Symptoms
- Video looks jittery or shaky when walking or moving
- Photos in low light show motion blur even when held steady
- Stabilization icon in the app is missing or greyed out
- Worse with zoom or in dim lighting
Likely causes
- CommonStabilization setting turned off or not available in the selected modeSome video resolutions or frame rates disable advanced stabilization by default.
- CommonLow light forcing a slower shutter speedDim scenes require longer exposure times, which stabilization can only partly compensate for.
- PossibleSoftware glitch after an updateAn update can occasionally disable or reset stabilization preferences.
- Less commonStabilization hardware (gyroscope or lens-shift mechanism) faultRarely, physical stabilization hardware can fail, especially after a drop.
What to do
- Check video/photo settings for a stabilization toggle and make sure it's enabled.
- Try a lower video resolution or frame rate, since some high-end modes disable stabilization.
- Add more light to the scene, since stabilization performs best with a reasonably fast shutter speed.
- Brace your arms or use both hands to physically steady the phone as a supplement.
- Restart the phone and check for a software update.
- If stabilization fails even in good light and normal settings, and especially after a drop, suspect a hardware fault.
Tools and parts
Camera module with optical image stabilizationSearch: “camera module replacement for [your phone model]”
When to call a pro
See a repair shop if stabilization fails consistently in good lighting with correct settings, especially after a drop.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.