.png)
So you’ve just popped in brand new batteries, excited to capture memories, but your Polaroid stays silent and does nothing. It’s frustrating, especially when everything should be working.
This isn’t just about a dead camera—it’s about missing out on the moments you wanted to keep at the most opportune moments.
This problem is mostly with the Insta Mini Instant Film camera models, and in this guide, you will learn what’s going on with your camera to behave this way and how you can tackle it with some DIY fixes.
How to Fix a Polaroid Camera That Won't Turn On with New Batteries? Reasons + Fixes
Here are the 7 possible reasons for the Polaroid camera not turning on and the fixes for each of them:
Insert the New Batteries the Correct Way
The common mistake most Polaroid camera owners make is that they insert the new batteries in the wrong direction. Obviously, if they are wrong, the camera won’t get any power and will fail to switch on.
Therefore, always make sure that you put the batteries in the correct way. First, open the battery compartment on the back. The (+) of the battery goes to the top of the right compartment, and the (+) of the second battery goes to the bottom.
Now, try to turn the camera ON, and this sample hack might fix your problem.
Refresh the Camera Power ON Settings
Sometimes, the Polaroid power mechanism just needs a push to turn on with the new batteries. There is a workaround for this.
First, take the new batteries out, and then press the Power button on the camera for a few seconds, which is located beside the lens.
Some camera models, such as the Instax Mini 12, require rotating the lens ring to the "ON" position. Then, reinsert the batteries correctly, and it may turn on this time. A dumb fix like this often works wonders.
Check Battery Charge
New batteries, like any other product, can have issues. The ones related to camera batteries are that they are often faulty right from the get-go. It’s also possible that you are putting in cheap batteries that can’t give enough power to the camera to make it switch on.
So, it is best to just buy a new pair of batteries, Alkaline LR6 batteries of any popular brand in the Instax Mini Polaroid camera, insert them, and check if it turns on this time.
Check Battery Contact Points
You may have replaced the old batteries, thinking they might be dead, but the camera still won’t turn on. Quite often, the contact points of the battery in the camera are the cause of the problem.
To rule out this reason, you need to make sure that the batteries are coming in contact with the camera’s contacts. If not, there are tiny metal springs that you can pull a bit for a better connection. You can also put a little square of aluminum foil at the contacts of each battery for a firm connection. Then, reinsert the battery and see if this helps.
If so, try cleaning them. For this purpose, use a 90% alcohol solution or a hand sanitizer on a Q-tip and clean the contacts with it.
You can also use a pencil eraser, but the eraser dust can often make the problem worse. This simple hack has worked for many users.
Check Film Issues
Even if there is nothing wrong with the new batteries, a clogged film can be the reason for your issue. In this case, the camera will start to blink red and won’t turn on.
A clogged film means that the film counter is displaying a number that exceeds the capacity of a film pack, resulting in an error. At other times, the counter may only display 0, and you will hear a clicking noise when you press the shutter.
To fix this, shut down and reopen the film door and verify that the red light is gone. Then, check if it turns on. In case the problem is still there, look at the lock door in the film compartment and use a narrow screwdriver to press the tiny silver thing inwards. Then put the film back and try again.
Still, the Polaroid camera won’t budge? Open the film compartment of the camera, take out the film, and reinstall it correctly. One way to verify this is to line up the pack with the yellow marks on the camera.
Factory Reset the Camera
Another reason can be that your camera needs a simple reset. There is no reset button in the camera, but there is a way to do this process. First, switch the Polaroid camera on and remove the new batteries. Next, leave the camera in this state for 10-20 seconds. Then, put in the batteries to complete the reset process. Now it is time to check if your camera is still stubborn and not turning on.
Contact Camera Customer Support
The final reason can only be that the camera is damaged. If you got it new and this problem is bothering you after trying all the fixes above, contact your camera’s customer support (or the buyer if you’ve bought it online) to replace it.
Otherwise, you need to take the Polaroid camera to a repair shop and let their technician diagnose and fix the hardware.
Conclusion
A Polaroid that won’t turn on with fresh batteries usually signals something simple yet easy to overlook. Dirty contacts, incorrect battery type, or a bad film might be the real issue. Before giving up, try cleaning, double-checking the fit, and testing with known working batteries. It’s often fixable. Don’t toss it aside just yet. Your next snapshot might be just a quick fix away.
FAQs
Where is the reset button on a Polaroid?
There is no standard factory reset button on the Instax Mini Instant Polaroid camera. You need to turn on the camera by either pressing the power button beside the lens or rotating the lens to the “ON” position, take out the batteries, wait for 10-20 seconds, and put the batteries back in.
Can I use rechargeable batteries for Instax Mini?
No, you shouldn’t use rechargeable batteries in an Instax Mini. It’s built specifically for alkaline disposables. Rechargeables might not deliver the right power, which can lead to poor performance and issues like the camera not turning on.
