LUMIA 1020 - Camera does not work after update

[monotheist]

When I put cyan on my 1020 I had a very buggy phone everything was very sluggish battery life terrible crashing .Tried soft reset , hard reset, reinstalled found the problem was with a backup I had used so done fresh reset without using the backup my phone is now working fine might be worth considering bit of a pain having to start over but so far so good

What backup exactly? Can you throw more light on it so that it gives us a clue where the problem is.

 

[Jojo St Peters]

I suspect your HERE Maps application did not update properly after the WP8.1 O/S update. This happened to me too (the app quits just after starting), and then I saw in the Microsoft Store that the HERE Maps app update was in a "wait" state as well as a bunch of other apps. I deleted the obsolete apps and restarted the update process for the waiting apps. They all work fine now after a reboot.

 

[Alexander Z]

Hey Guys,

I would like to post the solution for the camera problem, because I'm in the same boat.
Got a second hand lumia 1020, camera working with 8.0, not with 8.1 or 8.1 update (dev preview).
Cannot send in the phone to nokia support, because you need the bill or copy. Even the phone has a valid warranty.

Problem appearance: Under WP8.1 all camera apps automatically close after opening them, as well the HERE Maps app.

The problem is a combination in hardware and software:
-Software: in WP 8.1 they changed the camera api: on camera start both cameras will be checked (front and back).
-Hardware: The early Lumia 1020/920 phones have a hardware issue with the front camera.

How can you verify if it is a front camera hardware problem?
Downgrade to WP8.0 and start the nokia pro camera app, the 41MP camera image is working fine. Now switch to the front camera:
If the screen turns black, and nothing happens, then you have a faulty front camera. (Only a reboot will make the camera app work again, under WP8.0!)
If the front camera is working under WP8.0, my solution will probably not help you!

If your phone is still under warranty, send it to nokia! They will fix it. By replacing the front camera flex cable unit.

Otherwise, if you're not afraid to take apart your phone, you can buy a "Nokia Lumia 1020 Front camera" on e.g. ebay. (like I did)
Something to point out (I think): I watched out in the ebay offers, to see the back of the back of the flex cable, because there is a partnumber/version printed on. I would guess nokia did a rev. 2 on the front camera flex cable because the part from the new spare part was different (higher) that the rev. which was in my lumia phone.

How to take the Lumia 1020 apart? Please watch youtube teardowns or similar forum posts. It' easy.
But be gentle with the flex cables (display) and the connectors on the main board.

After changing my front camera (on flex cable with the proximity sensor), everything works fine!
Costs: 29 Euro for the front camera.

I attach some photos of the new/old front camera unit (optically no difference, only the part/version number differ)

Currently I'm running WP 8.1 Dev Preview in the latest version 8.10.14192.280 ("critical update") and the battery life increased from 1,5 to 3 days :amaze: I'm very happy

Greetings Alexander

 

[vietgamedev]

Fine on my 1020 FW 8.10.14192.280

 

[tesla_bl]

I have the same problem.CAMERA WONT START AT ALL did hard reset via nokia recovery tool and again nothing My phone cam is just decoration.Also the app Here maps wont start,but Here drive+ works fine.Dont know what they did I want to downgrade the phone on the 1 version of Windows 8.1 and I dont want any more updates!!!!If someone has the FIX or answer PLS Share :angry:

 

[usman shahji]

Hi everyone I have also the same problem my mobile working greatly with WP8 but when I update it to WP8.1+Lumia cyan my camera stop working I done hardware rest but my problem does not solve I also trying to download camera apps or flashlight apps but I can't download it because they saying there is no camera in the mobile know I am going to downgrade my mobile OS with some official software may it help me but can anyone tell me that I update my mobile with OTA my firmware last number is .002 but when I check on Nokia software recovery tool to recover OS it's giving WP8.1 with last number .001 so anyone tell me what I do recover with Nokia software recovery tool yet downgrade with official software. THANKYOU

 

[simplyingenious]

Try this:

I tried numerous soft resets, re-installation using nokia software recovery tool, resetting the camera, draining out the battery etc. Camera kept crashing. All those apps crashed which require camera were crashing. I was running windows phone 8.1 update developers preview on Lumia Cyan firmware

What worked for me?

• Downgraded to windows phone 8.
• Setup the phone and launched the camera, Black screen. Camera shutter remained opened. Camera apps were still crashing.
• Performed a hardware reset using the following method:
  1. Press and hold the Volume down button and Power buttons at the same time until you feel a vibration (about 10-15 seconds).
  2. When you feel the vibration, immediately press and hold the Volume down button until you see a large exclamation mark.
  3. Once the exclamation mark appears, press the following four buttons in this order: Volume up, Volume down, Power, Volume down. Your phone should now reset and restart itself. (It might take a while for the reset to finish.)
• Completed the phone setup and launched Nokia Camera app. Camera Working Again :smile:

Now that I know that camera is working again. I re-flashed WP8.1 Lumia Cyan firmware and did a hardware reset using the same method as stated above. Camera is back in working condition.

I think flashing back to WP8 wasn't necessary. Re-flashing WP8.1 Lumia Cyan and performing the hardware reset might have done the trick. Anyways, try this out and let us know here if this works for you.

EDIT:
If hard resetting using above method doesn't work for you, you might try to downgrade to WP8 GDR 3, hard reset, check if camera works. Upgrade to WP8.1 Cyan.

 

[Josefhking Abande]

yaah me too. after i update my lumia 1020, the camera crush everytime i open it. that sucks!!!!!!

 

[emiel1976]

It is a bit of topic but what will bring GDR1 to the Lumia 1020? Only those folders ore more?
I am thinking of updating it. I have an Ativ S as backup as it goes wrong so I am always connected but as it doesn't bring much, than I wait till it is there.

 

[Carl Joseph]

My 1020 is at the repair centre!
After updating to the Dev Preview, the focus assist light wont turn off!
Tried downgrading, hard reset, soft reset etc
The repair centre said it might be water damage (it's not, as they confirmed a few days ago!)
Still waiting for it to come back!

 

[Nufc_GEORDIE3]

I have the Lumia 1020 & When I had the Cyan update camera worked perfect no problems at all. & when I got denim update (Normal software update) Cortana doesn't recognise voice commands, she'll only respond when I type in the search bar. Lumia camera doesn't work at all. Microsoft should have checked all these problems before releasing the denim update's....

 

[pattayanis]

i have the same issue with my 1020. front,rear cam and flash are lost. i have done any reset and nokia recovery tool that is possible. at the same time nokia center in my town has closed down and now the nearest one is in bangkok. from endless time reading the forms i amsure the last update killed my phone. i was so fond of my 1020 only because its cam.now i am left only with a camerless phone because of microsoft. i am a windows fanatic at my 60's and i have been with windows from w 3.1 but first time i face such a hostility from the company we supported with our loyalty for 40 years.this problem is running on the forums for more than 12 months but you dont bother to give a solution. please dont look the other way. we are thousands who lost our cam and flash at the same time after the upgrade ,cyan, and you only recomend nokia recovery tool which does not downgrade the wp 8.1 to 8.0 but only the firmware from .......1002 to ......0002 but the result is the same. i know i am writing for nothing because if up to now it took you 12 months just to avoid the issue we have to turn to other os and our loyalty turns to hostility and we are thousands and at the end it will get you.at least apologise to for your incopetence to support your product.

 

[Savanna Casey]

Hi,

I downgraded my WP 8.1 preview phone to WP 8.x but then decided to upgrade to WP 8.1 preview GDR 1 earlier today.
My camera works fine with 8.x but with WP 8.1 preview or WP 8.1 preview + GDR1 the camera app
crashes (camera does not work) and Nokia Maps keep crashing. Has anyone heard about this problem?
Phone works great with WP 8.x and has Lumia Black installed.

BR/Lumia

 

[Savanna Casey]

I called Microsoft customer service and they referred me to the Nokia Support Hotline and they basically told me to get on a laptop, go to microsoft.com/mobile, search for Lumia software recovery tool. Find 'how to recover and reset software. Then I gotta plug my phone in to the computer and it will fix it. Simple enough huh? Lmao!

 

[Ray_Bloomfield]

I had a camera issue with my Nokia Lumia 1020, after a firmware update to 8.1, I attempted to change from the Lumia camera app to the Microsoft one, at that point the camera quit working, even when I tried to switching back to the Lumia app, I then reset the camera, did a soft reboot, then did a hard reboot, then reinstalled the latest 8.1 firmware from my computer, nothing worked....until I let the battery run all the way down till then phone displayed the goodbye msg and then shutdown, I then recharged the phone & amazingly the camera's now working just fine, even when I switch between the 2 camera apps!!!....

 

[UrhoRtl]

I have a Lumia 1020. After the installing OS 10.0.10586.164 Lumia Camera does not work properly. Image is blurred. Hard reset done twice.Someone has the same problem? The solution?