Cameras not being detected on published app, works just fine when build set to Debug.

[MosheMalatji]

I am using the camera view to take pictures, it works well when I set the build to Debug however as soon as I publish the app and change build to Release the app crashes. It's almost as if it no longer detects the cameras. I have tried it with this sample (https://github.com/jfversluis/MauiCameraMauiSample) as well with the same issues, is there something I am doing wrong ?

See screenshots attached.

[taublast]

It looks like you're missing camera permissions inside your manifest. In case you are compiling versus api 33 (android:targetSdkVersion="33"):

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"  android:maxSdkVersion="28"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />

Btw you could connect you device and launch release build while having been typed in terminal "adb logcat" to see in logs why you are crashing.

Now to be able to save your photos You'd need to manually request Storage access permissions for android below 10 only. Those above do not need them to save and read their own photos (compiling vs api >= 33 only), moreover if you request this permission for android 13 you will not get a prompt and the permission will always be refused, so..

[MosheMalatji]

Thank you for your suggestion I will check the logcat however I can confirm that I am requesting camera permissions, the dialog does appear at the beginning, I've tested on 2 devices a Poco M3 Pro(Android 12) and a Xiaomi Redmi 8A(Android 11) with the same result.

see android manifest below

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
	<application android:allowBackup="true" android:icon="@mipmap/icon" android:roundIcon="@mipmap/icon_round" android:supportsRtl="true">
		<provider android:name="androidx.core.content.FileProvider"
          android:authorities="${applicationId}.fileprovider"
          android:exported="false"
          android:grantUriPermissions="true">

			<meta-data android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
						   android:resource="@xml/file_paths"></meta-data>
		</provider>
	</application>
	<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE" />
	<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
	<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
	<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
	<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" />
	<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
	<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
	<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION" />
	<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.location" android:required="false" />
	<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.location.gps" android:required="false" />
	<uses-feature android:name="android.hardware.location.network" android:required="false" />	<queries>
		<intent>
			<action android:name="android.media.action.IMAGE_CAPTURE" />
		</intent>
	</queries>
</manifest>

[PeterVanVogelpoel]

I have the same issue. Camera not running in Release. In Debug no problem. (Same problem with test app here)

[taublast]

What is the android version of devices that are failing?
What is android sdk you are compile with?

Again, if you are compiling vs api33 (android 13) remove
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE">
from manifest, use only

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"  android:maxSdkVersion="28"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />

if you are compiling for lower api you must have both read and write permissions declarations inside manifest.

Now about the code inside app. You have to check current android version using DeviceInfo. If it's android >=13 do nothing.
If it's lower android:
A - If you compiled vs api33:
ask user for permissions Permissions.StorageWrite if this device android is < 10
B - If you compiled vs lower api
ask user for permissions Permissions.StorageWrite if this device is running < 13

Again you have to manually ask user for storage write permissions (Essentials Permissions.RequestAsync), having declaration in the manifest is not enough. cameraview will not do that for you, and such code is missing in the example app at the moment.

[PeterVanVogelpoel]

Hi, I'm targetting vs 33.

uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="29" android:targetSdkVersion="33"

Taking out or in
uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"
makes no difference.

Debug all fine. In Release the app is collapsing while starting the camera.
Same in your Camera.MAUI.Test

[taublast]

1 on which version of android does crash, is it real device or emulator?
2 what exactly does adb log say for the crash?
3 have you implemented any code for Permissions.StorageWrite?

[PeterVanVogelpoel]

It happens on my device Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra (Android 13).
Read or Write_External_Storage makes no difference. (Not need it anyhow)
I don't know how it works with adb log.

And again. Your Camera.MAUI.Test has the same problem. In Debug all fine. In Release camera not woring.

[PeterVanVogelpoel]

Also (https://github.com/jfversluis/MauiCameraMauiSample) has the same problem.

[taublast]

1 this this not my repository
2 does your error happen when you click on Start button or when you open the page with camera? If it happens when you click on button my quick guess you just have to wrap all calls to cameraView.StartCameraAsync(); with a MainThread.BeginInvokeOnMainThread, that could matter if on Release the optimized code launches "async void" handlers in back thread, then calls camera permissions and crashes because this must be done on ui thread only.

[PeterVanVogelpoel]

In Camera.MAUI.Test (Release) nothing happens when click on Start Camera button. In Debug all fine.

[taublast]

My guessing was wrong, for me cameraView.Cameras are just empty on Release. Tried a quick workaround, but no luck.

[PeterVanVogelpoel]

I don't need to release tomorrow. So I can continue developing and debugging.
I hope you are able to find the issue. I very much appreciate your repository.

[quanzhenying]

Experiencing the same problem，debug mode was ok，but RC version failed.
Log: 'cameraView.Cameras.Count' is 0

[hjam40]

Hi all,
I’m changing the entire android handler for the new release and adapt it to Camera2 and not CameraX (as now). I hope that it resolves all android problems.

[AmmarAbo]

Hi All, @hjam40
when do you expect this problem will be solving solve?
Thanks