Pixel 3 cameras hit by 'fatal error', Google says fix will come soon but refuses to issue replacements

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are facing a 'fatal error' in the cameras

Google Pixel phones have had a rough journey so far where they have been criticized for many faults in the hardware, as well as the software glitches that have worsened the impact further. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the latest addition to the Pixel family, have never been a very different fate – ever since the smartphone was launched in the markets. A new issue is reported on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL crash when they are open in a third-party app such as Instagram, Snapchat. Google has acknowledged the issue and said a fix will be released soon.

Several Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL users are complaining that when they open the Instagram camera, the built-in camera API crashes, leaving them high and dry. The item was sent to 9to5Google to Google. Google responded to the 'fatal error' camera bug has been reported by a "small group of customers" and that a fix will be rolled out in the coming weeks. "In the meantime, for people affected, you can use Pixel Camera without restrictions and share images to third-party apps," said Google in an emailed statement to 9to5Google. This means Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL should resort to a little annoying method that defies spontaneous features like Snapchat and Instagram Stories and posting them instantly. However, Google has refused to replace the affected units.

Complaints have been abundant on platforms such as Google Forum, Reddit, and social media outlining the same bug that is causing the camera to crash unexpectedly. According to the report, users have said "The camera driver encountered a fatal error" while opening the camera inside a third-party app. Some other users reported messages such as "Can not connect to camera" on opening the Google Camera. Some users explained that sometimes the issue was fixed temporarily after rebooting the device. The flashlight on the phone also stops working together with the cameras when the error occurs. Some users even tried to reset the phone and rebooting the handset but the problem did not go away.

This issue is exactly the same as the one that bogged the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL last year. Google released some fixes for the issue back then, however, the problem turned out to be a minor one since only few issues were reported. Looks like the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL users will be able to use the patch for the bug.