diff --git a/src/components/ImageMethodDialog.vue b/src/components/ImageMethodDialog.vue
index 4708dbee..1e4a3643 100644
--- a/src/components/ImageMethodDialog.vue
+++ b/src/components/ImageMethodDialog.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,37 @@
 <template>
   <div v-if="visible" class="dialog-overlay z-[60]">
     <div class="dialog relative">
+      <!-- Diagnostic Panel -->
+      <div
+        v-if="showDiagnostics"
+        class="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 bg-black/80 text-white text-xs p-2 z-20 overflow-auto max-h-[30vh]"
+      >
+        <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2">
+          <div>
+            <p><strong>Camera State:</strong> {{ cameraState }}</p>
+            <p><strong>State Message:</strong> {{ cameraStateMessage || 'None' }}</p>
+            <p><strong>Error:</strong> {{ error || 'None' }}</p>
+            <p><strong>Preview Active:</strong> {{ showCameraPreview ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
+            <p><strong>Stream Active:</strong> {{ !!cameraStream ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
+          </div>
+          <div>
+            <p><strong>Browser:</strong> {{ userAgent }}</p>
+            <p><strong>HTTPS:</strong> {{ isSecureContext ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
+            <p><strong>MediaDevices:</strong> {{ hasMediaDevices ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
+            <p><strong>GetUserMedia:</strong> {{ hasGetUserMedia ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
+            <p><strong>Platform:</strong> {{ platformCapabilities.isMobile ? 'Mobile' : 'Desktop' }}</p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      <!-- Toggle Diagnostics Button -->
+      <button
+        @click="toggleDiagnostics"
+        class="absolute top-2 right-2 bg-black/50 text-white px-2 py-1 rounded text-xs z-30"
+      >
+        {{ showDiagnostics ? 'Hide Diagnostics' : 'Show Diagnostics' }}
+      </button>
+
       <div class="text-lg text-center font-bold relative">
         <h1 id="ViewHeading" class="text-center font-bold">
           <span v-if="uploading">Uploading Image&hellip;</span>
@@ -52,39 +83,10 @@
               v-if="showCameraPreview"
               class="camera-preview relative flex bg-black overflow-hidden mb-4"
             >
-              <!-- Diagnostic Panel -->
-              <div
-                v-if="showDiagnostics"
-                class="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 bg-black/80 text-white text-xs p-2 pt-8 z-20 overflow-auto max-h-[50vh]"
-              >
-                <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2">
-                  <div>
-                    <p><strong>Camera State:</strong> {{ cameraState }}</p>
-                    <p><strong>State Message:</strong> {{ cameraStateMessage || 'None' }}</p>
-                    <p><strong>Error:</strong> {{ error || 'None' }}</p>
-                    <p><strong>Preview Active:</strong> {{ showCameraPreview ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
-                    <p><strong>Stream Active:</strong> {{ !!cameraStream ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
-                  </div>
-                  <div>
-                    <p><strong>Browser:</strong> {{ userAgent }}</p>
-                    <p><strong>HTTPS:</strong> {{ isSecureContext ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
-                    <p><strong>MediaDevices:</strong> {{ hasMediaDevices ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
-                    <p><strong>GetUserMedia:</strong> {{ hasGetUserMedia ? 'Yes' : 'No' }}</p>
-                    <p><strong>Platform:</strong> {{ platformCapabilities.isMobile ? 'Mobile' : 'Desktop' }}</p>
-                  </div>
-                </div>
-              </div>
-              <!-- Toggle Diagnostics Button -->
-              <button
-                @click="toggleDiagnostics"
-                class="absolute top-2 right-2 bg-black/50 text-white px-2 py-1 rounded text-xs z-30"
-              >
-                {{ showDiagnostics ? 'Hide Diagnostics' : 'Show Diagnostics' }}
-              </button>
               <div class="camera-container w-full h-full relative">
                 <video
                   ref="videoElement"
-                  class="camera-video w-full h-full portrait:max-h-[40vh] object-cover"
+                  class="camera-video w-full h-full object-cover"
                   autoplay
                   playsinline
                   muted
@@ -312,14 +314,6 @@ export default class ImageMethodDialog extends Vue {
         -1,
       );
     }
-    // Try to start camera preview automatically if not on mobile
-    if (!this.platformCapabilities.isNativeApp) {
-      this.startCameraPreview();
-    } else {
-      logger.warn("Camera preview not started: running in native app context.");
-      this.cameraState = 'off';
-      this.cameraStateMessage = 'Camera preview not started due to native app context.';
-    }
   }
 
   /**
@@ -466,7 +460,12 @@ export default class ImageMethodDialog extends Vue {
       }
     } catch (error) {
       logger.error("Error starting camera preview:", error);
-      const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Failed to access camera';
+      let errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Failed to access camera';
+      if (error.name === 'NotReadableError' || error.name === 'TrackStartError') {
+        errorMessage = 'Camera is in use by another application. Please close any other apps or browser tabs using the camera and try again.';
+      } else if (error.name === 'NotAllowedError' || error.name === 'PermissionDeniedError') {
+        errorMessage = 'Camera access was denied. Please allow camera access in your browser settings.';
+      }
       this.cameraState = 'error';
       this.cameraStateMessage = errorMessage;
       this.error = errorMessage;
@@ -475,7 +474,7 @@ export default class ImageMethodDialog extends Vue {
           group: "alert",
           type: "danger",
           title: "Error",
-          text: "Failed to access camera. Please try again.",
+          text: errorMessage,
         },
         5000,
       );