Error Camera may be in use by another application

[andrewjjoseph]

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?

[Jake-SonyXperia]

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.

[andrewjjoseph]

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.

[Jake-SonyXperia]

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?

[andrewjjoseph]

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

[Tizzyrubix2]

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?

[Uliwooly]

@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.

[Tizzyrubix2]

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.

[andrewjjoseph]

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..

[Tizzyrubix2]

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....