A Google Messages camera flash bug is leaving photos dark even though the flash visibly goes off. As the default texting app on handsets such as the Pixel 11 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra, the fault is likely to affect anyone who regularly takes pictures directly from within a conversation, particularly in low light.
The issue was raised by a Galaxy S24 Ultra owner, who reported that the flash activates when a picture is taken from a chat, but the camera only captures the shot after the flash has already switched off. The result is an image that looks as though the flash never fired, while the standard camera app continues to work correctly. Testing on the latest Google Messages beta reproduced the problem, and on one Pixel the flash would not turn on at all, even when toggled manually.
Why the flash works in your camera app but not in Google Messages
The difference comes down to how the app takes pictures. In 2024, Google gave Messages its own built-in camera rather than opening the phone’s camera app, which is why it offers a simpler set of controls and its own flash button. A flash photo only works if the flash is on at the exact moment the camera captures the image, and Android’s developer tools leave that to each app, offering simple on, auto and off settings.
On the discussion thread, the verified Google Help Community account noted that a bug report helps the team adjust the flash timing for the S24 Ultra, suggesting Google tunes this timing on a phone-by-phone basis. In practice, seeing the flash go off in Messages is no guarantee the photo will come out well lit.
The bug has wider reach because Samsung Messages was discontinued in the US on 6 July, leaving Galaxy owners there with Google Messages as their main texting app. That change places far more people in front of the fault.
What Galaxy and Pixel owners can do in the meantime
Google has not officially acknowledged the bug, and there is no sign of a fix. Those who frequently send photos straight from a chat, especially indoors or at night, are the most likely to encounter it.
As a temporary workaround, open the phone’s regular camera app, turn on the flash and take the picture there. Then open the conversation in Google Messages, tap the plus button next to the text field and choose Gallery. Select the photo just taken and send it as usual.
The workaround takes only a few extra taps, but the in-chat camera exists precisely to save those taps, and having it produce dark photos while the flash clearly fires undermines its purpose. Complaints now go back a month and span several phones.
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Image: phonearena.com
