If you have attempted to unlock the bootloader in your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, doing so could kill the phone’s camera.
If you have the second or third One UI 4 beta releases installed on your device before you unlock its bootloader, you will not face this problem. But you can also simply relock the bootloader to regain access to your camera.
In this article, we will show look at both these methods.
How To Fix It
As we mentioned above, there are two solutions to this problem. The first and the recommended solution is to update to the latest One UI 4 beta release. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Join the Beta Program
Go to Google Play Store and install the ‘Samsung Members’ app.
Log in to the ‘Samsung Members’ app using your Samsung Account. (If you don’t have a Samsung account, click here to make an account.)
You will find the ‘Registration for One UI Beta Program’ in the home banner. Tap on it and register.
Step 2: Install the Update
Once you’ve joined the Beta program, installing the update is pretty straight forward:
Go to Settings > Software Update > Download and Install.
This will install the latest One UI 4 beta release.
Alternative Fix
If for some reason the solution recommended above doesn’t work for you, you can also regain access to your Galaxy Z Fold 3 camera by relocking the bootloader. Follow these steps:
(Note: Make sure you keep a backup of all your important data, since this process will require a factory data reset.)
Boot the phone in Download Mode. To do this, first power off your phone. Then connect your phone to a powered on PC using a USB cable. Then press the audio down button.
You will be presented with a blue splash screen for download mode. Long press the Volume Up button. The phone will check if the bootloader has been unlocked.
Once you get the confirmation that the bootloader has been unlocked, press the volume up button to relock the bootloader. This will also do a full factory data reset of your phone.
Your phone will restart but will take longer to load. Once your phone reboots, the camera should be working again.
The following video summarizes the process.
Why the Galaxy Z Fold 3 Camera Breaks When Unlocking Bootloader
Until recently, both the front and the back camera in the Galaxy Z Fold 3 would die if you were to unlock the bootloader.
Killing the camera once you unlock the bootloader is a clear attempt to discourage users from unlocking the bootloader. In fact, just before you unlock the bootloader, the phone will show you a clear warning message saying that you will lose access to the camera and a few other features.
OEMs have resorted to similar techniques in the past to discourage phone owners from unlocking the bootloader. But this is the first case where the camera is completely killed off.
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
