Force an app to use the selfie camera?

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    App Camera Force
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of forcing an app on an Android device to use the selfie camera instead of the broken main camera. Participants explore potential solutions, including Android settings and third-party applications, while addressing the limitations of existing options.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about Android-level settings to switch the camera being used by an app, expressing frustration over the difficulty of finding relevant information.
  • Another participant suggests that no such setting exists and explains that apps typically define which camera to use through the Camera API, which cannot be modified by other apps.
  • A third participant recommends checking with a phone store for potential solutions, implying that they may have encountered similar questions before.
  • A later reply provides a link to a related question on a different platform, suggesting that there may be discussions or insights available there.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that there is no straightforward way to switch the camera used by an app, but there is no consensus on alternative solutions or workarounds.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not address the potential need for rooting the device or modifying app source code, which may be relevant for some users seeking a solution.

Office_Shredder
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I have a pixel 3xl. The normal camera broke this weekend, but the selfie camera still works. I have an app that I need to scan a qr code once a day for work that only attempts to use the now broken camera. If I could get it to use the selfie camera getting it to line up would be a little annoying but at least I won't have to buy a new phone. Does anyone know if there's an Android level setting to switch which camera is being used (or even an app that will let me do this?). Googling is just finding lots of things that are not actually my problem, possibly because I don't know the right words to use (e.g. the word selfie returns lots of irrelevant stuff)
 
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Office_Shredder said:
Does anyone know if there's an Android level setting to switch which camera is being used
Probably no such setting exists.
Office_Shredder said:
even an app that will let me do this?
As far as I know, this is not possible. Apps that operate the camera themselves use the Camera API or wrapper libraries, and they explicitly define which camera to use. This cannot be modified by other apps, because the source code itself has to be edited.
 
Yeah this is a tough one to search on. Have you tried your Phone store? They must have gotten this question or have tech help they can call for your camera.
 

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