...

[Troubleshooting Guide] iPhone Images Showing Up as Black/Blank?

...

"My photos recently turned black. I could see them last night but today everything from the past few days is a black screen. If I click on it, it is still black."

- from Apple Community

During the use of the iPhone, some users may encounter a situation where photos appear as black/blank in the album. Why are some of my photos blank on iPhone? This issue can be puzzling and may also limit access to important photos. This article will explain the reasons for iPhone images showing up as black and provide several fixes to help you recover these photos.

iphone images showing up as black

 

Part 1. Why Are My Photos Black on My iPhone?

First, let's explore why photos are loading as black boxes on iPhone. Here are some possible reasons:

  • System Glitch: Occasionally, iOS may experience glitches, especially after a system update or installation of new apps. These factors can cause photos to fail to load properly, appearing as black or blank.
  • Insufficient Storage Space: When the iPhone's storage is nearly full, the system may struggle to load large files or high-resolution photos correctly, leading to abnormal photo displays.
  • Corrupted Photo Files: If photo files are corrupted during transfer or storage, such as when using third-party apps or due to errors in cloud synchronization, the photos may fail to display properly.
  • iCloud Sync Issues: If your photos are stored in iCloud but the network connection is unstable, the download process may be interrupted, causing the photos to fail to load fully and appear black/blank.

Part 2. How to Fix Black Photos in Camera Roll

Based on the above reasons, here are some fixes to help you resolve the issue of iPhone photos blank in Camera Roll.

Fix 1. Restart iPhone

After prolonged use, an iPhone may accumulate a temporary cache, which can lead to brief system glitches, such as iPhone images showing up as black/blank. Restarting the device can clear the temporary cache and potential errors.

Here is how to restart the iPhone:

iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, and newer models:

  • Press and hold both the "Volume" and "Side" buttons until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off the iPhone.
  • To power it on, press and hold the "Side" button until the Apple logo appears.

iPhone 6, 7, 8, SE 2nd and 3rd generation:

  • Press and hold the "Side" button until the power slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off the phone.
  • To turn it back on, press and hold the "Side" button until the Apple logo appears.

iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5 and earlier models:

  • Press and hold the "Top" button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider and wait for the phone to turn off.
  • To power it on, press and hold the "Top" button until the Apple logo appears.

restart the iphone to fix iphone images showing up as black

Fix 2. Check Network Settings

If your photos are stored in iCloud, an unstable network connection may prevent them from loading fully. Ensuring a stable network connection can help download photos properly. Check your network connection to make sure the signal is stable. If the connection is poor, try disconnecting and reconnecting to Wi-Fi. If that doesn't work, you can try the following steps to reset your network settings:

Step 1. Open "Settings" > "General" > "Transfer or Reset iPhone".

Step 2. Select "Reset" > "Reset Network Settings".

check the network settings to fix photos are loading as black boxes iphone

Step 3. Enter your password and confirm the action. Once done, reconnect to Wi-Fi and check your photos in the album.

Fix 3. Disable Optimize iPhone Storage

The "Optimize iPhone Storage" feature stores high-resolution versions of photos in iCloud, keeping only thumbnails on the iPhone to free up storage space. This can also cause photos to load as black/blank boxes on the iPhone. You can turn off this feature to see if it resolves the issue.

To do this, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Open "Settings" on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap on your "Apple ID" and go to "iCloud".

Step 3. Select "Photos", then tap "Download and Keep Originals".

how to fix black photos in camera roll by disabling optimize iphone storage

Fix 4. Check iPhone Storage

Loading photos requires sufficient storage on your iPhone. If your device is low on space, it may struggle to load all your photos, causing some to appear blank. Follow these steps to check if you have enough available storage:

Step 1. Open "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage".

Step 2. Check the available storage. If space is low, try deleting unnecessary apps or files.

how to fix black photos in camera roll by freeing up iphone storage

Fix 5. Force Quit the Photos App

Sometimes, the Photos app may malfunction due to system cache or errors, such as iPhone photos blank in Camera Roll. Force quitting the app can refresh its running state.

Here are the steps:

Step 1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (for devices without a Home button) or double-click the "Home" button (for devices with a Home button) to open the app switcher.

Step 2. Find the Photos app and swipe it up to close it.

force quit photos app to fix iphone photos blank in camera roll

Fix 6. Update iOS

An outdated system version or corrupted system files may also cause photos to display incorrectly. Try updating the iOS system to fix this issue.

To do this, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Open "Settings" > "General" > "Software Update". (iPhone software update failed?)

Step 2. Check if an iOS update is available.

Step 3. If there is an update, select "Download and Install".

how to fix black photos in camera roll by updating ios

Fix 7. Use iOS System Recovery

If the issue of iPhone images showing up as black persists, you can consider using iOS System Recovery. It is a professional iOS system repair tool designed to fix system issues on iOS devices. It is easy to use, supports multiple repair modes, and ensures that no data is lost during the repair process.

What can iOS System Recovery do for you?

  • Fix iPhone photos blank/black in Camera Roll without data loss.
  • Fix various iOS system issues, including iPhone black screen, white Apple logo, boot loop, update failure, and more.
  • Offer Standard Mode and Advanced Mode, allowing you to choose the appropriate repair solution based on the severity of the issue.
  • Free iOS system upgrade and downgrade, such as downgrade from iOS 18 to iOS 17 or earlier versions.
  • Support all iPhone models (iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11, etc.) and is compatible with the latest iOS version (iOS 18).

Here is how to fix photos are loading as black boxes on iPhone using iOS System Recovery:

01Click the download button below to get the tool. After downloading, open it and select "iOS System Recovery".

02Connect your iPhone to the computer and trust the connection. Click the "Start" button, then put your device into recovery mode.

click the start the button

03Choose "Standard Mode" and click "Confirm" to proceed. The iOS firmware will begin downloading.

select the repair mode

04Once the download is complete, click the "Repair" button, and the tool will start repairing your device to fix the issue of iPhone images showing up as black.

fix photos are loading as black boxes iphone using ios system recovery

Fix 8. Contact Apple Support

If the above methods don't work, you may need further professional assistance. You can contact Apple Support to inquire about the issue of photos displaying as black and receive more in-depth technical support.

Conclusion

The issue of iPhone images showing up as black/blank can usually be resolved with the methods mentioned above. If you want to quickly fix system problems without losing data, we recommend using iOS System Recovery. This tool is easy to use and reliable, effectively resolving most iOS system issues and ensuring a smooth recovery of blacked-out photos.

Related Articles:

[Solved] iPhone Photos Not Showing Up on PC? Quick Solutions Here!

[100% Success] iPhone Save Image Not Working, How to Fix?

Why Are Pictures Not Downloading in iMessage? Uncover Solutions Here!

Why Can't I See My Pictures in My Gallery? Fix It and Recover Pictures

    iPhone Recovery     [Troubleshooting Guide] iPhone Images Showing Up as Black/Blank?
Terms & Conditions Privacy (UPDATED) License Agreement Uninstall Copyright © 2024 Coolmuster. All Rights Reserved.
feedbackFeedback