iOS 18.6.2 Broke Your iPhone 14 Camera? Real Fixes and What Apple Might Do Next

After updating to iOS 18.6.2, many users—especially those with iPhone 14, 14 Plus, and 14 Pro Max—have reported a sudden and frustrating issue:
The rear camera won’t open, freezes, or just shows a black screen.

In some cases, users receive a “Camera Not Recognised” alert. Others see glitchy visual artifacts or total system freezes when switching camera lenses.

So what’s going on, and what can you do if your iPhone camera is now unusable?

Let’s walk through the verified cases and what steps actually worked for affected users.

✅ TL;DR: It’s likely a software-level camera control bug

• The issue started right after the iOS 18.6.2 update, across iPhone 14-series models
• The most common symptoms are:
  • Rear camera stuck on black screen
  • Freezes when switching to wide (.5x) lens
  • “Camera Not Recognised” warning
• Front camera usually works, but Face ID or even overheating are reported side effects
• Apple has not acknowledged this as a widespread issue yet, but it’s gathering traction on forums

🔧 5 User-Reported Fixes That Actually Helped

1. Force quit the Camera & Photos apps

Result: Helped restore camera temporarily in several user cases
How to:

• Swipe up from the bottom to enter the app switcher
• Swipe up on Camera and Photos to close them completely
• Reopen Camera

2. Restart (or Force Restart) your iPhone

Result: In many reports, this brought the rear camera back for a limited time
How to (Force Restart):

1. Press and quickly release Volume Up
2. Press and quickly release Volume Down
3. Hold the Side Button until the Apple logo appears

3. Reset All Settings (non-destructive)

Result: Improved lens switching behavior in some cases
How to:
Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings
(No data will be deleted, but Wi-Fi passwords and preferences reset)

4. Free up storage space

Result: Helped reduce freezing in some reports
How to:
Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Delete unused apps/media

Aim to leave at least 10–15 GB free.

5. Erase All Content and Restore from iCloud

Result: In a few cases, users said this fully restored camera functionality—but it’s not guaranteed.
Caution:

• Time-consuming
• Requires full iCloud backup
• May not permanently fix the issue

Use this only if other fixes fail.

📱 Who’s Affected Most? Patterns from Verified Reports

Based on user forums and support threads, here’s where the problem hits hardest:

🧠 Theory: A camera control bug in iOS 18.6.2 may conflict with certain hardware modules, even those that haven’t been repaired or replaced.

🧾 What Does Apple Say About This?

📍 As of now (mid-September 2025), Apple has not publicly acknowledged the issue. However:

• Several Apple Support Community threads are active and growing
• Staff replies suggest:
  • “Try resetting all settings”
  • “Book a Genius Bar appointment for diagnostics”
• The issue may relate to Image/IO security changes introduced in 18.6.2

➡️ Speculation: The bug may be silently fixed in an upcoming patch like iOS 18.6.3 or 18.7

🧯 When to Escalate: Signs It’s More Than a Glitch

If any of the following are true, you may need hardware support or replacement:

🛠 You can start with Apple Support app → Chat, or Genius Bar reservation via Apple.com

📈 What Happens If You Wait?

In many iOS bugs like this, users report:

• The issue resolves itself after a few days, especially with proper restarts
• Small patch updates (like iOS 18.6.3) quietly fix these without announcement
• Backing up now ensures you’re ready if a full restore is needed later

✅ As long as the issue isn’t worsening or affecting other systems, waiting for the patch is a valid option.

✅ Final Checklist: Your Action Plan

🔗 References

• Camera Not Recognised After iOS 18.6.2 Update – Reddit
• iPhone 14 Camera Freeze Thread – Apple Discussions
• iOS 18 Camera Bug Fix Guide – Tenorshare