How to Fix Pixel Camera Not Working After the November Update

While we wait for Google, there are a few things worth trying. I’ve put them in order from quickest to most drastic, and you should hold off on a factory reset until you’ve tried everything else, because owners report it doesn’t reliably fix this bug.

Quick answer: Power your Pixel off completely, leave it off for about five minutes, then turn it back on. That’s the workaround most affected owners report success with. If the camera still fails, clear the Pixel Camera cache, update Pixel Camera and check for a system update, and test in safe mode to rule out another app. If the selfie camera also errors out, Google recommends starting a repair or contacting support.

What’s going on with Pixel cameras

Google released its November update for Pixel phones on November 10 along with the November 2026 Pixel security bulletin, which sets the security patch level to 2026-11-05. Within days, owners of Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 series phones began reporting black camera previews, error messages, and front and rear cameras that stopped working.

The cause isn’t known yet, and Google hasn’t confirmed that the update is to blame. Because the problem reportedly hits other camera apps too, it looks like more than a glitch in Pixel Camera alone. Some owners have also reported problems with wireless charging and desktop mode since the update.

1. Power off fully and wait five minutes

A normal restart isn’t the same as a full power-off. On Pixel 6 and later, press and hold Power and Volume up, then tap Power off. Leave the phone off for about five minutes, then press and hold Power to turn it back on. Many owners say this brings the camera back, though for some it returns after a while. If that happens, repeat it while you wait for a proper fix.

2. Clear the Pixel Camera cache

Google’s Pixel camera troubleshooting guide lists this as one of the first steps. Press and hold the Camera app icon, tap App info, then Storage & cache, and tap Clear cache. This doesn’t delete your photos or settings. Open the camera again to test.

3. Update Pixel Camera and check for a system update

Google may push a fix through either the Play Store or a system update, so check both:

• Pixel Camera: open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, tap Manage apps & devices, and install any Pixel Camera update.
• Android: go to Settings > System > Software updates > System update and tap Check for update.

4. Test in safe mode

Safe mode turns off third-party apps so you can see whether one of them is interfering. Turn the phone off, then press and hold Power to turn it on. When the G logo appears, press and hold Volume down until “Safe mode” shows at the bottom of the screen. Open the camera.

If the camera works in safe mode, Google says to restart to exit safe mode and then uninstall recently downloaded apps one at a time until the problem stops. If it still fails in safe mode, the issue is in the system or hardware rather than another app, which fits what people are reporting after this update.

5. Test the selfie camera

Touch and hold the Camera app icon and tap Take a selfie. Google says that if you get an error here, or the selfie camera works but you can’t switch cameras in the app, you should start a repair or contact Google. With an update-related bug this widespread, I’d contact Google support first and mention that it started after the November update before sending your phone off for repair.

6. Free up storage space

The camera needs room to save photos and process images. Check Settings > Storage, and if you’re close to full, clear out large videos or move photos off the phone. Our guide to backing up Android photos to a Windows PC with Quick Share shows a quick way to do it.

7. Hold off on a factory reset

A factory reset wipes your phone, and owners report it hasn’t fixed this camera bug reliably. If Google confirms a software cause, a factory reset won’t help, and the fix will arrive as an update. If you decide to reset anyway, back up your photos and data first.

What else changed in the November update

The update arrived with Google’s November Pixel Drop, which we covered in our November Pixel Drop report. If your battery has also been draining faster since updating, see our guide to fixing Pixel 10 battery drain after an update.

FAQs

Why is my Pixel camera not working after the November update?

Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 owners have reported black camera screens and camera errors since the November 2026 update. Google hasn’t confirmed the cause or announced a fix yet.

Does restarting fix the Pixel camera black screen?

A quick restart often isn’t enough. Owners report better results from powering the phone off completely and leaving it off for about five minutes before turning it back on.

Should I factory reset my Pixel to fix the camera?

Not yet. Owners report that a factory reset doesn’t reliably fix this bug, and it erases your data. Try the other steps and wait for an update from Google first.

Which Pixel phones are affected?

Reports so far involve Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 series phones running the November 2026 update.

Featured image: Daniel Romero on Unsplash.

Disclosure: TheTechHacker has no paid relationship with Google or any company mentioned here.