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Camera Auto Focus problem / bug GALAXY S6

Hi Guys,
Just got my phone replaced because the screen was sometimes unresponsive when layed flat on a surface.
Now I got a problem with the rear facing camera. When I open the camera app the auto focus doesn't always work. As result I get very blurry photo's
I made a short video to show you guys the problem:
Can you guys tell me if this could be a hardware or software problem. I performed a hard reset and reboot but the problem still occurs from time to time.
Ps. I didnt drop my phone and I removed the plastic of the camera lens and led flash, so that cant be the problem.

Since the problem cant be solved with a hard reset, I guess it's a hardware problem. So I contacted my carrier and I will get a new phone. Hopefully this time a phone without problems/bugs.
I will keep you guys updated.

I have that problem too, shaking the phone unlock the focus. It seems to be hardware problem, using the manual focus in pro mode change nothing, only way to fix it for me is wait like 30 to 60s or shake the phone.
I try to get a replacement but obviously, it works perfectly the two times they check :silly:

I had the same problem in the store like you. When I wanted to show the problem to a shop assistant, the camera worked perfectly :silly:
But (thankfully) they believed me and one of these days I will get a replacement because they didnt had any in stock to give me right away.
Maybe you can show them the video on YouTube and tell them that there are more people with the same problem?

I think I will keep it like this for now, and I will ask for a replacement just before the warranty end, so I will have a new phone ^^ I'm used to it now, if it bug, I just shake it and all is fine.

Yeah that would be great. Only I'm afraid that here in the Netherlands the phone will be send to get repaired instead of getting replaced. Only in the first two months i can get it replaced, at least that is what the T-mobile shop assistant said to me.

One of my friend has the same issue. She figured out that she "just" needs to hit the phone on its front top left corner (not hard) and it suddenly works.

yeah thnx, that works most of the time. Still I would bring it back to get it repaired or get a replacement. Yesterday for example, I wanted to take a picture of a fast bike passing through but I ended up with a blurry picture. That shouldnt had happened and I dont want it to happen again.
Still thanks for the tip.

i have the same problem.. the camera take too long to focus or does not focus at all, i need to shake the phone.. i called tmobile and they will give me a replacement.

root the phone then add this to build.prop to fix it
ro.ril.sensor.sleep.control=0

aloric said:
root the phone then add this to build.prop to fix it
ro.ril.sensor.sleep.control=0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where do I add that line in the build prop?

I have almost the same problem. Only facing this issue on third party camera apps like Snapchat or Facebook messenger, besides that it works fine. No problems on stock (yet).

Similar Issue
I went hiking one day back at the end of May, and inadvertently left my S6 in the car, which of course, got very hot during the day. After getting back to my car almost 9 hours later, my phone was almost too hot to even touch. I promptly removed the slim case that was on it, and held it up to the A/C (not ice cold, was trying to avoid condensation).
Ever since then, when going into 3rd party apps (most notably Snapchat, and sometimes even the stock camera app) the auto-focus motor seems to get stuck.
The easiest fix for me so far seems to be shaking my phone up and down rapidly 1-2 times. Upon doing this, I can hear a faint *click* and the focus works as normal.
This is very obnoxious as I've missed many shots due to having to do this (and sometimes it doesn't always work). Hard reset has done nothing, so I'm assuming maybe something in the camera got damaged due to excessive heat.
***Edit: After talking to my insurance provider (Squaretrade), they told me that this was still under manufacturer warranty, and to go through my carrier. After taking the phone to Verizon, it was discovered that the water-damage indicator had the slightest bit of red/pink on it, deeming it "water damaged". I later checked this myself at home and there definitely was some red on the strip.
Contacted Squaretrade again, informing them of the new situation, and they advised they would send a refund for the phone (since it was from eBay).
Hopefully the new phone will not have this issue!

Hi guys ..
I was suffering from the same problem .
The problem is the focus of the camera in galaxy s6 just like the Video, .
The solution is:
delete this line : ro.ril.sensor.sleep.control = 0
from ( build.prop )
you can find it in : system/build.prop
Using this program with root access : (Root Browser)
*i can not insert the link because i am a new user here .
after you click on build.prop chose (RB Text Editor)
note : (i am arabic man so my english is not good )

Anyone managed to fix this issue with the method above?

Yup..This is still common.. How does one fix without root?

Solution not working for me I did non fount the line ro.ril.sensor.sleep.control = 0 in my build.prop.. i tried to add the line but nothing changed problem still remains

I had the same camera issue. I took my phone to Samsung and they replaced the camera module.
Now it works perfectly.
Saludos ?

I can't go to Samsung, i have knox counter altered..no warranty for me

yourlifeupdated said:
I can't go to Samsung, i have knox counter altered..no warranty for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what? I have that to, went to an official Samsung Store and they (tried) to fix it
Having the problem myself btw, but if i aim the sensor to the ground en go back up its fixed, not so big problem. Only when selling the phone i want it fixed so its worth more...

Galaxy S6 Camera Randomly Makes Loud Buzzing Sounds?

Hi all,
I wasn't able to find any threads related to this in the S6 forums but I wanted to see if anyone else has this. When I open my camera app, sometimes the camera takes 1-2 seconds to initially focus and during that time it makes a loud buzzing sound. It sounds like a focus motor or something in the camera and the camera output on screen flutters while it focuses. Once it focuses, everything is normal and it doesn't make any more noise to refocus. This also doesn't happen every time I open the camera app, seems mostly random. Has anyone else experienced this? I am already on my 2nd S6 since the first was defective for different reasons and I'm starting to get very disappointed with Samsung quality control.

I have the dame problem.
I don't know if this is normal.
I don't think so
Waiting for some explanations
Sent from my SM-G920F using XDA Free mobile app

going to bumps this too because after having the phone for a month this problem has just started to show its face.

I've first noticed a small buzzing just after a boot for 3/4 times and than I had a long one opening the camera. After that it's gone...

I have it also! Started a couple of days ago. I have dropped my phone a couple of times. What about you?

Had this happen for the first time today also. Had hdr off, switched back on and it went away. Coincidence? Phone never dropped.

rakh1 said:
Had this happen for the first time today also. Had hdr off, switched back on and it went away. Coincidence? Phone never dropped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Relax...is the mechanism of optical stabilization.

Mine is doing that too...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1svaTxBY6o&feature=youtu.be

I have the same problem. It is also sometimes accompanied by the picture wiggling in wave patterns.

flu13 said:
I have the same problem. It is also sometimes accompanied by the picture wiggling in wave patterns.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup...exactly.

poweroutlet said:
Hi all,
I wasn't able to find any threads related to this in the S6 forums but I wanted to see if anyone else has this. When I open my camera app, sometimes the camera takes 1-2 seconds to initially focus and during that time it makes a loud buzzing sound. It sounds like a focus motor or something in the camera and the camera output on screen flutters while it focuses. Once it focuses, everything is normal and it doesn't make any more noise to refocus. This also doesn't happen every time I open the camera app, seems mostly random. Has anyone else experienced this? I am already on my 2nd S6 since the first was defective for different reasons and I'm starting to get very disappointed with Samsung quality control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to clean up your camera lens.
Did your device take some damage in the past?
Did you take it underwater? (The S6 isn't waterproof anymore...)
---------- Post added at 18:59 ---------- Previous post was at 18:58 ----------
sdfsdfsfs said:
Relax...is the mechanism of optical stabilization.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But it's not that loud.
Otherways, you can't record videos properly, because the microphone records those sounds.

AfroCreame said:
Mine is doing that too...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1svaTxBY6o&feature=youtu.be
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem here since last week.[emoji26]
I tried hard reset and another camera app (Google photo), nothing work.
I think it's a hardware problem, it occurs after shaking the phone and launching the camera.
I feel that the OIS makes more noise when app is off.

flu13 said:
I have the same problem. It is also sometimes accompanied by the picture wiggling in wave patterns.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This started happening with my S6 today. I think it's the OIS that poops out. I can make this happen with a light tap with my finger on the backside of the phone with the camera open and using the rear camera. And this happens with all camera apps: Samsung's bundled camera, Snap Camera and Camera FV-5.
Update: ..and just as sudden this started happening, it went away again. I hope it's a bug - with a fix in 5.1.1.
Update 2: No, it didn't go away. It comes and goes. I may need to take the phone to the service centre.

Mine has gotten worse. Almost every time I open the camera now, I have the buzzing.

Just checking in to say that mine started doing this, too, about four weeks after getting it. It does it randomly when I open Snapchat, too.

I am having this problem too on the Sprint version sometimes it is pretty loud. I'm planning on taking to service center I think.
I also get the waves before it focuses. I read on another forum that someone said they went to a Samsung service center and Samsung replaced their OIS sensor so I'm guessing this may not be something that is simply part of the design.
*Update #1*
I just got off the phone with Samsung customer service. The representative actually heard the buzzing from my phone over the phone while I was talking to her. Since the phone is still under factory warranty they are emailing me a shipping label to send the phone back for repair.
I also have Asurion insurance through Sprint but do not want a refurb for a phone that is less than a month old with no damage caused by me.
Unfortunately the turn around time from Samsung is about a 5 business days and that was after they told me 9-11 days in which I said I couldn't be without a phone that long.
So, I plan on going to Sprint to see if they will swap out my phone for a brand new one. I think if it is a manufacturer defect they will replace the phone without going through insurance for a refurb but I am not positive. It they won't swap it out for a new one I will go through Samsung.
Sent from my SM-G920P using
Tapatalk

what about focus struggle and a buzzing , it's a hard ware issue also ? or what ?

sonasteel said:
what about focus struggle and a buzzing , it's a hard ware issue also ? or what ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it appears to be hardware related.
Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

any one try to set another mega pixel like 12 , 8.9 ,8 ... etc ., and the focus struggle and buzzing still there ?

sona4steel said:
any one try to set another mega pixel like 12 , 8.9 ,8 ... etc ., and the focus struggle and buzzing still there ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried and initially it doesn't seem to happen when the mega pixels are lowered but I haven't tested extensively.
I went to Sprint today and the technician concluded that he was ordering me another phone so definitely seems hardware related.
Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

dead camera....twice

Dear all,
A few days ago, my N5's camera stopped working and none of the usual solutions (reboot, clean data and cache of camera app, even complete wipe and change of ROM) did anything to fix the problem. So I went on ebay, and bought a replacement back camera, fitted it and all was well...for a day!!! It looks like after just one day (and nearly no use at all) the new camera has already stopped working. Is anyone aware of what may be causing it, and of a way to fix it? or is it time for a new phone?
Thanks for your help!!

Is it possible the camera connction on the motherboard is a bit flaky?

audit13 said:
Is it possible the camera connction on the motherboard is a bit flaky?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply. I thought that too after the second camera went wrong. I re-opened the phone and checked the connection, and from what I can see it seems quite solid. I am not sure what could possibly be going wrong that causing 2 camera modules to go bad in quick succession though. While the rest of the phone works perfectly.

Maybe it's just coincidence. I guess you could try a third camera to see what happens.

Can't connect to camera
My camera quit working the day I updated to 6.0.1
At first it would work for a few hours after a fresh boot. Now it won't work at all. I replaced the camera module with a working one and it worked for a few hours then died. Now all I get is "can't connect to camera". I'm convinced its related to the marshmallow update.
Safe mode doesn't help. Factory reset doesn't help. Third party apps still let me use the front camera but the rear is dead. I think I've reached the end of the road buying nexus devices and beta testing OS releases.

Maybe it because of your sd card

dixie600mhz said:
My camera quit working the day I updated to 6.0.1
At first it would work for a few hours after a fresh boot. Now it won't work at all. I replaced the camera module with a working one and it worked for a few hours then died. Now all I get is "can't connect to camera". I'm convinced its related to the marshmallow update.
Safe mode doesn't help. Factory reset doesn't help. Third party apps still let me use the front camera but the rear is dead. I think I've reached the end of the road buying nexus devices and beta testing OS releases.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Initially I thought this may be a normal issue of age of the phone, but the fact that a few of us are bumping into this so shortly after the marshmallow upgrade makes me think maybe the 2 things are related.
I suppose I could try and install a lollipop rom and buy yet another camera module.

The only component that should face problems in a persons lifetime would be the battery. It is a shame that companies and people treat this stuff as disposable.
OP and others who cannot fix this through software, or a small hardware change, this must be a hardware issue. Something on the mainboard is messing with the camera. Others are running stock marshmallow fine, to rule out any software issues, wipe all and flash new (manually wiping and flashing each partition from fastboot would be best). Report back.

wangdaning said:
The only component that should face problems in a persons lifetime would be the battery. It is a shame that companies and people treat this stuff as disposable.
OP and others who cannot fix this through software, or a small hardware change, this must be a hardware issue. Something on the mainboard is messing with the camera. Others are running stock marshmallow fine, to rule out any software issues, wipe all and flash new (manually wiping and flashing each partition from fastboot would be best). Report back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply. Done, but to no avail. Infact when you flash from fastboot the camera app is not even installed and the torch does not show up in the notification bar.
It is definitely a hardware issue, which is not resolved by simply replacing the camera module, as that seems to break again in a short amount of time. Not sure if I feel investing in a new mainboard and a new camera module.

Camera rattling noise

I now had the Galaxy S6 for several months and I found this phone totally awesome, but a few days earlier it started a rattling noise from the camera. Most of the time I open the camera app, it makes a strange sound (like it is trying to move the lens and the motor fails it to do so). When the camera is open and I try to refocus anything from very near to very far at once, it sometimes make that awful sound too. I am bothered, because I rooted my device some months ago, installed custom kernel and so on. Can I take this to the warranty or am I screwed? Should I bother about this sound? Will it get worse maybe?
Thanks for any help.

Fusseldieb said:
I now had the Galaxy S6 for several months and I found this phone totally awesome, but a few days earlier it started a rattling noise from the camera. Most of the time I open the camera app, it makes a strange sound (like it is trying to move the lens and the motor fails it to do so). When the camera is open and I try to refocus anything from very near to very far at once, it sometimes make that awful sound too. I am bothered, because I rooted my device some months ago, installed custom kernel and so on. Can I take this to the warranty or am I screwed? Should I bother about this sound? Will it get worse maybe?
Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own a galaxy S6E+ and I also experienced this same strange camera behaviour, but I haven't figured it out yet...
Sent From My SM-G928F via Tapa

zizon65 said:
I own a galaxy S6E+ and I also experienced this same strange camera behaviour, but I haven't figured it out yet...
Sent From My SM-G928F via Tapa
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i had that issue, you can't do anything, you have to get it to the carrier to fix it, it's a hardware issue...i hope i don't get it again...because in 3 weeks my waranty ends

All this time i thought it was camera getting ready, opening lens and stuff like on digital cameras which make the same sound when started. Is this not the case?

archzz said:
All this time i thought it was camera getting ready, opening lens and stuff like on digital cameras which make the same sound when started. Is this not the case?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really don't know if there is a camera focusing problem or a hardware issue, but for to get rid of this, I decided from now to use the Pro manual focus mode rather than the Autofocus mode, and will let you know if this helps...
Sent From My SM-G928F via Tapa

It's the OIS being slightly broken. Need to take to repair. I have same issue on s6 edge and need to get mine fixed.

Fusseldieb said:
I now had the Galaxy S6 for several months and I found this phone totally awesome, but a few days earlier it started a rattling noise from the camera. Most of the time I open the camera app, it makes a strange sound (like it is trying to move the lens and the motor fails it to do so). When the camera is open and I try to refocus anything from very near to very far at once, it sometimes make that awful sound too. I am bothered, because I rooted my device some months ago, installed custom kernel and so on. Can I take this to the warranty or am I screwed? Should I bother about this sound? Will it get worse maybe?
Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had exactly the same issue... It got progressively worse, to the point where sometimes I'd have to shake the phone to get the camera to focus when the camera was open. Initially they told me nothing seemed wrong with it... But second time round, I filmed it using the Mobizen app (often used to record gameplay - no root required). I found trying to get the phone to focus on text from a book exaggerated the problem.
I showed them the video at the Samsung Express Repair store and they couldn't really deny it (or attempt to). They swapped the camera out in a couple of hours whilst I waited with a newspaper and coffee. Oh, and they didn't even check KNOX (I asked out of curiosity... Mine wasn't tripped anyway)
*But some amount of rattling is normal. I tried it on two of my friends' S6 phones, and even mine now rattles... Not when opening the camera, but when you physically shake it next to your ear

2ZE said:
when you physically shake it next to your ear
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When shaking it's normal, but when I let it alone and it make weird sound, then I'm bothered.

zizon65 said:
I really don't know if there is a camera focusing problem or a hardware issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seem to appear only to people who updated Android 5.0 to 5.1.1 or newer. I think Samsung made a firmware update to the camera, which focusses faster, but that lead to this problem.

same issue here. happens rarely and goes away when I shake the phone.

Camera stopped working

I was on the last update of the device and everything was running fine if a bit slow and sluggish. Until two days ago when the camera stopped working. The camera app would just show a black screen and every other app that could use the camera like WhatsApp and signal would also not be able to use the camera. Weirdly enough the torch wouldn't work either and it would say that the camera is in use. I did the following things to troubleshoot:
1. Wiped camera app cache, disabled then enabled the app, and finally restarted the phone. This worked for a bit and the camera would work for a few minutes but then it would stop working again.
2. Full system wipe. Didn't help at all.
3. Installed Lineage OS 20. Didn't help either, well the phone works much faster and snappier now plus it went from android 11 to 13 but the camera still has the same issue.
What else can I try? Will installing a custom kernel help?

Does the second camera (front/rear) work?
If so, take a look here
OnePlus 6 Repair
The sixth iteration of OnePlus's flagship smartphone and successor to the OnePlus 5T. Released May 2018.
www.ifixit.com
and consider whether you can handle the replacement.

ze7zez said:
Does the second camera (front/rear) work?
If so, take a look here
OnePlus 6 Repair
The sixth iteration of OnePlus's flagship smartphone and successor to the OnePlus 5T. Released May 2018.
www.ifixit.com
and consider whether you can handle the replacement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of the cameras are working. This feels like a bug where whenever an app tries to grab the camera it gets denied and told that the camera is already in use. As for repair, if a physical repair can solve this then I'd be definitely willing to try, I'm pretty confident with electronics tinkering.

It is rather unlikely that both cameras were damaged at the same time. So perhaps the damage (overheating of the chipset) is on the motherboard. In that case, it may not be cost-effective to repair.

ze7zez said:
It is rather unlikely that both cameras were damaged at the same time. So perhaps the damage (overheating of the chipset) is on the motherboard. In that case, it may not be cost-effective to repair.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh wait a minute, a few days ago I did feel that my phone got a lot hotter than it usually does for around 10-15 minutes. And these problems started after that.

Have you tried using the camera app while plugged into a wall charger? If the battery is older, maybe it isn't able to supply enough on-demand load for the camera.