameras. |
Take some time to explore these camera modes and settings to find your favorites. The more you customize your camera, the more fun Snapchat becomes.
Troubleshooting Other Snapchat Camera Problems
A sideways camera is just one issue that can pop up with Snapchat’s camera and video calls. Some other common camera problems include:
- Camera not working at all
- Low video quality
- Can’t access lenses or filters
- Camera freezing and crashing
- Poor microphone quality
- Problems switching between cameras
If encountering any of these, first ensure Snapchat has up-to-date permissions and no restrictions enabled that could block the camera. Also update the app and restart your phone to clear any software issues.
For persistent camera difficulties, report the problems directly to Snapchat. The app is continually evolving, and feedback from users helps identify and fix lingering bugs and glitches.
Conclusion
Dealing with a sideways camera in Snapchat can be annoying, but following these troubleshooting tips should get it straightened out:
- Double check your phone’s physical position
- Close and relaunch the Snapchat app
- Confirm Snapchat has camera permissions enabled
- Install Snapchat app updates
- Try reinstalling Snapchat as a last resort
With a few simple fixes, you can get your Snapchat video calls oriented properly again. Just be careful how you hold your phone, keep the app updated, and be patient resolving any glitches. And if problems continue, report them to Snapchat’s support team so they can investigate.