How To Fix iPhone 16e Rear Camera Freezes in Slow Motion?

After updating to iOS 18.4, many users have noticed that their iPhone 16e begins to freeze when using the rear camera in Slow Motion mode. This issue has been observed primarily when the frame rate is set to 240fps. While the feature worked perfectly on earlier software versions, it has now become unreliable for many.

The problem has been confirmed by several users across forums and communities in early 2025, and appears to affect both the camera app and overall performance when Slow Motion is selected.

What Has Been Reported

When Slow Motion mode is selected using the rear camera, the app immediately freezes or shows a black screen.
Tapping the record button results in either no recording or the app crashing.
The issue does not affect the front (selfie) camera, which is limited to 120fps.
Freezing only occurs when the rear camera is set to 240fps. Using 120fps seems to work fine.

Why the Front Camera Works but Rear Freezes

It has been noted that the front camera on the iPhone 16e supports only up to 120fps, while the rear camera is capable of 240fps recording. Because the crash happens exclusively at the 240fps setting, the issue seems related to how iOS 18.4 and 18.5 handle higher frame rate encoding on the newer hardware.

This indicates that the camera freezing is not due to storage limitations or user error, especially since the same camera setup worked fine before the update.

Troubleshooting

A forced restart was recommended by some users and tried by many. In some cases, this temporarily allowed the camera to function again in 240fps mode. However, the fix did not last. The freezing returned, especially after closing and reopening the Camera app or switching to other modes.

Users running iOS 18.5 Beta also reported that the issue persists, suggesting that a permanent solution has not yet been implemented.

How To Fix iPhone 16e Rear Camera Freezes in Slow Motion

Switch to 120fps if Slow Motion recording is needed.
Avoid using rear camera Slow Motion at 240fps until a software fix is provided.
Keep the device updated and monitor Apple’s support site for any patch notes addressing this bug.
Consider reporting the issue to Apple Feedback, especially if it affects your workflow.

To force restart an iPhone:

Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
Then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

Although this method has helped in some cases, the issue has usually returned.

Final Thoughts

The iPhone 16e camera freezing issue during 240fps slow motion recording appears to be a software bug introduced in iOS 18.4, and it has not been resolved in iOS 18.5 as of this writing in 2025. Since the hardware is new and capable of high-frame-rate capture, the problem likely lies with how the camera app or OS is handling rear sensor data under certain modes.

Until a permanent fix is released, users are advised to stick with 120fps or use third-party apps that offer manual frame rate control, where available.