topic Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application in M Series

Error Camera may be in use by another application

andrewjjoseph — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 03:23:58 GMT

Hi,

I'm experiencing this error on my M5 at the moment.

"Error

The camera may be in use by another application. Please close the other application and try again."

I've tried rebooting, factory reset,safe mode, and clearing data/cache of camera app. Nothing works!

I just got my M5 and I'm disappointed by this.

The camera worked fine the first week only. I haven't done anything to my phone nor did I drop it to cause such issue.

Can someone help me out?

Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application

Jake-SonyXperia — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 03:28:25 GMT

Hi andrewjjoseph,

Welcome to the community,

If you have just purchased this device and have gone through as much troubleshooting that you have, then I suggest taking the device back to the place of purchase, they should be able to help resolve this matter.

Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application

andrewjjoseph — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 03:37:12 GMT

Thanks for the respose. I already did that but since it's over a week when I encountered the error, I need to have it sent to the Sony service center for 15 or more days. That would be my last resort.

I would like to know first if it's a software update issue and if we're expecting an update to resolve it soon? Because I noticed that a lot of other people are experiencing this same error on the M5, not just here but in other websites as well. Can you advise?

Because if it is, I would rather wait for the update, than send it to the service center and have it returned to me with the same issue unresolved.

Thanks.

Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application

Jake-SonyXperia — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 03:51:00 GMT

There is no known issue regarding such a fault. Before taking it in to a service agent you could attempt a software repair on the device using Xperia Companion. Have you attempted this task?

Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application

andrewjjoseph — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 04:04:14 GMT

I haven't tried that although I've seen from a similar thread that that didn't work either. I'll try it anyway since I don't have much of a choice. If it doesn't work, then I guess I'll have to go to the trouble of sending it to the service center and not having a phone for 3 weeks

M5 Duel front facing camera Not working!!

Tizzyrubix2 — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 11:30:48 GMT

I've had My M5duel from end Sept 2015 : the Front camera worked fine up until 2 weeks ago. Suddenly it just stopped working.

The screen would go blank and an error message saying " camera may be in use by another app...." I took it to the service center after trying everything ( see Below).

Ultimately they replaced my device which has the EXACT SAME PROBLEM ! and its brand new!

I've seen Many users with the same issue but no one has got a valid solution thus far

Before taking it to the service center I:

1. cleared cache - failed to help

2. Formatted & factory reset - failed to help

3. Reinstalled latest updates -failed to help

4. Did a PC Repair - failed to help

finally

5. Assuming it was a hardware problem : I took it to the service center.

which basically opened the phone up voiding the Waterproof feature. messing it up so badly that they issue a letter to replace the product at their store.

which I did.

all to find I'm having the SAME front facing camera issue with the brand new device.

I have done steps 1 to 4 and I've had no success on this device either

if I take it back to the service center again they will just keep it and (at the very most replace it with a new -defective product)

What do I do ?

It looks to be a software defect - is there some hope in waiting for an update?

Re: M5 Duel front facing camera Not working!!

Uliwooly — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 17:03:27 GMT

@Tizzyrubix2

I'm sorry to hear that, but if it's replaced at a Sony Xperia Care center the phone will be waterproof and won't void the warranty, you should contact them again.

Re: M5 Duel front facing camera Not working!!

Tizzyrubix2 — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 02:31:33 GMT

They were not able to solve the problem - that's why they replaced the product.

They are a reputed dealer in Sri Lanka for sony products. They are the only people who would replace a product at all.

Re: M5 Duel front facing camera Not working!!

andrewjjoseph — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 04:11:12 GMT

I'm experiencing the same thing and did all those except send it to the service center. I'm supposed to bring it in this weekend, but knowing that it only got replaced with a unit with the same problem in your case, I don't know what to do now. I've only had this phone for 3 weeks and this happens. What to do Sony..

Re: M5 Duel front facing camera Not working!!

Tizzyrubix2 — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 14:37:57 GMT

It's really frustrating as it's a serious issue and Sony is yet to address me or ANYONE about how they plan on fixing this problem....

Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application

Sutheesh — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 05:37:55 GMT

Hi i'm also facing the same issue in sony xperia m5 kindly check the bug and provide update asap

Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application

Abhiroj — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 14:07:20 GMT

In case , if you are using clean master, I would advice to remove it , and then restart the phone. I had the same issue. Worked for me!

Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application

Vicalsor — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 15:20:51 GMT

Hi friends this morning i have this problem too, but i reset the M5 and now its ok, i dont know Whats hapened

Sony Xperia M5 Camera Error - Sony Abandoned Us

Mzet_RSA — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 17:25:58 GMT

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the same "error camera not availabe - camera maybe in use by other aplications..." fustrating problem. Also, sometimes the fone would switch off and not come on when I press the power button. Only after i put it in a charger would it come on. I have never seen an official feedback from Sony about this issue/problem and it seems to be a worldwide issue as i am in south africa. Isn't it about time Sony is sued. They must other refund us or recall all their m5 to be fixed. I am just not sure if there are corporates out there that can represent us as consumers? We bought M5 because of the great front n rear camera specs to capture certain moments at specific given times. This rubbish of clearing data is a temporal solution and does not work sometimes. Even if the camera does work afterwards you would have lost the time to capture what you wanted to capture. Does anyone know permanent solutions to the two main M5 problems above? Never buying sony again and will advise others to save their money and consider buying other brands. #sonyM5dualiscrapphone #Sonymustfall

Re: Sony Xperia M5 Camera Error - Sony Abandoned Us

Uliwooly — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 17:52:08 GMT

@Mzet_RSA

Settings > apps >all > camera > clear data > restart the phone, if that doesn't work then

boot in >>> safe mode

if that doesn't work then disable OK Google

Re: Sony Xperia M5 Camera Error - Sony Abandoned Us

Mzet_RSA — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 18:12:50 GMT

Tried the 1st option, doesn't help. 2nd option wants to restore google to factory setting which I doubt would help as google came with the phone.

Front camera not working Xperia M5

Velle — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 00:14:03 GMT

I just bought this phone and already replaced because other hardware issue. And now my front camera is not working. It says Unknown error. Then it will close. When I open it again it says camera is in used. I followed some steps like clearing the data of the camera. Even use force stop button then restart it. The back camera is working again but when I switch to front camera the error is there again. When i open it again, its not working anymore. I even try factory reset and boot in safe mode. Please help!! This is very frustrating.

Re: Front camera not working Xperia M5

Uliwooly — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 01:56:25 GMT

@Velle

Does it work in >>> safe mode ?

Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application

aliasu571 — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 04:57:35 GMT

Nope it doesnt work in safe mode either

Re: Error Camera may be in use by another application

ShadowRD — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 23:14:15 GMT

I have the same problem, and I can't say if is a hardware or software problem, but to get back the camera working I put my cellphone into the fridge after clearing cache of the camera and turning it off, I put it there like 5 minutes and after restart the phone the camera was working, but just for a little seconds until it stop working again, maybe someone else can check if is hardware problem or software problem.