diff --git a/apps/mobile-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs b/apps/mobile-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
index edb01b1c4..33434d121 100644
--- a/apps/mobile-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
+++ b/apps/mobile-shell/scripts/check-config.mjs
@@ -2116,12 +2116,16 @@ for (const snippet of [
   "message: 'file sharing failed'",
   'rejects image import before picker launch when library permission is denied',
   'rejects image import before picker launch when library permission request fails',
+  'maps native image library launch failures to stable import errors',
   'rejects image capture before camera launch when camera permission request fails',
+  'maps native camera launch failures to stable capture errors',
   "message: 'photo library permission denied'",
   "message: 'photo library permission unavailable'",
+  "message: 'photo library unavailable'",
   'expect(imageLibraryMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()',
   "message: 'camera permission denied'",
   "message: 'camera permission unavailable'",
+  "message: 'camera unavailable'",
   'expect(cameraMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()',
   "mediaTypes: ['images']",
   "options: { encoding: 'base64' }",
diff --git a/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.test.ts b/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.test.ts
index ece35fb0f..3fa8245c1 100644
--- a/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.test.ts
+++ b/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.test.ts
@@ -354,6 +354,21 @@ describe('mobile HostBridge file actions', () => {
     expect(imageLibraryMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  test('maps native image library launch failures to stable import errors', async () => {
+    libraryPermissionMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      status: ImagePicker.PermissionStatus.GRANTED,
+      granted: true,
+      canAskAgain: true,
+      expires: 'never',
+    });
+    imageLibraryMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('native image picker failed'));
+
+    await expect(importImageFile()).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      code: 'host_error',
+      message: 'photo library unavailable',
+    });
+  });
+
   test('rejects image capture before camera launch when camera permission request fails', async () => {
     cameraPermissionMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('native permission failed'));
 
@@ -364,6 +379,21 @@ describe('mobile HostBridge file actions', () => {
     expect(cameraMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  test('maps native camera launch failures to stable capture errors', async () => {
+    cameraPermissionMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      status: ImagePicker.PermissionStatus.GRANTED,
+      granted: true,
+      canAskAgain: true,
+      expires: 'never',
+    });
+    cameraMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('native camera failed'));
+
+    await expect(captureImageFile()).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      code: 'host_error',
+      message: 'camera unavailable',
+    });
+  });
+
   test('imports audio and exports binary files through controlled payloads', async () => {
     fileBase64Data.set('file:///picked/voice.mp3', MP3_BASE64);
     fileSizes.set('file:///picked/voice.mp3', Buffer.byteLength('ID3\x04\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x10'));
diff --git a/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.ts b/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.ts
index 4697134a1..791baf4d8 100644
--- a/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.ts
+++ b/apps/mobile-shell/src/host-bridge/files.ts
@@ -331,14 +331,22 @@ export async function importImageFile(): Promise<FileImportImageResult> {
     } satisfies HostBridgeError;
   }
 
-  const result = await ImagePicker.launchImageLibraryAsync({
-    allowsEditing: false,
-    allowsMultipleSelection: false,
-    base64: true,
-    exif: false,
-    mediaTypes: ['images'],
-    quality: 1,
-  });
+  let result: ImagePicker.ImagePickerResult;
+  try {
+    result = await ImagePicker.launchImageLibraryAsync({
+      allowsEditing: false,
+      allowsMultipleSelection: false,
+      base64: true,
+      exif: false,
+      mediaTypes: ['images'],
+      quality: 1,
+    });
+  } catch {
+    throw {
+      code: 'host_error',
+      message: 'photo library unavailable',
+    } satisfies HostBridgeError;
+  }
 
   const payload = imagePickerResultToImportPayload(result, 'selected');
   if (payload.bytes > HOST_BRIDGE_IMPORT_IMAGE_MAX_BYTES) {
@@ -370,13 +378,21 @@ export async function captureImageFile(): Promise<FileImportImageResult> {
     } satisfies HostBridgeError;
   }
 
-  const result = await ImagePicker.launchCameraAsync({
-    allowsEditing: false,
-    base64: true,
-    exif: false,
-    mediaTypes: ['images'],
-    quality: 1,
-  });
+  let result: ImagePicker.ImagePickerResult;
+  try {
+    result = await ImagePicker.launchCameraAsync({
+      allowsEditing: false,
+      base64: true,
+      exif: false,
+      mediaTypes: ['images'],
+      quality: 1,
+    });
+  } catch {
+    throw {
+      code: 'host_error',
+      message: 'camera unavailable',
+    } satisfies HostBridgeError;
+  }
 
   const payload = imagePickerResultToImportPayload(result, 'captured');
   if (payload.bytes > HOST_BRIDGE_IMPORT_IMAGE_MAX_BYTES) {