A bug affecting the Camera app on Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro devices is preventing some users from saving macro mode photos taken in low light. This issue has been reported by multiple users on Reddit, and coverage from 9to5Google confirms the pattern through a series of complaints shared by the community.
A notable symptom is tied to the camera flash that engages during macro shooting. When subjects are framed up close and lighting is not coming from behind the subject, the problem tends to surface. In such setups the camera may fail to store the final image in the gallery, leaving a visible gap between capture and the photo appearing in the user’s collection.
One Reddit user shared a video demonstrating a workaround. The sequence shows the camera pointed at a wall, a photo being taken, and the device saving that shot to the gallery. Then, after accessing the PC’s internal components, the shutter is released and the upload occurs, yet the image never lands in the gallery on the phone. The video suggests a timing or processing hiccup during the save operation rather than a simple file write issue.
At present there is no definitive root cause established. An examination of system logs from a single user points to the Camera application as the critical failure point. The most plausible explanation being explored is a malfunction in the HDR processing pipeline that accompanies macro captures, especially under dim lighting conditions. HDR handling can be complex in close-up shots where depth and exposure must be balanced quickly, and this edge case appears to disrupt the save flow in some cases.
Attempts by 9to5Google to reproduce the bug on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro devices did not consistently yield the fault, suggesting the problem may be intermittent or tied to specific software states or hardware variants. The takeaway from these trials is that the issue does not appear to be widespread across all devices or firmware versions, though it remains a concern for affected users seeking reliable macro photography in challenging lighting.
Additionally, historical notes mention a separate news moment related to Google’s hardware lineup. A prototype Google Pixel Fold was photographed in a New York subway setting, which underscores ongoing interest in Pixel devices and their evolving camera capabilities. This broader context helps illustrate why a bug in macro mode would draw attention among enthusiasts and the broader Android community alike.