How do I stop my camera from stopping music?
Understanding Why Cameras Can Pause Music
Camera apps on smartphones have access to certain device controls like the microphone and audio output in order to record videos with sound. When you take a photo or video using the camera app, it can automatically pause any music or audio playback happening on your phone. This is because the camera app temporarily takes over the audio controls to record sound for the video. As explained in this Google support article, camera and microphone permissions allow apps to access these device controls as needed.
The camera app pauses your music playback as it accesses the microphone and speaker to record audio and video. Once you stop filming, the music resumes playback as the camera app releases the audio controls. This automatic pausing prevents background music from interfering with the video recording. Some camera apps have settings to disable pausing media playback during recordings. But in general,Expect your music or podcasts to briefly pause when launching the camera to take photos or videos.
Checking App Permissions
One of the most common reasons a camera app may pause your music is because it has been granted access to your microphone or media audio through app permissions. You can check and adjust these permissions by going to your phone’s Settings and finding the App Permissions page.
On Android devices, go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > App Permissions. Look for your camera app and tap on it. Review the list of permissions granted to the app – you may see access to Microphone, Media Audio, or other related permissions. Try toggling these off to prevent the camera app from controlling your device audio.
Similarly on iOS, go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone or Media Library. Find your camera app and ensure the switch is turned off so it cannot access your microphone or media while running in the background. Revoking unnecessary audio permissions for your camera app often resolves background music pausing.
For more details, refer to Google’s guide on changing app permissions or Apple’s instructions on managing app access to microphone and media library.
Disabling App Audio Controls
One option to stop your camera from pausing music is to disable the camera app’s ability to control audio or media playback. Many camera apps request access to control your device’s audio, which allows them to pause music when taking a photo.
To disable this, go to your phone’s Settings > Apps & Notifications > App Permissions > Media (or Audio) and toggle off the camera app’s access. This will prevent the app from being able to pause your music.
However, this may also impact other features that rely on audio control, like adding music or audio to videos taken with the camera app. You’ll have to decide if losing those features is worth uninterrupted music playback.
On Samsung devices specifically, you can use Sound Assistant to control audio permissions for each app individually. Go to Individual App Volumes, add your camera app, and set its volume to zero to mute it.
Be aware that fully disabling audio control for an app should be a last resort. Try adjusting in-app camera settings or using a separate music app first before resorting to revoking audio permissions.
Using a Separate Music App
One option to prevent your camera from pausing music is to use a separate, dedicated music app like Spotify or Apple Music rather than the built-in music player.
Streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music allow you to play music in the background while using other apps. Because they are standalone music apps, they are not controlled by your camera app when taking photos or videos.
This means the music will not pause or interrupt when you open the camera and start shooting. Apps like Spotify have robust background audio capabilities specifically so you can listen to music continuously while multitasking between apps.
Some recommended dedicated music apps include:
Using a standalone music streaming app like these ensures your music plays continuously uninterrupted by camera functions. Just start your music, open the camera app, and shoot photos and videos without any pauses.
Enabling Airplane Mode
One way to prevent your camera from interrupting your music is by enabling Airplane Mode on your iPhone. Airplane Mode disables all wireless connections, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. This gives you full control over which apps can access audio playback.
When Airplane Mode is enabled, your camera app will still be able to take photos and record videos. However, activating the camera will no longer pause your music playback. This is because the camera loses the ability to send commands to pause other apps while in Airplane Mode.
You can easily toggle Airplane Mode on or off from the Control Center. Swipe down from the top right of your screen to open Control Center, then tap the airplane icon. Your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections will automatically disable. To re-enable them individually in Airplane Mode, just tap their icons.
According to an r/iphone thread, many users rely on Airplane Mode to avoid music interruptions from their camera while listening to offline tracks. Just remember to disable Airplane Mode afterwards to restore your connectivity.
Adjusting System Interruptions
One of the root causes of the camera interrupting music playback is the system interruptions setting in Android. This controls how much apps like the camera can take over system resources like audio playback.
To adjust this setting, go to Settings > Sounds & vibration > System interruptions. Here you’ll find options like “Alarms only” or “Total silence” that determine which apps can interrupt priority modes like music playback.
Try changing this to “Alarms only” or a more restrictive mode. This prevents the camera from taking audio control and pausing your music when launched (1). You may need to toggle between modes to find the right balance.
You can also go into App notifications in Settings and select the Camera app specifically. Disable “Interruptions” for the Camera so that it can’t pause media playback when launched (2).
With the right system interruption settings, you can use the camera normally without it stopping music playback suddenly. Just be aware you may miss other alerts if you restrict interruptions too much.
Trying a Third-Party Camera App
One option is to try using a third-party camera app that has less control over audio playback. Some apps are designed specifically not to pause music when taking photos or videos. For example, Mideo is an iPhone app made to record videos without interrupting audio playback. It achieves this by limiting its access to your device’s audio controls.
Other camera apps like ProCamera and Open Camera on Android also have options to disable pausing media when recording. Trying out a few alternative camera apps can help you find one that doesn’t interfere with your music playback. Just make sure to check their app permissions and settings to maintain control over your audio.
Using the Volume Buttons
One easy way to resume playing music after taking a photo with your camera is to use your device’s volume buttons. The volume buttons provide a quick and convenient way to start your music again without having to go back into your music app.
After you take a photo or video and the music pauses, simply press either of the volume buttons on the side of your iPhone. This will immediately resume playback of whatever song or audio was playing beforehand. The music picks up right where it left off before the camera caused it to pause.
Using the volume buttons bypasses the need to manually go back into your music app and hit play again. It’s a simple, fast way to get your tunes back as soon as you’re done capturing photos or videos. Just remember to try the volume buttons next time your music cuts out when using the camera app.
For more information on controlling music playback with your volume buttons, check out this guide.
Toggling Quick Settings
One simple way to prevent your camera from stopping music is to use your phone’s Quick Settings. Most Android phones have a Quick Settings panel that you can access by swiping down from the top of the screen. Here, you’ll see toggles for various settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Do Not Disturb.
To stop your camera from pausing music, you can toggle your phone’s audio modes before and after taking a photo. Before launching the camera, pull down Quick Settings and tap the icon to switch to vibrate or silent mode. This will pause any music or audio. Then, once you’ve taken your photo, return to Quick Settings and switch back to a sound mode to resume playback.
Basically, put your phone into vibrate/silent briefly while the camera is open to prevent it from interrupting your music. Just remember to switch back once you’ve captured your shot. This easy habit trains your phone not to stop audio when using the camera app.
For details, see this helpful post on controlling music playback from Quick Settings.
Considering Phone or App Upgrades
One potential solution if the camera still pauses your music is to upgrade your phone or camera app. Newer phone models and app versions often have improved audio controls that may prevent interruptions when using the camera.
For example, Android 11 introduced new media controls that allow multiple apps to access the audio channels at once without interrupting each other [1]. Upgrading to Android 11 or newer may resolve camera/music conflicts.
Likewise, some third-party camera apps like Open Camera have options to disable audio while recording video. Upgrading to a camera app with finer controls over audio may prevent music disruption.
If problems persist after trying other solutions, upgrading your phone or camera app is one final option to obtain the latest audio handling that avoids music pausing whenever you open the camera.