Methods and apparatuses for focus hunting prevention for phase detection auto focus (AF) are disclosed. In one aspect, the method is operable by an imaging device, for preventing focus hunting during a phase detection AF process. The method may include capturing an image of a scene and generating a phase difference value and a confidence level for the phase difference value based on the image. The method may also include calculating a focus hunting metric based at least in part on the phase difference value and the confidence level. The method may further include preventing focus hunting via at least one of preventing the start of the focus search and terminating the focus search, in response to the focus hunting metric meeting or exceeding a defined threshold value.