Lorene Melone
How To Correct Inverted Camera Issues During Instagram Video Calls
Yeah, this problem is kinda annoying — your camera feeds get flipped or mirrored during those Instagram video chats, and it can make things look pretty weird. Not sure why it happens sometimes; maybe a glitch in the app, or something funky with your camera settings. Anyway, fixing this can be a hit-or-miss affair, but these steps should help straighten it out. Expect some trial and error, especially if your device has its quirks. Basically, you’ll want to make sure everything’s up to date, your app cache is clean, and your camera settings aren’t causing the flip.
How to Fix Inverted Camera on Instagram Video Calls
Update the Instagram App
This is always the first move because bugs are often squashed in updates. On some setups, outdated versions can cause weird camera behavior, especially after using the app for a while without updating.
- Head over to the Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iPhone.
- Search for Instagram.
- If there’s an Update button, hit it. If not, you’re good to go.
- Open the app again and see if the camera looks normal now. On some devices, the camera may still be mirrored at first, but a restart or re-test can fix it.
Clear Instagram Cache
This step is kinda sneaky but surprisingly effective. Sometimes, cached data gets corrupted or stuck, and that messes up the camera feed or app behavior.
- Long-press on the Instagram icon, then select App Info.
- Navigate to Storage & Cache.
- Tap on Clear Cache. On some devices, you might also see a Clear Data option, but avoid this unless you’re prepared to log in again.
- Restart the app, start a video call, and check if it’s still inverted. Fair warning: on some machines, cache clearing might take a few tries or longer restart before it helps.
Reinstall Instagram
If cleaning the cache didn’t do the trick, a fresh install might. Because sometimes, the app just refuses to behave and a reinstall resets everything from scratch.
- Uninstall the app from your device (tap, hold, then delete).
- Redownload from the Google Play Store or App Store.
- Log back in.
- Test in a call — fingers crossed, the camera stays straight this time.
Check Camera Settings & Mirroring Options
Some apps or devices have a mirror toggle in camera settings, which can get turned on unwittingly, flipping your image. If Instagram has any camera controls or filters, double-check those.
- Open Instagram, start a video call.
- Tap on the camera settings or gear icon — sometimes, it’s hidden in options or overlays.
- Look for anything labeled Mirror Front Camera or similar, and toggle it off.
- Especially on Android, some custom camera apps or manufacturer settings could cause mirroring. If you see anything related, turn it off. If you can’t find such options, try testing in the default camera app to see if it’s a device-wide issue.
Kind of weird, but on some Android skins, these camera options can get funky, so it’s worth a try. It also helps if you test the camera in other apps like WhatsApp or Messenger, just to see if the problem is connected to Instagram or your whole system.
Other Troubleshooting Tricks
If nothing’s working so far, uh, it’s probably time to troubleshoot your device. Make sure OS updates are installed, reboot your device to clear out any background hiccups, and verify your camera functions okay in other apps. Sometimes, a simple restart or a quick OS update does miracles — or, at least, prevents problems from stacking up.
- Update your device’s Android version or iOS if you haven’t recently.
- Close all background apps to free up resources.
- Switch between front and back cameras to check if only the front is affected.
Bonus: Improve Your Video Call Setup
To actually make future calls smoother and less buggy:
- Use steady Wi-Fi instead of mobile data — latency and lag can cause weird glitches.
- Ensure good lighting so the camera isn’t struggling in darkness or glare.
- Close other apps — streaming, gaming, or downloading can hog CPU and RAM.
Wrap-up
Getting the camera straightened out isn’t always straightforward, but updating, clearing cache, and checking mirror settings are the main tricks. Sometimes, just reinstalling the app or a quick OS update solves the problem. Keep in mind not every device reacts the same way — some needed multiple tries, or a reboot after clearing cache. If it still acts up, might be worth testing in other apps or even reaching out to Instagram support.
Summary
- Update Instagram to the latest version.
- Clear the app cache — not data, just cache.
- Reinstall if needed, especially after an update or cache wipe.
- Check mirror or camera settings inside Instagram or device-wide configurations.
- Ensure your device OS is current and camera works fine elsewhere.
- Improve call quality with a better connection and lighting.
Fingers crossed this helps
Fixing that pesky inverted camera can be a hassle, but with a bit of patience and the above steps, it’s usually fixable. Nothing’s perfect, but at least the frustration can be minimized. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone, or at least saves a night of flipping and rotating the camera feed. Good luck, and don’t forget to double-check your camera in all apps — sometimes, the problem isn’t Instagram’s at all.