diff --git a/apps/expo/src/app/camera.tsx b/apps/expo/src/app/camera.tsx
index 8e762d9..e9ab94e 100644
--- a/apps/expo/src/app/camera.tsx
+++ b/apps/expo/src/app/camera.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { NativeStackNavigationProp } from "@react-navigation/native-stack";
 import type * as React from "react";
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import {
+  BackHandler,
   InteractionManager,
   Pressable,
   StyleSheet,
@@ -213,6 +214,14 @@ export default function CameraPage(): React.ReactElement {
     onFlipCameraPressed();
   }, [onFlipCameraPressed]);
 
+  const clearSelectedRecipient = useCallback(() => {
+    navigation.setParams({ defaultRecipientId: undefined });
+    navigation.navigate("Main", { screen: "Friends" });
+  }, [navigation]);
+  const clearSelectedRecipientInPlace = useCallback(() => {
+    navigation.setParams({ defaultRecipientId: undefined });
+  }, [navigation]);
+
   // On focus, revalidate the session in case cookie exists but session expired
   useFocusEffect(
     useCallback(() => {
@@ -261,6 +270,22 @@ export default function CameraPage(): React.ReactElement {
     void requestPermissions();
   }, [isCameraInitialized, isActive, requestPermissions]);
 
+  useFocusEffect(
+    useCallback(() => {
+      if (!defaultRecipientId) return;
+
+      const backHandler = BackHandler.addEventListener(
+        "hardwareBackPress",
+        () => {
+          clearSelectedRecipient();
+          return true;
+        },
+      );
+
+      return () => backHandler.remove();
+    }, [clearSelectedRecipient, defaultRecipientId]),
+  );
+
   const videoHdr = format?.supportsVideoHdr && enableHdr;
   const photoHdr = format?.supportsPhotoHdr && enableHdr && !videoHdr;
 
@@ -364,10 +389,7 @@ export default function CameraPage(): React.ReactElement {
               Sending to {selectedFriend.name}
             </Text>
             <Pressable
-              onPress={() => {
-                // Clear the pre-selection by resetting navigation params
-                navigation.setParams({ defaultRecipientId: undefined });
-              }}
+              onPress={clearSelectedRecipientInPlace}
               style={styles.clearButton}
             >
               <Ionicons name="close-outline" size={24} color="white" />