Camera Switching

Switch between front and back cameras.

Toggle Camera Lens

Switch between front and back cameras:

controller.toggleCameraLens()  // BACK <-> FRONT

Set Initial Camera

The initial camera lens is set via CameraConfiguration. At runtime, use toggleCameraLens() to switch:

val cameraState by rememberCameraKState(
    config = CameraConfiguration(cameraLens = CameraLens.FRONT)  // Start with selfie camera
)

Get Current Camera

val currentLens = controller.getCameraLens()
when (currentLens) {
    CameraLens.FRONT -> println("Using front camera")
    CameraLens.BACK -> println("Using back camera")
    null -> println("Camera not initialized")
}

UI Example

@Composable
fun CameraWithSwitching() {
    val scope = rememberCoroutineScope()
    val cameraState by rememberCameraKState(config = CameraConfiguration())

    Box(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
        when (val state = cameraState) {
            is CameraKState.Ready -> {
                val controller = state.controller

                CameraPreviewView(
                    controller = controller,
                    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()
                )

                // Camera switch button
                IconButton(
                    onClick = { controller.toggleCameraLens() },
                    modifier = Modifier
                        .align(Alignment.TopEnd)
                        .padding(16.dp)
                        .background(Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.5f), CircleShape)
                ) {
                    Icon(
                        imageVector = Icons.Default.Cameraswitch,
                        contentDescription = "Switch Camera",
                        tint = Color.White
                    )
                }

                // Capture button
                FloatingActionButton(
                    onClick = {
                        scope.launch {
                            controller.takePictureToFile()
                        }
                    },
                    modifier = Modifier
                        .align(Alignment.BottomCenter)
                        .padding(32.dp)
                ) {
                    Icon(Icons.Default.CameraAlt, "Capture")
                }
            }

            is CameraKState.Error -> Text("Camera error: ${state.message}")
            CameraKState.Initializing -> CircularProgressIndicator()
        }
    }
}

Smooth Camera Switch

Add loading indicator during switch:

@Composable
fun CameraWithSmoothSwitch() {
    val scope = rememberCoroutineScope()
    val cameraState by rememberCameraKState(config = CameraConfiguration())
    var isSwitching by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }

    Box(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
        when (val state = cameraState) {
            is CameraKState.Ready -> {
                val controller = state.controller

                CameraPreviewView(
                    controller = controller,
                    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()
                )

                // Switch button
                IconButton(
                    onClick = {
                        scope.launch {
                            isSwitching = true
                            delay(100)  // Brief delay for smooth animation
                            controller.toggleCameraLens()
                            delay(300)  // Wait for camera switch
                            isSwitching = false
                        }
                    },
                    enabled = !isSwitching,
                    modifier = Modifier
                        .align(Alignment.TopEnd)
                        .padding(16.dp)
                        .background(Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.5f), CircleShape)
                ) {
                    if (isSwitching) {
                        CircularProgressIndicator(
                            modifier = Modifier.size(24.dp),
                            color = Color.White,
                            strokeWidth = 2.dp
                        )
                    } else {
                        Icon(
                            imageVector = Icons.Default.Cameraswitch,
                            contentDescription = "Switch Camera",
                            tint = Color.White
                        )
                    }
                }
            }

            is CameraKState.Error -> Text("Camera error: ${state.message}")
            CameraKState.Initializing -> CircularProgressIndicator()
        }
    }
}

Platform-Specific Behavior

Android

• Seamless switching via CameraX
• Preview may pause briefly (<100ms)
• Flash settings reset per camera

iOS

• Swift AVFoundation switch
• Preview updates smoothly
• Flash/torch settings persist per camera

Desktop

• Requires multiple webcams
• Switching cycles through available devices
• Single webcam: no effect

Preserve Settings After Switch

Save and restore settings:

fun switchCameraPreserveSettings(controller: CameraController) {
    // Save current settings
    val savedFlashMode = controller.getFlashMode()
    val savedZoom = controller.getZoom()

    // Switch camera
    controller.toggleCameraLens()

    // Wait for switch to complete
    scope.launch {
        delay(200)

        // Restore settings (if supported on new camera)
        savedFlashMode?.let { controller.setFlashMode(it) }
        controller.setZoom(savedZoom.coerceIn(1f, controller.getMaxZoom()))
    }
}

Disable Flash When Switching to Front

Most front cameras don't have flash:

fun switchAndAdjustFlash(controller: CameraController) {
    controller.toggleCameraLens()
    // After switching, check the current lens and adjust flash
    val currentLens = controller.getCameraLens()
    if (currentLens == CameraLens.FRONT) {
        controller.setFlashMode(FlashMode.OFF)  // Disable flash for front camera
    } else {
        controller.setFlashMode(FlashMode.AUTO)  // Re-enable flash for back camera
    }
}

Animated Camera Icon

Show which camera is active:

@Composable
fun AnimatedCameraSwitch() {
    val cameraState by rememberCameraKState(config = CameraConfiguration())
    var isFrontCamera by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
    val rotation by animateFloatAsState(
        targetValue = if (isFrontCamera) 180f else 0f,
        animationSpec = tween(durationMillis = 300)
    )

    Box(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
        when (val state = cameraState) {
            is CameraKState.Ready -> {
                val controller = state.controller

                CameraPreviewView(
                    controller = controller,
                    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()
                )

                IconButton(
                    onClick = {
                        controller.toggleCameraLens()
                        isFrontCamera = !isFrontCamera
                    },
                    modifier = Modifier
                        .align(Alignment.TopEnd)
                        .padding(16.dp)
                        .background(Color.Black.copy(alpha = 0.5f), CircleShape)
                ) {
                    Icon(
                        imageVector = Icons.Default.Cameraswitch,
                        contentDescription = "Switch Camera",
                        tint = Color.White,
                        modifier = Modifier.graphicsLayer { rotationY = rotation }
                    )
                }
            }

            is CameraKState.Error -> Text("Camera error: ${state.message}")
            CameraKState.Initializing -> CircularProgressIndicator()
        }
    }
}

Common Issues

Preview Freezes After Switch

Cause: Camera needs time to reinitialize.

Solution: Add small delay after switch:

controller.toggleCameraLens()
delay(300)
// Camera ready

Flash Doesn't Work After Switching

Cause: Front cameras usually lack flash.

Solution: Disable flash UI for front camera:

val currentLens = controller.getCameraLens()
val showFlashButton = currentLens == CameraLens.BACK

Settings Don't Persist

Cause: Each camera has independent settings.

Solution: Store settings externally and reapply after switch.

Best Practices

1. Disable button during switch — Prevent multiple rapid switches
2. Show loading indicator — Provide visual feedback
3. Reset zoom — Front camera may have different zoom range
4. Disable flash for front camera — Avoid confusion
5. Test on real devices — Emulators have limited camera support

Next Steps

• Flash and Torch — Control lighting per camera
• Zoom Control — Handle different zoom ranges
• Configuration — Set initial camera