How to Check Camera2 API Support on Any Android Device

A friend of mine spent two hours trying to get Google Camera working on his Realme phone. The app kept crashing, or features like Night Sight were completely missing. He reinstalled it three times before someone in a forum finally told him to check his Camera2 API support level first.

That one check would have saved him the whole afternoon.

If you’re trying to use GCam, a manual camera app, or any photography tool that depends on advanced camera access, the first thing you need to do is check Camera2 API support on your Android device. Here’s exactly how to do that.

What Is Camera2 API Support (In Simple Terms)?

Camera2 API is Android’s advanced camera interface. Google introduced it in Android 5.0 (Lollipop) as a replacement for the older Camera1 API.

Here’s a simple way to think about it: Camera1 was like using the auto mode on a camera. Camera2 gives apps access to the actual controls, things like ISO, shutter speed, RAW format, manual focus, and per-frame adjustments.

According to Google’s official Android developer documentation, Camera2 has been the standard camera framework since API level 21. But not all phones expose it fully. Manufacturers, especially on budget and mid-range devices, sometimes ship phones with Camera2 partially or fully restricted at the software level.

This is why checking your Camera2 support level before installing GCam or any advanced camera app matters.

The 4 Camera2 API Support Levels Explained

When you check Camera2 API support on Android, you’ll see one of four hardware support levels. Each one tells you something different about what your phone can do.

LEGACY

This is the lowest level. It means your device is running Camera2 in a compatibility mode. Basically, it’s mimicking Camera1 behavior. Apps that need real Camera2 features will either not work or will be missing most of their functions.

LIMITED

This is partial support. Some Camera2 features work, some don’t. Apps like GCam might install but will have limited functionality. Night Sight, RAW capture, and some HDR modes may be unavailable.

FULL

This is what you want. Full Camera2 support means the app can access all standard Camera2 features. GCam works properly here, and you’ll have access to RAW capture, manual controls, and proper HDR processing.

LEVEL_3

This is above FULL. It unlocks additional raw stream processing and reprocessing capabilities. It’s rare and mostly found on flagship devices like Google Pixel phones and some Samsung Galaxy S and A series models.

Method 1: Check Camera2 API Support Using a Free App (Easiest)

This is the fastest way. No PC, no cables, no technical knowledge needed.

Step 1: Open the Google Play Store on your Android phone.

Step 2: Search for “Camera2 API Probe” and install it. The app is free and developed for exactly this purpose.

Step 3: Open the app. On the main screen, you’ll see a list of camera IDs (usually “0” for rear camera, “1” for front camera).

Step 4: Tap on the camera you want to check, usually Camera 0 (rear).

Step 5: Look for the field labeled “Hardware Support Level.”

That’s your Camera2 support level. FULL or LEVEL_3 means you’re good. LIMITED or LEGACY means some features may not work in advanced camera apps.

I’ve used this app on about a dozen phones over the past couple of years. It’s reliable, clear, and gives you more information than you’ll probably ever need, including supported formats, ISO ranges, and focus modes.

Method 2: Check Camera2 API Support Using ADB (More Detailed)

If you want to go deeper, or if you don’t want to install a third-party app, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) from your computer. This is a free tool from Google itself.

What You Need

• A Windows, Mac, or Linux computer
• A USB cable
• ADB installed (download from developer.android.com under SDK Platform Tools)
• USB Debugging enabled on your phone

How to Enable USB Debugging

Go to Settings > About Phone. Tap “Build Number” 7 times quickly. This unlocks Developer Options. Then go to Settings > Developer Options and turn on “USB Debugging.”

Run the ADB Command

Connect your phone to your PC via USB cable. Open a terminal (or Command Prompt on Windows) in the folder where you extracted the ADB platform tools.

Run:

adb shell dumpsys media.camera

This dumps a lot of camera-related info. Look for the line that says “Supported hardware level” or “android.info.supportedHardwareLevel.” The value next to it (0, 1, 2, or 3) maps to support levels like this:

• 0 = LIMITED
• 1 = FULL
• 2 = LEGACY
• 3 = LEVEL_3

Alternatively, run this shorter command for a cleaner output:

adb shell getprop ro.product.manufacturer

Then combine it with:

adb shell dumpsys media.camera | grep "Supported hardware level"

This is more technical, but it gives you the raw data straight from the system without any third-party app involved.

Method 3: Check Inside GCam or Camera Apps Directly

Some versions of Google Camera (GCam) include a built-in diagnostic screen. If you already have GCam installed, try this:

Open GCam, then tap rapidly on the black area near the shutter button (the exact spot varies by GCam version). Some builds open a debug menu that shows your Camera2 support level and which features are available on your device.

This isn’t guaranteed to work on every GCam port, but it’s worth trying if you already have it installed. Based on what I’ve seen, this trick works on most MGC (Marc’s Google Camera) ports and BSG ports.

What Your Camera2 Level Means for GCam and Other Apps

Here’s the practical side of all this.

If you’re on LEGACY, GCam probably won’t work at all. You’ll get crashes or a completely broken experience. Manual camera apps will also be very limited.

If you’re on LIMITED, GCam might install and partially work. You could get improved processing in some scenarios but will miss key features. Night Sight may not function, and RAW support is typically absent.

If you’re on FULL, you’re in a great spot. GCam will work properly, and you’ll have access to the full feature set, including Night Sight, astrophotography mode (on supported hardware), and RAW output.

If you’re on LEVEL_3, you have the best possible Camera2 support. Apps can take full advantage of your hardware. This is typical on Google Pixel 6 and above, Samsung Galaxy S22 and above, and some OnePlus flagships.

According to XDA Developers, one of the most active Android development communities, FULL and LEVEL_3 devices have the best compatibility with custom GCam ports and third-party pro camera apps like Open Camera, Filmic Pro, and Moment.

Devices Known to Have Full Camera2 Support Out of the Box

Based on community reports from XDA Developers and GSMArena forums, these device families typically ship with FULL or LEVEL_3 Camera2 support:

• Google Pixel series (all models, Pixel 3 and above confirmed)
• Samsung Galaxy S series (S20 and above)
• Samsung Galaxy A series (A52 and above, varies by region)
• OnePlus 8 series and above
• Xiaomi 12 series and above (global variants)
• Sony Xperia 1 and 5 series

Budget phones from Realme, POCO, and older Redmi models often ship with LIMITED or LEGACY support, though this can sometimes be changed via ADB or custom ROMs.

My Take

Checking Camera2 API support on Android takes about two minutes with the right app. It’s the single most useful thing you can do before spending time installing GCam or any advanced camera tool.

If your device is on LEGACY and you’re not interested in custom ROMs or ADB tweaks, it’s worth knowing upfront. Save yourself the frustration my friend went through.

The Camera2 API Probe app is all you need in most cases. Install it, check your level, and then decide your next step based on what you see. It’s that simple.

Camera2 API support might sound like a technical thing, but understanding your level takes away a lot of guesswork when setting up your Android camera experience.