Split screen and launching camera

[shenlong]

Sometimes, i need to work in splitscreen and i press homescreen and launch camera by holding camera hardware button.

Camera cannot launch from lock screen or home screen.

Lost the moment to capture.

Anyone has the same issue?

[MarlonUk1]

Hi, I tried re creating the problem you are experiencing but I can't seem to reproduce it. Is there anymore details about the problem? Can you reproduce the problem everytime?

[shenlong]

I can reproduce everytime.
1. Let's perform split screen with chrome and email.
2. Go to home screen or lock your phone.
3. Hold the camera button to activate the camera.

Does it work?

[shenlong]

Maybe after going to splitscreen, then lock your phone.
Does the camera fires after holding the camera button?

[Jonas]

Hi @shenlong,

I understand that this must be frustrating.

I was not able to replicate this either just like @nolramlb, I tried on 2 different Xperia X Performance running Nougat.

It worked fine from both lock screen and starting the camera while in split screen view. It does however say "App doesn't support split-screen" when the camera is launched and when I went back from the camera application, split screen has been turned off since I launched an application that doesn't support it.

Does your camera button work when you aren't using split screen? For example, launching it from lock screen or home screen.

Do you see any message on your screen or is the camera application just not launching at all?

I would recommend that you reboot your phone in safe mode, and while in safe mode, try the same thing that you did before and see if you can replicate it in here as well.

Let me know how it goes!

[shenlong]

Hi @Jonas

The camera button works well if I am not using Split Screen.

Juz so happens that if I am using split screen for work and off the screen while on the move, if I spot some interesting stuff to take photo, holding the camera button does not launch camera nor display any message. The lockscreen is both pin and fingerprint protected.

This Juz feels annoying that before I dig this issue I thought there is something wrong with my phone and I keep restarting it to fix it.

I feel that it is more of a bug. At least a toast message should show from the lockscreen.

[Jonas]

Thanks for the update!

It does indeed sound very strange, since I weren't able to replicate it. Was there any change while the phone was rebooted in safe mode?

I tried now again with both "Launch" and "Launch and capture", and it worked fine, however when I go out from the camera after the photo has been taken, the split-screen feature is turned off, since the camera app has been started and it doesn't support split screen.

If there was no change while the phone was rebooted in safe mode, I would recommend that you clear data for the Camera application. This will not remove any photos or videos, it will however remove any settings that you have done in the camera settings.

Go to Settings > Apps > Camera > Storage > Clear data > OK.

Let me know if there is any change!

[shenlong]

Hi @Jonas,

I have clear the storage. Seems to have the same issue.
Is it the actual behaviour?

When i go into split screen with 2 chrome browsers, tap on home and click the power button, activating the camera by holding the camera button just gives a vibration.

[Jonas]

Hi again!

The camera application still opens up for me when I used 2 chrome "windows" in split screen, and I get the same message "App doesn't support split screen", since the camera application does not support split screen, very strange that you only get a vibration and nothing else.

Does this happen if you use split screen with 2 other applications, for example Settings and Phone?

If it does, I'd recommend that you perform a software repair using Xperia Companion.

Do note that this will delete all data stored on the internal storage, so it's advised to backup using Xperia Companion prior to the repair.

Let me know how it works after the repair!

[shenlong]

Hi @Jonas,

You are right. The settings and phone app in splitscreen and then you off the screen, then holding the camera button does fire the camera, though slow...

I wonder why chrome split screen > go to home > off the screen > then hold the camera button does not work.

others apps like whatsapp doesn't work... A bummer...