iPhone SE (iOS 26.1) – Black screen when opening Photo Library

[ramesh0452]

Bug Report

Black screen when selecting “Photo from Library” only on iPhone SE (iOS 26.1)

What is expected to happen?

The system photo picker should open and display the photo library for image selection.

What does actually happen?

when choosing “Photo from Library”, the system asks for photo permissions (Allow Full Access).
Once allowed, the app shows a black screen instead of the photo picker.
The picker UI never appears, and the user cannot access any other app functionality.
The app remains stuck on this screen until the user force closes and relaunches it.
No crash occurs, but the app stays frozen on the black screen until restarted.

Information

When we attempt to upload an image from the photo library:

• Selecting “Photo from Library” triggers the iOS permission dialog.
• After granting Full Access, the picker shows a black screen instead of the library UI.
• Camera and File picker both work as expected.
• Permissions are correctly visible under
  • Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → my app → Full Access.
• The issue occurs only on iPhone SE (iOS 26.1).
• Works fine on iPhone 14 / 14 Pro (iOS 26.0.1) and on older iOS versions (16, 18).
• We use a custom URL scheme, but since the issue occurs before selecting an image (while opening the photo picker), it’s not relevant to this problem.

Command or Code

this.camera.getPicture({
allowEdit: false,
correctOrientation: true,
destinationType: this.camera.DestinationType.FILE_URI,
encodingType: this.camera.EncodingType.JPEG,
mediaType: this.camera.MediaType.PICTURE,
quality: 100,
saveToPhotoAlbum: false,
sourceType: 0, // PictureSourceType.PHOTOLIBRARY
targetHeight: 1000,
targetWidth: 1000
});

Observed Errors and Faults (macOS Console):

error 11:44:37.848979+0530 (501) Invalidation handler invoked, clearing connection
error 11:44:37.849128+0530 (501) personaAttributesForPersonaType for type:0 failed with error Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 "The connection to service named com.apple.mobile.usermanagerd.xpc was invalidated from this process." UserInfo={NSDebugDescription=The connection to service named com.apple.mobile.usermanagerd.xpc was invalidated from this process.}
error 11:44:37.849874+0530 runningboardd Saved endowments:
error 11:44:37.934134+0530 kernel Sandbox: PhotoPicker(3847) deny(1) file-read-metadata /private/var/containers/Bundle/Application/F5197700-37DC-4D55-AA04-18D271A2EA25/app
error 11:44:37.952852+0530 backboardd cycle detected between [35-1AB] -> [35-3]
error 11:44:37.954086+0530 backboardd cycle detected between [35-1AB] -> [35-3]
fault 11:44:37.977288+0530 PhotoPicker -[_EXSinkLoadOperator loadItemForTypeIdentifier:completionHandler:expectedValueClass:options:] nil expectedValueClass allowing {(
PUEditingInitialPayload,
NSMutableData,
NSError,
NSMutableArray,
PUPhotoPickerRemoteViewControllerRequestOptions,
NSString,
NSDate,
NSDictionary,
NSURL,
CKShare,
UIImage,
NSData,
_EXItemProviderSandboxedResource,
NSMutableDictionary,
NSValue,
NSNumber,
NSArray,
NSUUID,
NSMutableString
)}
error 11:44:37.996798+0530 SpringBoard Couldn't find the SB window scene hosting scene identity token: 3725->xpcservice<com.apple.mobileslideshow.photo-picker([app:3725])>{vt hash: 0}{definition:com.apple.mobileslideshow.photo-picker[extension][client]}/UISceneHosting:UIHostedScene-com.apple.mobileslideshow.photo-picker-C7DA8C4F-B81C-407F-9372-616B11CF1D24
error 11:44:37.996822+0530 SpringBoard [coordinator] could not find (null)
error 11:44:37.997015+0530 kernel Sandbox: (3725) deny(1) forbidden-map-ls-database
error 11:44:37.997060+0530 kernel Sandbox: com.apple.WebKit.GPU(3726) deny(1) mach-lookup com.apple.diagnosticd
error 11:44:37.997138+0530 LaunchServices: store or url was nil: Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-54 "process may not map database" UserInfo={_LSLine=72, _LSFunction=_LSServer_GetServerStoreForConnectionWithCompletionHandler, _LSFile=LSDReadService.mm, NSDebugDescription=process may not map database}
error 11:44:37.997150+0530 Attempt to map database failed: permission was denied. This attempt will not be retried.
error 11:44:37.997160+0530 Failed to initialize client context with error Error Domain=NSOSStatusErrorDomain Code=-54 "process may not map database" UserInfo={_LSLine=72, _LSFunction=_LSServer_GetServerStoreForConnectionWithCompletionHandler, _LSFile=LSDReadService.mm, NSDebugDescription=process may not map database}
error 11:44:38.017812+0530 kernel Sandbox: com.apple.WebKit.Networking(3729) deny(1) mach-lookup com.apple.diagnosticd
error 11:44:38.025644+0530 CommCenter LTE cell 1 of 1 MCC (0) is invalid
error 11:44:38.026071+0530 wifid WiFiLQAMgrLinkRecommendationNotify: channel score: chq=2, tx-lat=5, rx-lat=3, tx-loss=5, rx-loss=5, txPer=0.0%, p95-lat=1, RT=0x0, link-recommendation=0x1

These logs appear immediately after selecting “Photo from Library” and before the picker UI is rendered.

Environment, Platform, Device

Device: iPhone SE (2nd / 3rd Gen)
iOS Version: 26.1
Reproducibility: Issue occurs only on iPhone SE (iOS 26.1)
Working devices: iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro on iOS 26.0.1 (no issue)
Older versions: Works fine on iPhone SE with iOS 16 and iOS 18
Xcode: Unable to reproduce in simulator or when debugging from Xcode
Expected permissions (included):
NSCameraUsageDescription
NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription
NSPhotoLibraryAddUsageDescription is not included because the app does not save images back to the library.

Version information

cordova version 12.0.0
cordova camera plugin latest

Checklist

• [ ✅] I searched for existing GitHub issues
• [ ✅] I updated all Cordova tooling to most recent version
• [ ✅] I included all the necessary information above

[wessels2]

@ramesh0452 I was also running into this black screen issue after upgrading to iOS 26.2.0 on an iPhone SE device.

Now the issue has seemingly disappeared over night. At first I suspected it was due to using xcode 26.1.0 for building, however even after switching back to the original setup where the issue previously appeared, selecting an image from the Photo Library still works as expected.

Are you still experiencing this issue?

[ramesh0452]

@wessels2 Thanks for the update! I just tested on iOS 26.2 Beta, and the issue still persists for me.

[mikehall314]

I have the same issue on 26.1 and 26.0.1 - again only on the SE.

Works without issue on iPhone Air.

[NityaSantosh26]

@mikehall314 I have the same issue! But can you confirm that if you were able to reproduce on debug app?
I only see it on release version of the app!
Thanks in advance.

[mikehall314]

No - doesn't reproduce on a debug build. Also doesn't reproduce on a prod build if I install directly to a tethered device.

It does reproduce on a build distributed by TestFlight or App Store.

[GitToTheHub]

@ramesh0452 Which cordova-ios do you use?

[ramesh0452]

@GitToTheHub we are using ios@7.1.0

[GitToTheHub]

Could you try cordova-ios 8 if this helps?

[GitToTheHub]

@ramesh0452 The code you posted in your issue is modificated code, because the callbacks are missing and you use this.camera to access the plugin. Also you don't use Camera.PictureSourceType.PHOTOLIBRARY to define the sourceType of the camera. Also the next time, please format your code with ```js when you post example javascript code, so it's easier to read.

Please create a new Cordova app with the Camera Plugin and test the Photo Library on your iPhone SE with default settings, so it's easier to sort out the problem:

cordova create camera-test
cd camera-test
cordova platform add ios
cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-camera

cordova platform add ios will automatically use cordova-ios 8.0.0.

Test the Photo Library:

navigator.camera.getPicture(
    // Success callback
    () => {
        alert('Picture taken successfully');
    },
    // Error callback
    () => {
        alert('Failed to take picture');        
    },
    // Camera options
    {
        quality: 50,
        destinationType: Camera.DestinationType.FILE_URI,
        sourceType: Camera.PictureSourceType.PHOTOLIBRARY
    }
);

[mikehall314]

@GitToTheHub Thanks for your support here. I am suffering from this same issue. It impacts only iOS 26, and only iPhone SE 3rd Gen (have not tested 2nd Gen).

My application works without problems on iOS 26 on another device (tested iPhone Air, iPhone 13 Pro). It also works on iPhone SE 3 on iOS < 26, and it works on any local build. Any local build, installed to a test device, does NOT suffer the issue. I am only observing this issue in builds distributed via the App Store, or via Test Flight.

I'm sure you understand, it's a complicated ask to push the reduced test case you describe to OP all the way through to at least a Test Flight build!

[ramesh0452]

@GitToTheHub For now, I am upgrading to cordova-ios@8.0.0 to check whether the issue still persists.

[GitToTheHub]

Hi @mikehall314,

I understand your concerns, but there is no other option to test it trough TestFlight, if the issue only happens here. Maybe the usage descriptions are not correctly given to the app store build. You could test that by opening the IPA with a Zip tool and inspect the info.plist. Also keep in mind, that you must handle the case, when the user denies the permission.

@ramesh0452 Ok, please give feedback, what your results are. If it is not working, you could test the minimal setup i posted before.

[mikehall314]

@GitToTheHub I am also going to try updating to 8.0, but the API changes are incompatible with several of the other plugins we're using.

Just to be clear though: the identical bundle works on < iOS 26 and works on devices other than the SE. I can also confirm that Full Access was granted.

[mikehall314]

@GitToTheHub I can confirm I still see this issue using cordova-ios@8.0.0

[GitToTheHub]

Hi @mikehall314, thanks for testing. Can you test a fresh Cordova app with only the camera plugin? This helps to further limit the issue. The iPhone SE has reduced hardware capabilities, it could be an issue because of this, otherwise there shouldn't be any differences to other devices regarding opening the photo library.