How to launch front camera with intent?

Question

I'm using an intent to open the camera with the native application:

    Intent intent = new Intent(MediaStore.ACTION_IMAGE_CAPTURE);      Uri photoUri = Uri.fromFile(getOutputPhotoFile());     intent.putExtra(MediaStore.EXTRA_OUTPUT, photoUri);      startActivityForResult(intent, CAMERA_PHOTO_REQUEST_CODE); 

Every time the camera that is opened (front/back camera) is like the last time this native camera application was open. Meaning that if the last time I closed the native camera application the back camera was active, so when I launch the intent for camera, the back camera will be active.

I want to launch directly the front camera with the intent. Does anybody know how to do that?

Answer 1

Word of caution: its a hack

Add this to the intent

intent.putExtra("android.intent.extras.CAMERA_FACING", 1); 

This solution isn't sustainable, its using a testing code of the Camera app. For more info look at the "getCameraFacingIntentExtras" static method in Util class of the AOSP Camera project.

Update: Looks like that it was disabled in L

Answer 2

Taken from Google Camera's shortcut for Android 7.1 (but should work with older Androids)

intent.putExtra("android.intent.extra.USE_FRONT_CAMERA", true); 

So, combined with previous answers, this works for me on all phones I could've test it on

intent.putExtra("android.intent.extras.CAMERA_FACING", android.hardware.Camera.CameraInfo.CAMERA_FACING_FRONT); intent.putExtra("android.intent.extras.LENS_FACING_FRONT", 1); intent.putExtra("android.intent.extra.USE_FRONT_CAMERA", true);