Camera app is slow to open

Symptoms

• Delay between tapping the camera icon and it opening
• Camera opens quickly from the lock screen but not the home screen
• Preview takes a moment to load after opening
• Camera app occasionally fails to open at all

Likely causes

• CommonLow storage space slowing app launches generallyThe camera needs free space to buffer photos and video.
• CommonToo many background apps using memoryMemory pressure delays any app's launch, including the camera.
• PossibleOutdated camera app versionManufacturers regularly patch camera app performance.
• PossibleThird-party camera features (filters, modes) slowing startupExtra features loading on launch can add delay.
• PossibleGeneral phone slowdownIf the whole phone is sluggish, camera launch time reflects that.

What to do

1. Free up storage space if it's under 10% available.
2. Restart the phone to clear background memory use.
3. Update the camera app or the OS if an update is available.
4. Close unused background apps before using the camera regularly.
5. Force-close and reopen the camera app to rule out a temporary glitch.
6. Try opening the camera from the lock screen shortcut to compare speed.
7. If a third-party camera app is slow, test the phone's built-in camera app for comparison.

When to call a pro

If the built-in camera app is consistently slow on an otherwise fast phone, a repair shop can check for a hardware or firmware issue with the camera module.

Safety