Signal-android: Can't scan QR code to pair desktop

[ouillepouille]

• [x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
• [x] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
• [x] I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
• [x] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic

---

Bug description

Can't scan QR code to pair device (Debian based desktop)
This is not a focus issue. The camera view is just pitch black.
Other barcode apps work ; camera works flawlessly.

Steps to reproduce

Get to pair screen with cam scanner view.

Actual result: total black screen
Expected result: camera view

Screenshots

Device info

Device: Moto G 1st gen
Android version: 5.1
Signal version: latest android

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/7b534ef3547d1334b3a2d8da10af47afb47226710ac822db94de8c52cab2c3c8

[FeuRenard]

Just for reference: #4843 (legacy issue)

[greyson-signal]

@ouillepouille Can you tell me if the quick-capture preview is working? That's the little camera button in the compose box when you're in a conversation. It should show a little half-screen camera. I'm curious if all camera stuff isn't working, or if it's just a specific thing we're doing with QR code capture. Thanks!

[ouillepouille]

Somehow, I reinstalled the app and it worked.

So I can't test the bug :-/
I can tell you all camera functions were A-OK (I checked in other apps)

2018-07-16 11:08 GMT-04:00 Greyson Parrelli [e-mail]:

@ouillepouille https://github.com/ouillepouille Can you tell me if the
quick-capture preview is working? That's the little camera button in the
compose box when you're in a conversation. It should show a little
half-screen camera. I'm curious if all camera stuff isn't working, or if
it's just a specific thing we're doing with QR code capture. Thanks!

—
You are receiving this because you were mentioned.
Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub
https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/7967#issuecomment-405279562,
or mute the thread
https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/Agqezwo1a8jGe46MxupWYxGyAgf3ao0tks5uHKxngaJpZM4VC5FV
.

[MartinX3]

It would be nice, if we can get a second way to pair this app with the desktop.
Sometimes there is no camera preview you can use.

In my case I use a Sony Phone where the bootloader unlocking killed the camera preview (just black) + green photos if I use signal to take a photo.

While with the stock camera app and the open source app opencamera the preview is black too, but I can still take pictures.

[jnm2]

My phone camera broke. I'm getting a new one in a week or two, since the camera isn't something I usually care about, but it means there's no way to pair devices till then. I would have expected a fallback option for sure, such as entering the code manually.

[AO-LocLab]

I had the same issue that ouillepouille described as a bug, also on a Moto 1st gen. I killed the app, emptied the cache and restarted the app. I was then able to scan a QR Code.

[DuaelFr]

My phone camera can't focus anymore. I'll have to change the camera or the phone to make it work again. Is there another way to pair devices? Would it be possible to reverse the binding process and make the computer app read a QR code on the mobile?

[thomasesr]

My phone has a broken camera and I don't have enough money to buy a new phone and I cannot buy a spare camera online (if some one knows where I can find a Rear Camera for a Vernee X1 Pro). The front facing camera still works but I find it annoying that I can't pair my laptop because the only way to do it is via QR Code. There should be another method of pairing.

[smichea]

I experienced the same problems.
The pb is that the signal android app still doesnt have permission to use the cam.
The fix is easy and come for what greyson said earlier : go in a conversation and click the little cam on the bottom right like if you were sending a pic to your contact. Signal will then ask you permission to access your cam.
Allow it then rescan your Qr code.

[aizelauna]

Same issue here, I am unable to scan the QR code because of a broken camera glass, the QR code seen by the phone is blurry and has low contrast whereas the QR code is displayed in full screen mode in my laptop and the screen contrast is at its maximum.
Having a manual method to pair desktop app with the device would be great to manage all these corner cases.

Unfortunately, this issue is not new:
https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/5153
https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/4637