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using multiple camera Controls on one app

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Posted on by James_Elliott

I've been building an application recently that requires the use of camera controls on multiple screens for some reason when I try to do this only the first screen I open actually allows me to use the camera. when I navigate to the next screen the camera seems to be disabled and says "Your Camera isn't set up properly, is currently in use or is improperly configured my the app maker" it almost seems like the camera control thinks that the camera control on the previous screen is still using it because when you turn the phone's screen off and on again it works (obviously I don't want my customers to have to turn their phone screen off and on again every time they want to take a picture) I've tried setting the Display Mode property of the camera controls using variables so that they are always disabled when the screen they're on is not active however the error persists. does anyone have a fix or is this maybe something Power Apps just can't do?

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GarethPrisk 2,828 on at

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So Camera control's have a property called Camera, which is used to tell the app which camera (since many devices have multiple) to use. This defaults to 0, and is usually the rear camera on the phone.

Try having this property be dynamic for each control. Something like
If( App.ActiveScreen = Screen1, 0, -1 )
This may trick the other controls into unlocking the device's camera. It may also continuously prompt to allow use of camera - not sure.

Could you consolidate the Camera functionality into a single screen and route to that screen from the others? If not, I recommend trying the AddPicture control over the Camera control. It has a number of advantages, and behaves well on mobile devices. This may remedy this particular issue, as well.
James_Elliott 6 on at

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So I tried your first idea this Morning and it works perfectly thanks for the advice @GarethPrisk
JvandeKraats 20 on at

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When you are desperate for a solution and then you come across heroes like @GarethPrisk, with a quick and practical solution. Awesome!!
Thank you so much, you saved my day and the update of an app at a big client. Kudos!!!
vierglezmtiin 3 on at

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This dont work for me, I'm desperate, the camera i need is "2", I worte this code on the Camera property of the Camera control. But keeps doing the same, first time you enter the screen where you have to use the camera it works perfect but once you go any other screen and come back, it doesnt work again...
JvandeKraats 20 on at

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@vierglezmtiin Sorry to hear it's not working.
I may have a solution to your problem, it has one drawback; but does work.
I used a global variable and put this variable in the 'control' function of the camera.
You can now use the variable to choose a certain camera or to turn it off by setting the variable to 0.
When I want to use the camera control I set the variable to 2 and when I want to turn off the camera, I set the variable to 0.

For example:
Set(ControlCamera, 2) - Camera 2 is used
Set(ContralCamera, 0) - the camera is off.

One drawbeck, power apps sets the control function of a camera by default to 0 when you import an app by zipfile. So when you import an app you have to manually enter this variable in the camera control and only then publish the app

Is this fixing your problem? Please give this a tumbs up!
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi @GarethPrisk @JvandeKraats @vierglezmtiin @James_Elliott ,

I am having the same issue with the message 'The camera could not be started because it is in use by another app. Close any other apps and browser tabs that could be using the camera and try again. If the issue persists, restart the device'.
I have tried the below
If( App.ActiveScreen = Screen1, 0, -1 )
However, this does not work because my camera function is not on different screens, they are in different galleries which are visible/invisible based on buttons on that 1 screen.

Im not sure if I can use variables somehow to switch off the camera on one gallery when I click on the button to access a different gallery.

Any help is much appreciated, as the app cant be used with this error message covering the camera.