Camera app opens randomly?

[Saberon2014]

iPhone 13 15.2 setup as new

My phone will randomly switch to the camera app and I can’t figure it out. Doesn’t matter what I’m doing

I can leave it in safari with auto lock off for 8 hours and nothing, but when I’m scrolling it will randomly switch to camera.

I’m going insane. ANY help is appreciated.

 

[joshua05]

Edit -- Solved this for me, see below

iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 15.5

Similar issue here... some more details:
- may be related to my case, happens more when phone hasn't been wiped down in a while
- happens more to me in the evenings
- iphone doesn't need to be unlocked, just awake
- happens mostly while scrolling, but not always -- also happened while driving with google maps open, device mounted on a magnet without touching or squeezing it at all

Some possible causes:
- bug in iOS
- bug in hardware where the display is too sensitive, reacts to electromagnetic interference or static in the air, etc
- bug from iphone cases collecting too much oil around edges
- my worst fear: some zero-day exploit running on my phone using my camera to capture things... been getting a ton of scam texts lately, and there have been 1-click exploits from iMessage before ... sigh

Am planning on doing a full wipe and non-backup manual reinstall everything in case of it being a zero-day.

May end up asking apple for a warranty replacement before my 1 year runs out

 

[joshua05]

Solved it! It was back tap for me.

Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap (all the way to the bottom)
- My double tap was set to camera (explains the random car mount activations)
- Changed both to None

The major hint was that even with the iphone unlocked, it would switch to the camera app -- but I made sure the camera app was never running in the background app switcher. So the only option left was for some app or system event calling to open the camera. Apps can only open the camera with the embedded camera switcher, and this was full native. So that leaves either an iOS system call to open the camera app, or some very elegant hack. Went through all the ways to open the camera quickly, and there aren't many:
- Lock screen shortcut
- Pull down menu shortcut
- Camera app icon
- "Hey siri open camera"
- If camera already open, slide the bottom bar app switcher
- That's it??? nope
- Accessibility Back Tap!!!

I recall setting this a long time ago to open the camera more quickly, but it seems its a bit glitchy.

 

[orosoros]

Solved it! It was back tap for me.

Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap (all the way to the bottom)
- My double tap was set to camera (explains the random car mount activations)
- Changed both to None

The major hint was that even with the iphone unlocked, it would switch to the camera app -- but I made sure the camera app was never running in the background app switcher. So the only option left was for some app or system event calling to open the camera. Apps can only open the camera with the embedded camera switcher, and this was full native. So that leaves either an iOS system call to open the camera app, or some very elegant hack. Went through all the ways to open the camera quickly, and there aren't many:
- Lock screen shortcut
- Pull down menu shortcut
- Camera app icon
- "Hey siri open camera"
- If camera already open, slide the bottom bar app switcher
- That's it??? nope
- Accessibility Back Tap!!!

I recall setting this a long time ago to open the camera more quickly, but it seems its a bit glitchy.

Fantastic thank you! You saved me a complete restore!