Default camera selection (front vs. rear) cannot be forced via Esper on Samsung devices — workaround is user habit training

Android

The Samsung Camera app on some Samsung devices defaults to the front-facing camera, even when your workflow requires the rear camera—for example, when scanning QR codes. This article explains why you can't enforce rear-camera behavior through Esper and provides workarounds.

Understanding the limitation

The Samsung Camera app (com.sec.android.app.camera) does not expose a managed configuration setting that lets you control which camera (front or rear) opens by default. Esper can only enforce settings that an app explicitly supports through its managed configuration schema. Since Samsung hasn't made this parameter available, no MDM platform—including Esper—can force rear-camera behavior through policy.

Before you begin

Verify that your Samsung device is running the native Samsung Camera app. You can check this by navigating to Devices & Groups → [Your Device] → Device Details → Installed Apps and confirming com.sec.android.app.camera is listed.

How to use the Samsung Camera app's native persistence feature

The Samsung Camera app remembers the last camera you used before closing it. Follow these steps to set rear camera as your default:

Open the Camera app on your device.
Manually switch to the rear-facing camera using the camera-flip button.
Close the app by pressing the Back button (not the Home button or swiping from Recents). This allows the app to save your camera selection.
The next time you open the Camera app, it should reopen with the rear camera active.

This workaround requires users to establish the habit once, after which the app should maintain the rear-camera default on subsequent launches.

How to verify persistence is working

Have a test user complete the steps above (switch to rear camera, close via Back button).
Wait a few minutes, then reopen the Camera app.
Confirm the rear camera is now the active default.

If the app continues to default to the front camera after this test, the device firmware may have a specific behavior override. Collect the device OS version by navigating to Devices & Groups → [Device] → Device Info → OS Version and test on a second device to determine if the issue is device-specific.

How to switch to a dedicated QR scanning app

If you need guaranteed rear-camera-first behavior without relying on user habit, replace the Samsung Camera app with a third-party QR scanning application that supports managed configuration for camera selection.

Identify a QR scanning app that exposes managed configuration settings for camera selection.
Publish the app through Apps in the Esper Console.
Navigate to Apps → [App Name] → Managed Configurations to confirm the app's camera-facing parameter is available.
Deploy the app to your devices and configure the rear-camera setting through the managed configuration.

Ensure the third-party app is installed as a Managed Google Play app (not sideloaded). Managed configuration schemas only surface for apps distributed through the Play Store and enrolled in the managed track.

Still need help?

If the Samsung Camera app's native persistence feature doesn't work on your device, or if you need guidance selecting a third-party QR scanning app, contact Esper Support.