Flash on camera does not work

... no sucess :(

Sorry to hear that :( Seems this is not about a camera soft then (but still can be about settings I think anyway). If we still believe it is not a HW failure, then you could try to uninstall all software to have "pure" OS only, or perform newest upgrade for the same purpose (but make backups before of course). Then having "untouched" OS try to make pictures - if you would succeed then something, an installed SW, can disturb. If that dark pictures still would be with "clean" OS then I would suspect a HW failure and would suggest a service. Remember by clean OS I mean before any patches or any the smallest piece of code is installed, downloaded etc..

BTW: where do you store taken pictures (camera settings)? Internal memory or SD card? Try to change the setting you used to use to the opposite one. Try different SD card if you can or without a card. Frankly, I don't suppose this can be a reason but this is just another factor that can be check, especially if you have noname card or above 32GB or damaged one (and you don't know about it). And before you will decide to ask a service for help.

A s I said, the camera and flash are crap. I've owned a Jolla since they launched, this so called problem has always been there. Just take images without flash in day light. You can muck around with settings al you like, but simply do not use flash in daylight and expect it to help, unless if your flash is brighter than lightning in daylight, you will always have this problem with this phone. There is nothing wrong with hardware or software, the user is the problem, not the phone.

It is not so easy I am afraid. Even when there is daylight but not enough then additional light can can help, but when there is to much daylight or light at all then camera can limit it - so effect will be darker then in reality. Like above. I would suggest to ask a photographer with "a mirror" device especially who can explain that quite quickly as those are basics of photography technique. Also some experimenting with different settings making pictures of the same object at the same conditions can gives some more experiences. Still I think this is about settings.

Agreed; but let's not forget one thing, the camera on the devices are crap!, if I want a decent photo, I use my digital camera, which of course is dedicated. The camera on the Jolla is just a snapper, it's not meant ot the Nokia 808 or N8.

Here is the result in darkness:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ealdj8433gdmbrr/20170417_223114.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0iuxm7x95zyp0f9/20170417_223122.jpg?dl=0

Even if the camera is only a toy, the flash has worked in daylight before without problems! And in darkness my two additional uploaded pictures speak for themselves ...

In camera settings you can set "ISO" which refers to "sensitivity" of photo-film, 200 is the lowest, with highiests better cameras records bash of background. Have you tried changing it? And you've just said "has worked in daylight before without problems" - but before what? Before installation of a soft? What soft? Before the device has felt down, before has been cleaned, protected etc.? Have you installed a software which could interact with a camera somehow? Or have you exposed camera on extremely bright light like direct photo of Sun at midday or welding process, etc.?? My guesses are following: - settings - > play with settings to find which one - installed software - > that interact with camera eg. adds a filter efect - a physical factor - something that has darked lens or even LED, could be a chemicals like a soap, but also just making pictures with the device in a case eg of transparent silicone or plastic.
- a damage or flaw of camera or LED - > eg. LED flashes BEFORE sensor gets picture, or lots of other possibilities. Your pictures are also not sharp, like not focused. Or perhaps a so called "little cable" has "disconnected" or something like that?

But anyway - have you tried to change settings? What exactly are settings of you camera now, when taking dark pictures? If we would know your settings we could try to reproduce this effect. What device do you use?