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Snapchat camera access (Image via TechFirstNow)
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Being able to snap pics and clips is like, the whole point of having Snapchat. But sometimes the app just won't use your camera no matter what. That totally ruins the fun! It happens to lots of people - one minute Snapchat is working fine and the next, no camera access. If you can't take shots, the app feels pretty broken.
This article will outline the process for granting Snapchat permission to access your device's camera on both Android and iOS platforms. It will also offer some potential solutions to try if following the standard instructions does not resolve the camera access issue.
Allowing Camera Access on Android
1. First, open the Snapchat app. Then press and hold your finger on the Snapchat icon from the home screen. This will display a context menu. Tap the "App info" option, identified by a small "i" icon within a circle.
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2. Scroll down this new screen until the "Permissions" section is visible.
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3. The permissions list various things an app may request access to. Camera permission will be found within this list. Select the "Camera" entry to access the screen controlling camera permissions.
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4. Tap the "Allow" selection to provide Snapchat with permission to use the camera. Some devices may involve additional steps. Where present, an option like "Allow only while using app" is recommended. Choosing this restricts the camera's access to only when the app is opened.
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Allowing Camera Access on iOS
1. First, open your Settings by finding the little gear icon. This should be on your home screen somewhere.
2. Now scroll through the list of installed apps on your device until you see the Snapchat logo.
3. Select the Snapchat app listing to access its individual permission settings. Here you will see various options to control what data the app can access, like notifications and location.
4. Look for the camera access option, its categorized under a heading referring to allowing Snapchat to access certain features or data.
5. Turn on the toggle next to Camera so it turns green. This means you're allowing Snapchat to use your camera.
Troubleshooting
Restart the App
When apps act up, usually a good old fashioned restart is worth a shot. To do this, first go to your phone's recent apps view (where you can see snapshots of all open apps). Locate Snapchat and swipe it up and out to close it completely. Give it 10-15 seconds then reopen the app. Restarting wipes out any temporary glitches and refreshes everything. See if that resolves the camera issue!
Check for Updates
App makers are always releasing new versions with tweaks under the hood. It's worth checking you've got the most up-to-date Snapchat on your phone. Find your device's app marketplace - whether that's Google Play or the App Store. Check for any available updates to the Snapchat application. If a newer version can be downloaded, select the option to install the update. Sometimes just updating to the latest version is all you need to resolve camera issues. The developers may have pushed out a patch with a fix.
Clear the App Cache
Every app builds up temporary cached files as you use it. Clearing this space can reboot small glitches. To do it, enter your phone's settings app, locate Snapchat under either Storage or Apps, then tap the Clear Cache button. This erases cached data without removing anything you've saved. Snapchat should start fresh and camera permissions get fixed.
Restart Your Phone
This nuclear option resets everything software-related. Power your phone all the way down then start it back up. Major system resets can resolve weird permission bugs between apps and the OS.
The camera permission steps and troubleshooting fixes provided here should have resolved any issues preventing Snapchat from accessing the device camera. Periodically rechecking settings or restarting apps can help prevent new problems.
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