Camera features depend on hardware, the manufacturer's camera app and the Android version. That is why they break on devices you do not own. This list covers capture, picking and upload.
Permissions first
- Allow, deny, deny permanently. Run the feature with each answer. A denied camera permission should lead to an explanation, not a crash or a black screen.
- Permission revoked while the app is in the background. Revoke it in system settings, return to the app, and use the feature.
- One-time and "only while using" choices. If your app asks for access, check that it handles the permission being gone on the next launch.
- Picker versus full gallery access. If users pick photos through the system picker, confirm the app works without broad storage access.
Capture
- Take a photo and a video. Check the result is saved, shown and not rotated wrongly.
- Orientation. Shoot in portrait and landscape and rotate the phone mid-capture. Wrong rotation is a classic.
- Front and back camera. Switch between them, including quickly.
- Low light, flash on and off.
- Interruptions. Call, notification, or switching apps during capture. Return and check the state.
- Another app holds the camera. Open the feature while a different app uses the camera.
- Low storage. Fill the storage and try to save.
- Long recordings. Record longer than you normally do; watch memory and file size.
Picking and importing
- Different sources. Pick from the gallery, cloud-backed photos, files and downloads.
- Large files. A photo from a high-resolution camera and a long video.
- Formats. Common photo formats and videos from different devices. Pick something your app does not expect and confirm a clear error.
- Many at once. Select several items if your app allows it.
- Cancel. Back out of the picker; the app should return cleanly.
Upload and processing
- Progress and cancel. Large uploads need visible progress and a way to stop.
- Weak connection. Switch network mid-upload and use airplane mode.
- Background. Leave the app during upload; does it continue or fail clearly?
- Compression and size limits. Check that limits are enforced with a clear message.
- Metadata. Decide whether location data in photos should be kept or stripped, and check that your app does what you intend. This touches privacy; this is not legal advice.
- Playback. Play the uploaded media back on another device.
Device spread
If you can, test on at least two manufacturers and two Android versions. Camera bugs are often specific to one. Ask testers to name the device model and Android version in each report. See how testers send a bug report.
Back to the Android app testing hub. Related: location and sensor checklist and app signing and testers.
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