Snapchat Black Screen? Here's How to Fix It Quickly

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By Jenefey Aaron

2025-07-30 / iPhone Tips

Any idea why my Snapchat is just showing a black screen? I flipped the camera, but it’s the same on both sides. I disabled tweaks using Choicy and even tried downgrading the app, but nothing worked.

Have you only just opened Snapchat to see a void staring at you as opposed to the camera view? It’s a widespread problem that many iPhone and Android users face. In the following post, we’re going to share the key factors that may trigger a ‘Snapchat black screen’ problem and present a number of simple solutions to quickly resolve it on both iPhone and Android.

Part 1. Why Is Snapchat Showing a Black Screen?

If you’re contemplating, “Why is my Snapchat camera black?” it could be because of the following reasons:

  • App glitches: Bugs in the app can affect the camera.
  • No camera access: If Snapchat doesn’t have camera permission, it won’t function.
  • Outdated app: An old version of Snapchat may cause problems.
  • Phone software issues: Your phone’s system might not function well with Snapchat.
  • Corrupted data or cache: Stored files on your phone may interfere with the app.
  • Internet or server problems: Weak connection or issues on Snapchat’s side can result in a Snapchat black screen.

Part 2. How to Fix Snapchat Black Screen on iPhone?

Here’s how to fix the black screen on Snapchat in 6 ways on your iPhone, based on what’s causing the issue:

Force Quit and Reopen Snapchat

Sometimes, having too many background apps can eat up resources, leaving not much room for Snapchat to operate. This might result in a Snapchat black screen when opening the Snapchat app. Therefore, to exit the background apps, force quit and reopen the Snapchat app. This will free up the resources. To do so:

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the “App Switcher” on your iPhone.
  • swipe up snapchat from the buttom
  • Then, swipe up on app windows to close all recently used apps, including Snapchat.
  • swipe up snapchat on app
  • Re-open Snapchat again to see if the black screen is gone.

Restart Your iPhone

Minor software glitches in your iPhone can also cause a black screen on the Snapchat story. You can fix them by restarting your iPhone. Here’s how to do that:

  • Switch off your iPhone based on its model:
    • iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16: Hold the “Volume” and “Side” buttons until the power-off slider appears.
    •  restart iphone X to 16
    • iPhone 6, 7, 8, SE (2nd/3rd gen): Hold the “Side” button until the slider appears.
    • restart iphone 6 to SE
    • iPhone SE (1st gen), 5 or earlier: Hold the “Top” button until the slider appears.
    • restart iphone se to 5
  • Drag the slider and wait 30 seconds for the phone to turn off. To turn it back on, hold the “Side/Top” button until the Apple logo shows.

Check Camera and Microphone Permissions

If your Snapchat camera is not working and a black screen appears on iPhone, it could be because you haven’t allowed camera or microphone access. So, you’ll need to give permissions to Snapchat to access the camera. Here’s how to do that:

  • Open “Settings” on your iPhone. Move down to “Snapchat.”
  • Toggle on “Camera” and “Microphone” permissions.
  •  turn off microphone
  • Close Snapchat completely. Then, reopen it to see if the camera functions.

Update Snapchat

If your Snapchat app is outdated, it might display a black screen on your iPhone. App updates come with security features and bug fixes, which are necessary for their flawless performance. So, here’s how up update Snapchat on your iPhone:

  • Open the “App Store” on your iPhone. Tap the “Search” icon.
  • Type “Snapchat.” Select the top result. Tap “Update” if available.
  • Once updated, open Snapchat to see if the black screen issue is fixed.

Reinstall Snapchat

In case the Snapchat app is corrupted and appears in the form of a black Snapchat icon, you’ll need to uninstall it. Then, reinstall the app for a fresh start:

  • Uninstall the Snapchat app from the App Store.” Then, search for it again in the store.
  • Hit the “Download” icon to download the Snapchat app on your iPhone. Reinstall it.
  • reinstall snapchat

Fix iOS System Glitches (Optional)

If the above solutions don’t fix the Snapchat black screen, it could be because of an iOS glitch. You can fix it with the help of an iOS Repair tool like Tenorshare ReiBoot without data loss. It can fix minor to major iOS issues, including the Snapchat black screen with text, and an iOS device stuck on the blue/black/update screen. Here’s more info about ReiBoot:

  • Repair 150+ iOS issues, including boot loop problems and iTunes errors.
  • Fix iDevices stuck on Recovery Mode, update screen, or Apple logo.
  • Can upgrade/download iOS, including Betas.
  • Supports iOS 26 and iPhone 16 series.

Follow the instructions beneath to use ReiBoot to fix the black screen on Snapchat on your iPhone:

  • Install and execute ReiBoot on your computer. Then, connect your iPhone to the same computer. Hit “Start Repair” on ReiBoot.
  • launch reiboot
  • Choose “Standard Repair.” Click “Download” to get the latest firmware. Then, tap “Start Standard Repair.”
  • reiboot standard repair
  • Your iPhone will reboot normally. Check if the black screen appears on Snapchat again.
  • repair successfully

Part 3. How to Fix Snapchat Black Screen on Android?

If you possess an Android phone and are facing a Snapchat black screen issue on it, here’s how you can fix it in 6 ways:

Force Stop Snapchat and Relaunch

Your background apps might be eating up resources on your Android, resulting in a Snapchat black screen issue. Just like on iPhone, force stop Snapchat and relaunch it to free up resources that background apps might be consuming:

  • Open the “Settings” on your Android. Head to “Apps.” Tap “See all apps.”
  • force stop snapchat
  • Find and select “Snapchat.” Click “Force stop.” Hit “OK.”
  • force stop snapchat hit ok
  • Open your app drawer. Then, tap “Snapchat” to relaunch the app.

Restart Your Android Device

When Snachap displays a black screen on your Android, it could be because of minor software glitches. So, to get rid of them, restart your Android. To do so:

  • Press and hold the “Side” and “Volume” buttons at the same time.
  • Choose “Restart” and your Android will reboot.
  • force restart android devices

Clear Snapchat Cache and App Data

Apps like Snapchat store data and temporary files in a cache on your phone, and if they get corrupted, the app may stop functioning or crash. Clearing the cache and app data is safe and won’t remove your snaps. Here’s how to clear it:

  • Open “Snapchat.” Tap your avatar to go to your profile. Tap the “Gear” icon (Settings) in the top right.
  •  clear snapchat data
  • Move to “Clear Cache” beneath “Account Actions.” Hit “Continue.”
  • clear snapchat cache

Check Camera Permissions

Snapchat needs camera permission to take photos and videos, and you might not have given this or disallowed it. Thus, to fix it, give Snapchat access to the camera. Here’s how to do that:

  • Open “Settings” on Android. Then, head to “Apps & notifications.”
  • Open “Snapchat.” Tap “Permissions.” Select “Camera.”
  • check camera permissions
  • Next, choose “Allow only while using the app.” Open Snapchat. Try using the camera again.
  • allow while using the app

Update Snapchat

Using an older version of the Snapchat app can cause problems, like a black screen, if the app requires major updates for its performance. So, here’s how to check whether an update is available for Snapchat:

  • Open the “Google Play Store.” Tap your “Profile” icon.
  • Head to “Manage apps & device.” Tap “Updates available.” If a Snapchat update is available, download and install it.
  • update snapchat

Reinstall Snapchat

If the black screen still appears when you open Snapchat, it could be because the app files are corrupted. To fix them, uninstall and reinstall the app. To do so:

  • Open “Settings” on Android. Head to “Apps.” Then, tap “See all apps.
  • Find and click “Snapchat.” Choose ‘Uninstall.” Hit “OK.”

People Also Ask About Snapchat Black Screen

Q1: What does it mean when a guy sends you a black screen on Snapchat?

A guy sending a black screen on Snapchat can mean different things. It might be a way to keep a streak going, a subtle way to get your attention, or even a way to let you see your reflection as a compliment. He could also just be shy or not ready to show his face.

Q2: Why is my Snapchat black instead of white?

If Snapchat looks black instead of white, dark mode is probably turned on. To switch back, go to your profile, tap the settings icon, select “App Appearance,” and choose “Always Light.”

Q3: How to send a black screen on Snapchat?

To send a black screen on Snapchat, you can cover the camera with your hand, place the phone face down, or use the pen tool to color the screen black. Some people also use filters to create a blank snap.

Conclusion

A ‘Snapchat black screen’ issue might appear due to bugs, missing camera permissions, outdated or corrupted apps. iPhone and Android users can usually fix it by restarting the app, checking permissions, updating, reinstalling the app, or clearing the cache.

If these don’t do the job, the problem might be with your iOS system. In that case, a tool like Tenorshare ReiBoot can help repair minor to major 150+ iOS glitches without losing your data. It also offers many functions to manage your iDevcies.

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