How to Fix iPhone 12/13 Camera Focus Issue

Wondering how to fix camera shaking and focusing issues on your iPhone 12 or iPhone 13? Many people have reported facing the same problem. If you are facing the problem persistently, there are a few things that you can try that may help fix the problem.

So, how to fix camera shaking and not focusing issues on iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 series? Here are a few things that you can do.

Tips to fix iPhone 12/iPhone 13 camera not focusing and shaking issues

1. Try removing the phone case

One of the reasons for camera shake can be the case that you are using. Cases that partially cover the flash or the camera lenses can cause this problem. If you have a magnetic case attachment, that can also cause the problem by affecting the optical image stabilization feature of your camera.

2. Clean the camera lens

Is the lens of your phone’s camera clean? Fingerprint smudges or dust can lead to the problem. Such things can prevent your camera from focusing properly, which can lead to camera shaking problem. The solution to this problem is to clean the lens with a microfiber cloth. Cleaning the lens often resolves this issue.

3. Set a focus point

Tell your iPhone what you want to focus on by giving a tap on the object that you want. It can be anything from a person’s face to a pen or a flower vase. Once the iPhone knows what you want to focus on, the camera can quickly adjust the focusing and the camera shake can stop.

4. Lock the auto focus

Your iPhone has a feature called AE/AF lock. AE stands for Auto Exposure and AF stands for Auto Focus. When these two features are locked, your phone will ensure that the focus remains locked on the part of the shot that you want to focus on.

In order to use this feature, simply point your camera to the object that you want to take a shot of and then press and hold the part of the shot that you want to focus on and your iPhone will lock the focus on that part of the shot, eliminating the shake.

5. Turn off portrait mode

In iPhone 12 or the other iterations, when you turn on the portrait mode, the rear camera modules come into action with different apertures. The camera with larger aperture size lets in less amount of light compared to the camera with a smaller aperture size.

This difference in the aperture size of the camera modules can be a problem. Turning off the portrait mode may solve the problem. To be clear, there is no proven information for this.

So why this method? Heard of Optical Image Stabilization? It is found in every smartphone. The problem is that the image sensor is too small and when less light enters, it may end up using more exposure time, leading to camera shake and blurry images.

6. Update the iOS

Check whether there is an update for the operating system or not. A quick update (if available) can eliminate the issue. Follow this path for a quick update:

  • Go to Settings
  • Tap on General
  • Tap on Software Update
  • Tap on Download and Install

The download and install option will show up only if there is an update available. If there’s no update, you will get a notification for that as well.

7. Update all apps

Sometimes, third party apps can cause problems. You need to ensure that all apps are up-to-date not only to eliminate security threats but also to ensure that older versions of certain apps are not causing a conflict with the iOS.

To update all your apps, use the following steps:

  • Go to the App Store.
  • Tap on the button which reads Updates. This will open the updates screen. You can see the list of the apps which have pending updates.
  • Individually update each app by tapping on the Update button next to each app name or simply tap the Update All button to update all apps at once.

8. Hard restart your phone

If the above method doesn’t work, you can try this one but again, there is no guarantee that it will work. A hard restart usually tries to resolve software malfunction. In case the camera shaking or focusing problem of your iPhone 12 or the different iterations is caused by any software malfunction, this may work.

Hard restart is a tricky endeavor when it comes to iPhones. Follow the steps below and you should be capable of successfully achieving this.

  • Press the Volume Up button and then quickly release it.
  • Press the Volume Down button and then quickly release it.
  • Press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo appearing on your phone’s screen.
  • Once the logo appears, release the power button and wait until the phone restarts.

Now go back to your camera app and see whether it stopped the shaking or not. If not, you can try the last method.

9. Factory reset the device

Remember that factory resetting your phone should always be the last resort. Once you proceed with this method, everything in your phone will be wiped out and what will remain of it is the status in which the phone was shipped out of the factory. You will end up with a phone that only runs the iOS and a handful of apps that came preinstalled.

So, it is always wise to take backups before you move forward with the step. Ensure that you back up all the contacts, images, and make a list of all the essential apps that you downloaded and installed over time. Also, make backups of any document you have on your phone’s memory.

Once you have taken all backups, proceed with the steps below:

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  • Find the option which reads General and tap on it.
  • In the General options window, find the option which reads Reset. This is usually the last option and you need to scroll down.
  • Tap on the Reset option to open the next window where you will see the option which reads Erase All Content and Settings. Tap on that option.
  • You will see a popup where you will need to enter the password for your Apple ID. Enter the password and tap on the Erase option.

Now, wait until the process is complete. Your phone will automatically restart with factory settings in place. Now try the camera app to see whether the camera shake problem has resolved or not.

Conclusion

If none of these tips are working, there is a high possibility that there is a hardware issue causing the problem. Visit your near Apple Support center to seek further assistance.