Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photos and videos called “snaps” that disappear after being viewed. One of Snapchat’s key features is the ability to take a photo or video by flipping the camera, so you can easily take selfies and include yourself in your snaps.
However, sometimes the camera flip option doesn’t work on Snapchat. There are a few common reasons why your Snapchat camera may not be flipping when you try to take a selfie.
Your Camera Permissions Are Turned Off
The most likely reason why your Snapchat camera won’t flip is because you have camera permissions disabled for the app. To take photos and videos in Snapchat, you need to allow the app to access your camera. Here’s how to check if camera access is enabled:
- On an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Camera and make sure Snapchat is toggled on
- On an Android, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Snapchat > Permissions and enable Camera
If camera access is off, simply turn it on and this should allow you to flip the Snapchat camera. Snapchat requires the necessary permissions to utilize your phone’s camera, so you won’t be able to use the camera tools without enabling access.
Your Snapchat App Needs to Be Updated
Another common reason why the camera won’t flip on Snapchat is because your app is out of date. Snapchat regularly releases updates that add new filters, lenses, and other features. If your Snapchat app hasn’t been updated recently, the camera flip option may not work properly or at all.
To update Snapchat:
- On an iPhone, go to the App Store > Tap your profile icon in the top right > Scroll down to see available updates and tap Update next to Snapchat if an update is available
- On Android, go to the Google Play Store > Tap the hamburger menu icon in the top left > Select My Apps & Games > Tap Update next to Snapchat if available
Updating to the latest version of Snapchat will ensure you have all of the newest camera features and fixes for any camera bugs affecting the camera flip feature.
The Camera Is Being Used By Another App
If you have multiple apps on your phone trying to access the camera at the same time, it can sometimes cause issues with the camera properly functioning in Snapchat. This seems to particularly affect Android users.
Try completely closing out of any other apps that might be using your phone’s camera in the background. For example, if you have the Facebook app open and it’s accessing your camera, Snapchat may not be able to take control of the camera when needed.
Force quit any apps using the camera, then restart Snapchat and see if the camera flip works again. Only allowing Snapchat to utilize the camera resources should fix problems with the flip feature.
Your Phone’s Hardware is Malfunctioning
In some cases, a hardware issue with your phone’s actual cameras could be preventing Snapchat from flipping the camera. Problems like the rear camera lens being dirty, physical damage to the cameras, or other hardware defects could cause the flip camera option to not work properly.
Try cleaning the camera lenses on your phone to remove any dust, fingerprints, or debris that could be obstructing the cameras. Also inspect the lenses and camera housing for any cracks or damage that could be affecting camera performance.
If cleaning the cameras doesn’t work, you may need to take your phone to a repair shop to have the rear camera physically examined. A hardware problem like a damaged lens or camera sensor would likely require replacement of that camera module to get the Snapchat camera flip working again.
Restarting Your Phone
Before trying more complicated troubleshooting, restarting your phone can often resolve simple software glitches affecting Snapchat’s camera. Completely powering down the device and then turning it back on refreshes the phone’s memory and resets all apps and hardware.
To restart an iPhone 8 or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, press and quickly release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
For older iPhones, press and hold the Power/Lock button until you see “Slide to Power Off.” Release the button, then slide to power off. After the phone fully shuts down, press and hold the Power/Lock button again until you see the Apple logo to turn it back on.
To restart Android phones: Press and hold the Power button, then tap Restart when prompted. Some devices may require you to press and hold the Power button for up to 30 seconds to force a restart.
Restarting your phone essentially acts as a “reset” that may fix minor bugs affecting the camera flip feature in Snapchat. This basic troubleshooting step resolves many common app issues.
Deleting and Reinstalling Snapchat
If camera access is enabled, your app is updated, and restarting your device didn’t work, try deleting and reinstalling the Snapchat app. This clears out any corrupted cached data that could be interfering with Snapchat’s camera.
To delete Snapchat:
- On an iPhone, hold your finger down on the Snapchat icon until it starts wiggling, then tap the X icon to delete
- On Android, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Snapchat and tap Uninstall
After uninstalling Snapchat, restart your phone then reinstall it from the App Store or Google Play Store. Log in to your account, and check if the camera issue is resolved.
Reinstalling the app gives you a clean slate version which may fix software bugs that were causing problems with flipping the camera.
Snapchat is Having Server Issues
Sometimes glitches with Snapchat’s servers can prevent certain features like the camera flip from working properly on all devices. Server outages or downtime for maintenance can create problems with Snapchat’s services.
Check Snapchat’s status page or Twitter account to see if they have reported any ongoing issues. If their systems are down for maintenance or experiencing an outage, you’ll have to wait until Snapchat resolves the problem on their end before being able to use the camera flip again.
You may also want to check if your friends are having issues with Snapchat’s camera as well. Widespread reports of camera problems likely indicate a problem with Snapchat’s servers.
Try Force Stopping Snapchat
Force stopping the Snapchat app and clearing its cache/data can also potentially help get the camera working again. Here’s how to force stop Snapchat:
- On an iPhone, double click the Home button and swipe up on Snapchat to close it from the app switcher. Then go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.
- On Android, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Snapchat. Tap Force Stop, then tap Storage & Cache > Clear Cache and Clear Storage.
Force stopping closes Snapchat out of the phone’s memory completely. Clearing the cache and data removes temporary files and resets the app. Retry flipping the camera after force stopping to see if this fixes it.
Update Your Phone’s Software System
Having an outdated version of your phone’s operating system can sometimes create issues with apps like Snapchat. Software bugs in old OS versions may affect the camera.
Ensure your phone is updated to the newest iOS or Android version for the best chance of camera compatibility with Snapchat.
To update an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.
For Androids, go to Settings > System > System Update > Check for Update and install available updates.
Updating to the latest OS and restarting your device may resolve compatibility bugs that are interfering with Snapchat’s camera flip.
Snapchat’s Camera is Temporarily Broken
In rare cases, a bug in a Snapchat update actually breaks the camera across all devices until a new fixed update is released. This seems to happen most frequently on iPhones whenever Snapchat issues an update with iOS compatibility problems.
If a widespread camera bug is affecting all users globally, you’ll likely see reports of it on social media as users complain about the issues. Unfortunately if it’s a problem with Snapchat’s coding, all you can do is wait for them to patch the bug with another app update.
Before uninstalling and reinstalling Snapchat when the camera is broken for all users, check their status page and Twitter account to see if they’ve acknowledged the problem. Leaving the app installed allows it to automatically update as soon as Snapchat releases the fix.
Connect With Snapchat Support
If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and are still unable to flip your Snapchat camera, you may need to reach out to Snapchat’s customer support for additional help.
In the Snapchat app, go to your profile and tap the Settings gear icon > Support > Contact Us and select the issue you need help with. Explain the camera problem in detail and what troubleshooting you’ve tried.
You can also try asking Snapchat for help on Twitter or Facebook. Include your username and explain the camera flip issue.
Snapchat’s support team may be able to provide customized troubleshooting tips or determine if your account needs to be reset to resolve the camera problem.
Third Party Camera Apps
While waiting for a fix, consider using third party Snapchat camera apps that allow flipping the camera and access Snapchat’s API. Popular options include:
- Camera for Snapchat (iOS/Android) – Lets you take photos and record videos outside the Snapchat app that can be shared.
- SnapCamera (Android) – A replacement Snapchat camera with additional features.
- SCamPlus (iOS) – Alternative Snapchat camera app with stickers, filters, and editing tools.
These third party apps may be able to restore camera flip functionality while you’re having issues with Snapchat’s built-in camera.
Conclusion
Snapchat’s camera flip feature not working can be frustrating. But in most cases, it’s an issue that can be resolved. Start with simple fixes like checking your app permissions, updating Snapchat, restarting your device, reinstalling the app, and force stopping it. Updating your phone’s software can also help resolve system compatibility problems.
For hardware issues, inspect your cameras for damage and clean the lenses. If widespread camera bugs are reported after a Snapchat update, you’ll have to wait for a fix. And if you still can’t get the camera working after troubleshooting, reach out to Snapchat’s support team for help.
While the camera flip option is malfunctioning, third party camera apps can give you a temporary workaround. With some guided troubleshooting, you should be able to get Snapchat’s camera flipping again so you can go back to taking hands-free selfies.