IOS 26.1 isSourceTypeAvailable: UIImagePickerControlSourceTypeCamera method keeps returning true when the camera is unavailable

We have encountered the same issue: in iOS 26.1 Beta 1, the behavior was normal, but after upgrading to iOS 26.1 Beta 2, regardless of whether the device has a camera, [UIImagePickerController isSourceTypeAvailable:UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypeCamera] always returns YES (true). We hope this can be fixed in the next version.

Have either of you filed a bug on this? If so, what's the bug number?

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Kevin Elliott
DTS Engineer, CoreOS/Hardware

iOS 26.1, the isSourceTypeAvailable: UIImagePickerControlSourceTypeCamera method keeps returning true when the camera is unavailable.

Just to be sure I'm clear on the issue, the camera itself is disabled, but your app ends up showing the camera UI (because we said the camera was there)? Is it coming up with a black screen, or does something else happen?

Do you have any good solution? Or can we just wait for the bug to be fixed?

You might try checking AVCaptureDevice.authorizationStatus(for:), as it's possible that the lower-level API will give you a different answer, particularly if you're getting a black screen from UIImagePicker.

If that doesn't work, then I think your only option is to wait for a fix.

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Kevin Elliott
DTS Engineer, CoreOS/Hardware

We tried testing this in two ways. The first was by disabling the Camera App in Settings App → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Allowed Apps & Features. We used the API [UIImagePickerController isSourceTypeAvailable:UIImagePickerControllerSourceTypeCamera] to return YES and checked AVAuthorizationStatus was AVAuthorizationStatusAuthorized. The other was by setting the profile mobile config setting allowCamera to false. The test results were still the same: always return YES. I think it's an Apple iOS 26.1 beta2 beta3 bug and hope it can be fixed as soon as possible. Thank you.