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Article

# Condensation in your phone camera: why it fogs and what to do

By Marcus Brown, phone technician

Published 30 October 2026

A foggy patch inside the camera after a fast temperature change is usually condensation. Samsung and Xiaomi both say it is temporary and goes away by itself. This page explains why it happens, how to clear it safely, and how to tell it apart from water that got in.

Condensation in a phone camera looks like a grey haze or tiny drops behind the lens glass. Photos turn soft, milky and blurry. It often appears after a fast change in temperature, for example when you step out into the cold, or in a steamy bathroom.

**Short answer:** leave the phone in a room with a stable temperature and wait. Samsung says the condensation is temporary and that you can keep using the phone.[1](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-samsung) Xiaomi says the fog disappears by itself in a stable environment.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi) Do not heat the phone.

## Why condensation forms inside a phone camera

A phone is not airtight inside. Xiaomi explains that there is no vacuum inside the phone, so some air, and the water vapour in it, is always there.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi)

When the temperature outside the phone drops fast, or when the inside and the outside differ a lot, that vapour condenses inside the phone and fogs the lens. Xiaomi compares it to glasses that fog when you come in from the cold in winter.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi) Weather services describe dew the same way: moisture condenses on a surface that has cooled below the dew point of the air.[3](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-nws)

Typical moments:

-   stepping out of a warm room into cold weather,
-   any other fast, large change in temperature,
-   using the phone in a steamy bathroom.

Apple lists extremely humid conditions, saunas and steam rooms among the things to avoid with an iPhone.[4](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-apple-wr)

## Will condensation in a phone camera go away?

Yes, in the normal case. Samsung says condensation is temporary and disappears over time, and that you can keep using the device.[1](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-samsung) Xiaomi calls it a normal physical effect and says the fog fades once the phone sits in a stable environment.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi)

Neither maker gives a fixed time. If the fog does not clear after a long time, Xiaomi says to contact service.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi) For other brands, ask the maker or a repair shop to check the camera module.

## How to clear moisture in the phone camera lens safely

1.  **Leave the phone at room temperature.** Put it on a table in a dry room. Do not move it between hot and cold places.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi)
2.  **If you need the camera now, warm the lens gently.** Xiaomi says you can touch the lens with your fingers or palm so it warms up and the fog clears faster.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi)
3.  **Optional, from Xiaomi:** take out the SIM tray and put the phone in a sealed bag with a desiccant, such as a silica gel packet.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi) If the phone was wet, dry it first. Apple says the iPhone must be dry before you open the SIM tray.[4](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-apple-wr)
4.  **Clean the outside of the lens.** Haze on the outer glass is often just a smudge. Samsung says to use a soft, dry microfiber cloth for fingerprints, smudges and dust on the lenses.[1](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-samsung)

**Do not** use a hair dryer, a radiator or any other heat source. Apple says not to dry an iPhone with an external heat source.[4](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-apple-wr) For a wet iPhone, Apple also says not to use rice.[5](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-apple-alert) We found no phone maker that recommends rice for a foggy lens.

## Condensation or water inside?

The fix above is for condensation. Water that got in through a crack or a worn seal is a different problem. In our assessment, these signs point to water, not condensation:

-   the fog appeared after the phone was in water or heavy rain,
-   you see drops or a line of water, not an even haze,
-   the fog comes back every day, or does not clear after a long time,
-   other parts act up too, for example a muffled speaker or a microphone that sounds far away.

The liquid indicator helps here. Apple says humidity and temperature changes within the phone’s limits do not activate the indicator.[6](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-apple-lci) So a red indicator means liquid reached it, not just condensation. Our article on [how to tell if your phone has water damage](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-phone-has-water-damage/) shows where to find it. To check the speaker, run the [speaker and earpiece check](https://myphonespeaker.com/speaker-check/).

If you think water got in, follow [wet phone first aid](https://myphonespeaker.com/wet-phone-first-aid/) and track the drying time with the [wet phone checklist](https://myphonespeaker.com/wet-phone-checklist/).

## How to prevent fog in the camera

Xiaomi names a fast temperature change as the cause.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi) So, as our own suggestion based on that cause: when you move between warm and cold places, keep the phone in a pocket or bag for a few minutes. Its temperature then changes more slowly. Keep the phone out of steamy rooms where you can, as Apple advises.[4](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-apple-wr)

A water resistance rating does not stop condensation. The rating is about water from outside. Read [what IP68 really means](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/is-ip68-waterproof/) for the details.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can condensation damage the phone camera?

Samsung and Xiaomi both call short-term condensation temporary or normal, and Samsung says you can keep using the device.[1](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-samsung) [2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi) Neither describes damage from it. Fog that stays for a long time needs service, according to Xiaomi.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi)

### Should I put my phone in rice to remove camera fog?

We found no maker that recommends it for lens fog. For a wet iPhone, Apple says not to use rice.[5](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-apple-alert) Xiaomi’s option is a sealed bag with a desiccant, with the SIM tray removed.[2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fn-xiaomi)

### Why is there condensation in my front camera?

The cause is the same as for the rear camera: a fast temperature change inside the phone. The steps above apply to both.

## Sources

1.  Samsung US, [“Fix blurry or poor photo and video quality on your Samsung Galaxy device”](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/troubleshoot/TSG10004888/). [↩](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-samsung) [↩2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-samsung-2) [↩3](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-samsung-3) [↩4](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-samsung-4)
    
2.  Xiaomi Support, [“Why does the camera lens of the Xiaomi 14 fog up in special scenarios?”](https://www.mi.com/global/support/faq/details/KA-483345/). [↩](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi) [↩2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-2) [↩3](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-3) [↩4](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-4) [↩5](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-5) [↩6](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-6) [↩7](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-7) [↩8](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-8) [↩9](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-9) [↩10](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-10) [↩11](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-11) [↩12](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-xiaomi-12)
    
3.  NOAA National Weather Service, glossary entry [“Dew”](https://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=Dew). [↩](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-nws)
    
4.  Apple Support, [“About splash, water, and dust resistance of iPhone 7 and later”](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108039). [↩](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-apple-wr) [↩2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-apple-wr-2) [↩3](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-apple-wr-3) [↩4](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-apple-wr-4)
    
5.  Apple Support, [“If you see a liquid-detection alert on your iPhone”](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102643). [↩](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-apple-alert) [↩2](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-apple-alert-2)
    
6.  Apple Support, [“Water and other liquid damage to iPhone or iPod isn’t covered by warranty”](https://support.apple.com/en-us/109350). [↩](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/condensation-in-phone-camera/#user-content-fnref-apple-lci)
    

## Tools for this problem

-   [**Wet phone checklist**Tick off each recovery step and track the drying time before charging.](https://myphonespeaker.com/wet-phone-checklist/)
-   [**Wet phone first aid**What to do in the first hour, from phone makers' own guidance.](https://myphonespeaker.com/wet-phone-first-aid/)
-   [**Speaker and earpiece check**Sweep, left and right test, earpiece test and vibration test.](https://myphonespeaker.com/speaker-check/)

## More articles

-   [**How to tell if your phone has water damage**Find the liquid damage indicator, read the warnings your phone shows, and test the speaker and microphone.](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/how-to-tell-if-phone-has-water-damage/)
-   [**Is IP68 waterproof? What the rating really means**What the two digits mean, IP67 vs IP68, and what phone makers say about swimming, showers and salt water.](https://myphonespeaker.com/blog/is-ip68-waterproof/)