It’s happened to many of us: you’re out taking photos when suddenly your Instax stops working for no apparent reason. Maybe the lights start flashing on the brightness adjustment dial, or the red light beside the viewfinder won’t go off. You might even find that the camera won’t turn on at all.
If you’re in this situation, we’re glad you’re here. Below we’ve listed the top five reasons the Instax Mini 9 tends to stop working, and the good news is that only one of them requires you to ring up Fujifilm for assistance!
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1. The batteries are dead or dying
The number one reason most Instax cameras stop working is that the batteries need replacing. According to the manual, you can take an average of 100 shots with two new AA batteries (or around 10 rolls of film) so it is worth keeping track of just how many you’ve used up so that you can avoid any nasty surprises.
Fujifilm also advises buying batteries of the same brand/type and only using alkaline batteries.
If the batteries are dead or dying, one of two things can happen: all the lights on the adjustment dial will blink simultaneously or the red lamp will light up beside the viewfinder.
When all the lights blink, you must replace the batteries with brand new ones while the lens is extended (on other words, with the camera turned on). Note that if you replace the batteries while the lens is retracted, the lights will continue to blink.
If only the red lamp comes on, simply turn the camera off by pushing the lens back into the body and replace the batteries. Provided that the camera isn’t damaged, this should do the trick.
2. The film was damaged or loaded incorrectly
Sometimes the camera isn’t the culprit – it could also be the film.
In some unfortunate cases, you might end up buying a faulty or damaged package of film but most problems are usually the result of improper loading or handling techniques.
First, when you load the film, never press the rectangular holes on the back or expose it to direct sunlight.
Second, do not open the back of the camera until you’ve used up all ten shots. Doing so will expose the frames you have left, turning them white.
Finally, whenever you load a new film pack, make sure to slide it straight into the back with the yellow marks on the film aligned with the yellow marks on the camera.
>> Check out our full instructions on how to load Fujifilm Instax film.
3. You’re too close to your subject
If many of your shots are out of focus, you could be too close to your subject.
The Instax Mini 9 has a minimum focus distance of 60cm (or between 50cm and 35cm with the provided close-up lens attached), so if you get any closer than that, the lens won’t be able to focus properly. This is particularly important to keep in mind if you like taking selfies or semi-macro shots.
>> Check out our article about using the close-up lens on the Instax Mini 9.
4. Your camera needs a good clean
As with any electronic device, dust and dirt can accumulate in the various nooks and crannies of the Instax Mini 9, so it is a good idea to keep it clean.
Every now and then, check to see that foreign objects haven’t become lodged inside the film ejection slot and that the lens is free of fingerprints, dust and smudges.
Our advice is to invest in a simple lens cleaning kit that contains items like a blower brush and lens cleaning cloth. The one we use for the Mini 9 is the affordable Camkix kit (Amazon).
The Camkix cleaning kit we use for our cameras
5. The camera was dropped or knocked
If you drop or knock the camera against something hard, there’s a good chance the camera will start to malfunction. You’ll know it’s a malfunction if all the lights on the lens adjustment dial continue to blink or if the red lamp by the viewfinder doesn’t go off even after inserting brand new pair of AA batteries.
The part of the body that is most likely to suffer damage is the lens unit. You might notice that the lens unit doesn’t extend or retract smoothly due to plastic parts having become dislodged, or the black lens cover doesn’t open. You may also notice that your images are out of focus.
Other vulnerable parts of the body are the optical viewfinder, flash bulb or the mechanical film roller used to eject the film.
To avoid damaging the camera, be as gentle as possible when pressing the lens unit back into the body and use a wrist or neck strap at all times to avoid dropping it.
If you’re good at fixing things, you can refer to this helpful replacement guide. (It’s for the Instax Mini 8 but you can follow the same steps for the Mini 9.) Otherwise the best option is to contact an authorised Fujifilm repair centre.
Tried everything above and it’s still not working?
Sometimes you may come across a more unusual issue with your Instax Mini 9. These include:
- the camera failing to displaying the number of shots left
- the camera ejecting all ten shots at once
- the camera failing to turn on
In any of these cases, you should contact an authorised Fujifilm repair centre for assistance.
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⭐️HELP⭐️ I just got my instax mini 9 and took my first pic, came out great then I go to take another and it’s so dark the whole image is black after awhile I go to take another and it happened again 😫 I scared to take another picture cause I don’t wanna waste anymore film!!! WHAT AM I GOING WRONG !! please help ⭐️😫😫
Try not to panic – the problem is probably related to one of the points below!
1) Make sure you’re using the setting the camera suggests on the dial. Most of the time, it’s right.
2) Don’t use the camera at night or in really dark places if there isn’t a clear subject in the frame. If the subject is more than 2.7m away, the flash won’t be able to reach it.
3) Make sure the flash is actually firing. Also, don’t cover it OR the light sensor (the two holes on the front).
If the flash isn’t firing for some reason, your camera probably has a mechanical issue.
Hope this helps!
When I went to unload the first part of the film that comes out before the pictures it got caught. When we got it out, the little setting lights won’t stop blinking. Now it won’t take a picture at all. Please help!!!!!
Was the black film slide stuck halfway, or did it come out all the way as it should?
Try replacing the batteries with brand new ones before assuming the worst and if that doesn’t work, try a new film pack.
If neither of these things work, something might have gone wrong with the mechanics.
The light mode doesn’t change, is always on indoor Mode (the house icon) and the pictures taken outside are dark.
Does anybody know the reason? The camera suffered no droppings.
It definitely sounds like the camera has a problem, Javier. Can you return it and get a new one?
My Instax Mini 9, bought brand new off Amazon, won’t power on at all. Loaded the film the day I got it and it powered on and ejected the film cover. Did not take any pics that day. Now, a couple of weeks later, I go to take my first pic and there’s no power at all. Tried brand new batteries (though it came with brand new batteries that powered on originally). It hasn’t been dropped and is brand new so not dirty. Fortunately, it’s still in the return window for Amazon (though even if it was outside that window it would be under mfr warranty). Returning for another one. Hope this isn’t a common issue with Instax’s. I also got the wide version and it’s still working fine (after one whole month, LOL).
Oh dear…I hope you have better luck with the next camera they send you! I don’t think it’s a common issue – most of the time it really is just the batteries – but it can happen.
Help please, all lights are flashing but it fell once what should I do
If the lights started flashing after it fell, it’s probably malfunctioning. If your camera is covered under warranty, you can probably send it to Fujifilm for repair: http://www.fujifilmusa.com/support/ServiceSupportContactInfo.do?catid=464128&prodcat=878952
My daughter has a mini 9. The brightness adjustment dial moves very freely (without clicks) but the brightness indicator light doesn’t light up. The only light that comes on is the one just to the left of the eyepiece. Batteries are fine.
Hi, I have a problem with my instax mini 8. When the camera is on I can turn adjustment wheel only to small sun, that means I can’t reach big sun and hi-key. What can I do?
It sounds like the camera has a problem. Did you just buy it recently? Perhaps you can exchange it for a new one.
I replaced the batteries, with the lens open and the lights will not stop blinking, the light next to the sight is on. It hasn’t been dropped and it has film cause I was taking pictures with it when it decided to die. But it hasn’t worked since I set new batteries in and yes they are in correctly
Are they brand new batteries? I ask because very often they are the cause of the problem. If they are brand new, your camera probably needs to be repaired.
My Instax 9 wont work it wont even take a picture it wont do anything! I seriously need help, if not then i’m in a HUGE trouble because this instax is new and I swear, I never even took a picture with it. # Life needs adjusting
My Instax 9 wont work it wont even take a picture it wont do anything! I seriously need help, if not then i’m in a HUGE trouble because this instax is new and I swear, I never even took a picture with it. # Life needs adjusting
Are you still able to return it?
great article!
my problem is the view finder was all black. i cant see anything, i cant see what photo that i’ve took. do you have solutions for this problem?? please 😉
Apologies for taking so long to approve your comment! Honestly I’m not really sure why you are seeing all black because it is an optical viewfinder. (So even if the camera were broken, you’d still be able to look through it and see something.) I know it is quite small and that it can take some time to align your eye with the hole. Could that be the problem?
Hello! I just bought the instax mini 9 and I loaded the film, turned the camera on and there are no lights, as if the camera wasn’t on therefore, I click to eject the cover and it doesn’t work. The batteries are brand new. What can I do?
If the batteries are new and it won’t turn on, your camera likely has an issue. Can you exchange it for a new one?
My instax mini 9 won’t take pictures n the lights won’t stop blinking and I hv hardly used it
i have the same problem.. have you found a solutiion? ive only taken 9 pics
Hi my instax mini 9 has completely stopped working and the lights won’t go off n I have even changed the batteries n I am worried about it as it was a birthday gift
Is there any way you can exchange it for a new one? If you’ve changed the batteries and the lights are still flashing, it likely has a problem.
Hi my instax mini 9 was working just fine and then recently I noticed some changes. It’s brand new. Got it a week ago for my birthday. I’ve only taken 5 packs worth of film with it so far on the same set of batteries. I am now seeing a black circle in the center when I look through the viewfinder and I’m pretty sure that wasn’t there when I first started taking pictures with it. Now when I’m looking through the viewfinder and I’ve centered my picture, I take it and it’s not anywhere near centered when it comes out. It’s always off too far on one side or the other.
The black circle is meant to be there, don’t worry. The reason your photos are slightly off-centre is because of parallax, which happens when you shoot things at a close distance. I talk about it in my full review of the Mini 9: https://instantcamerablog.com/camera-reviews/fuji-instax-mini-9-review/
My instax mini nine has been in y cupboard for a while i thought i would take it out, i turned it on and pressed the button and nothing happened. i checked the orange lights and they were all off. the red light near the viewfinder is switched on. i cant get a new one as i have had it since christmas and have used it multiple times. i switched the batteries and nothing. i am extremely confused and dissapointed please help!
If there is a red light beside the viewfinder, that usually means the battery power is low. When you switched the batteries, you insert brand new ones of the same brand?
I was riding my bike with my install mini 9 in my bag. (It worked perfectly fine before I took it with me) However when I took it out of my bag I realized the aperture/light setting selector mechanism could not select the “Indoor” mode. I have a feeling I dislodged something with the aperture mechanism but I am not sure.
Do you mean that when you rotate it to that setting, the dial won’t stay in place? It does sound like it might be a mechanical issue.
When I turn the dial, it only selects four modes. As in now it seems to skip the “Indoor mode”.
Hello! I had gotten my Polaroid mini 9 about 3 months ago, and it has Been working perfectly when all of the sudden the film wouldn’t come out. I have tried removing the film, but I don’t have a clue what I’m doing and I don’t want to mess it up even more. Please give me some advice on what to do. Thanks.
Without seeing the camera in person, it’s hard to give advice. Perhaps try taking it to your local camera store and see if they can remove the film for you?
Hi I got my instead mini in April and it’s been working fine but suddenly the pictures are coming out yellow. As is there was a yellow film on the lense. I haven’t dropped it. The battery is fine and I’ve tried with 3 different flim sets now. Please help me.
I’ve never heard of this happening Ruchita. I’ll see if I can find an answer.
my instax mini 9’s oringe lights at the front don’t want to change when I turn it , the lights just stay on one place .Does anyone know why?
Hello, I just recently purchased my Instax mini 9. I took a picture of my dog 3 days ago and the camera worked fine. I wanted to take a picture of my parents for Father’s Day and when I click to take the picture the Flash Charging Lamp light turns on and the Brightness Indicators start blinking. I tried changing the settings and waiting for the lights to stop but nothing is working. Not sure what to do
That sounds like a battery issue. Try putting in a fresh pair and see if that helps.
I got the film for my instax mini 9 and I put it in correctly but the black film/the cover got stuck half way when I pressed the button to get it out and I don’t know what to do 🙁
Try replacing the batteries with a new pair to see if that helps. If that doesn’t work, perhaps you can gently try and remove the cover and replace the film with a new pack?
When i take a picture it doesnt develop instantly. I need to to turn it on and off a few times. I thought it was the battery but I changed it already and it’s still the same.
What do you mean what you say it doesn’t develop instantly? It can take 90 seconds or more for the film to develop.
What I meant is the film doesnt come out of the camera instantly. You know how there’s a sound when the film is about to come out. There’s no sound after i take a pictue and no film comes out. I have to turn it off a few times for my pic to come out. Sometimes when it comes out it doesnt develop properly. The pic becomes too dark.
That definitely sounds like a mechanical issue. Are you still able to return the camera?
I bought instax mini 9 for my daughter in December has always worked great until yeaterday. The lights on front will not stop blinking so we changed batterys put new film etc and still does same thing can someone please help me try fix this camera.
My instax mini 9 – the shutter never opens on the first picture after it is turned on. After the first the shutter opens reliably, but it never opens the first time. This means i waste an exposure each time the power is turned off. Is this a normal operating characteristic or a failure.
My instax wont turn on, no lights are on and i just put new batteries in. It stopped working in the middle of a picture printing and it is stuck. Nothing was wrong with it before and it suddenly stoped working. What should I do?
I have a brand new instax mini 9. The first three pics out of a pack of film come out great. Each picture after that is just a blurry grey cloud. Tried 3 packs of film. Does the same thing every time. I did not load in direct sunlight. I did not reopen the camera after film installed. Any ideas?
Same thing happened to me. Got mines from Amazon
My camera was working fine, I just added a new film and took the first pic for the cover to come out and it didnt, the lights keep flashing and there’s an S on the counter, was there before I put the film in. I’m assuming the battery but don’t wan’t to open it and damage the brand new film. It happen once already and messed up the first 3-4 shots.
Help!
You might have to open up the back and sacrifice the film pack. If this has already happened once before, your camera probably has an issue.
I first tried new batteries and it’s working! Thanks!
The orange light on my camera is stuck on one and I am unable to change it. The red light on my camera is on an turns of after a couple seconds and every time I take a picture, the film comes out white after minutes and stays white even overnight. Not sure what to do
Everytime i turn my camera on its develops a photo even when i didn’t press the button. How can i fix this?
I just recently got an instax mini 9 for my birthday and I got some help from a friend who knew how to put the film in and all and everything was fine and I’m finally experimenting with it now by taking a selfie in the mirror, but every time I take a picture it comes out black and a little flash from the camera is shown in the picture, I’m standing a fair distance away from the mirror so I don’t know, I’m not sure on what I should do as nothing has happened to it
I’ve been having troubles with my instax mini 9. At first, I automatically assumed my batteries were on low, which was correct. So i changed the batteries, and my lights started to flicker and was still unable to take a picture. Once i read this article I saw all the possibilities of to why it may be. Im not sure which it was because I tried everything in order for it to function. Whatever the case was, I manged to snap a picture, although it came out completely white. Then, I tried again, and on both verticle sides it has white streaks, I then decided to take another and another, and now the other three that were taken have a left corner that is white. Can anyone help??
It sounds like your camera is broken. Can you still return it?
Hello!
I have a brand new instax mini 8 from amazon. When I turn the brightness settings the red lamp only lights behind the house. When I turn the dial the lamp stays on behind the house even though the dial is set to any of the other settings. Do you know what might be wrong? Is there anything I can do or should I return it?
You should probably return it. The light should switch to whichever setting you choose.
Sad. Thank you!
(also, could you please respond inside this blog? My email isn’t active.)
My instant 9 doesn’t take a photo the red light turns on beside the viewfinder but not on the settings beside the lens please help
Did you try changing the batteries?
But , why is my camera working ! Upset my focus lights
My daughters camera wont eject the dark film it keeps getting stuck
Did you try removing the film and inserting a new pack? If that doesn’t work, the camera likely has an issue.
Hi I had my instax since august and i’ve only used it twice, and i haven’t dropped it at all, but it won’t turn on and none of the lights are flashing. i’ve changed the batteries with a new pack and even tried changing them again (since there were 4 in one pack) it doesnt turn on no matter what i do : (
My camera stopped working then I changed my batteries and again it worked for one time or so. But after that my film started getting stuck and now all the lights in camera keep blinking as well as the red light in the view finder. What can be the reason?
I have the same problem, just now my film got stuck and after changing the batteries and everything i saw no other option but to remove the film and thus spoiling my brand new pack of polaroids. After I changed the batteries with the same type as before the blinking at the lens stopped but the light at the view finder stays on. I have absolutely no idea what to do
My camera view finder is not working it’s not blinking or will not take pictures
Not quite sure what you mean by “it’s not blinking”?
Good morning
We bought fujifilm instax mini 9.
We tried to take pictures with the camera but most of the pictures turns out black.
Out of 80 atempts only 10 pictures were good. All other were black.
Please advise what is the problem.
Thank you.
It sounds like a mechanical issue. Can you return it?
Hi Josef, I’m also having this issue. From my research, it seems that the shutter isn’t working properly. With no film in the camera, if you take a picture with the film door open, you should briefly see a circle of light. On my camera, I only see that about 8-10% of the time… 🙁
I think I may have this issue as well… if I take a photo, I can see a full circle, but about 80% of that circle is cut off, and I can only see light through the other 20%… I have no idea what to do to get this fixed, is there anywhere we can take it or get it fixed ourselves?
same
did u find out what was going on
Hello there,
The problem with my Instax Mini 9 is that all the four lights are blinking together. I trolls the film roll I had inserted but yet the same condition. Please help me with this.
Hi my name is Megan, I got my in stacks many nine for Christmas last year. However I can only take one photo and then all the rest are completely black . Read loaded the batteries I bought new film after using all my previous 10 shots and then coming out black. I’m not sure how to fix this issue. If somebody could please help me out I would greatly appreciate it. 😁
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b7b3c40da3b892307892eb99daa5867c1c47877c2a3604aa63f68a14902d123b.jpg
Hi, my camera hasn’t been working lately. I have tried all of your tips, still nothing. Is there a number I can call to get help from a representative?Where do you live? It’s best to visit the Fujifilm website and look for the support page.
Hi I recently went to the beach and like my camera got wet but not to much but still all four light are blinking when I put in batteries and like idk what to do
bought the mini 9 for my twins on their birthday and one worked and the other didn’t. The film was put in correctly and the picture comes out black with white spots?? We have tried several new film and all are coming out the same. Son was heartbroken!
It would be best to replace it if you can!
Thank you so much. This was very helpful. I panicked when all the lights started to blink T_T
You’re welcome!
How did you fix the blinking lights
My instax 9 Keeps on blinking red light, Also the view finder. I put the film correctly, Then i try to click it once but the backslide or the cover of the film did not come out. I tried to change may battery 3x still not working keep on blinking. i open the back of the cam, I tried to remove the film but the backslide of the film is stuck. need help.
Yes, the same happened with me. It’s because the first film is stuck. I grabbed it hardly but the film was broken and ruined
how did you take out the stuck film? i already had to throw out a full pack of films and really don’t want to have to throw away another
i got a polaroid camera for christmas and it worked fine ever since vacation the film i reloaded it and the protector card got stuck, i fixed it then but now everytime i go to reload film in it gets stuck and i thinks its broke can anyone help?
plz help me my film is not coming out 🙁
The methods work for me! Thanks for your contribution!
I have this particular camera and my picture just comes out white. Any advice????
My film from my camera wont come out ive changed the batteries and took 3 pictures and it sounds like its coming out but then film wont come out.
when i put battrey into instaxmini 9 all indicator light flashed in turn on and turn off
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c9d23ca587dfc7e333398793e70c29c2eaba8c93018f1f91bb23662e73101d78.jpg
I dropped my camera for the first time today and now it’s blinking red and film isn’t coming out. What do i do?
I’d see if you can get it repaired!
Hi! So what do I do if I mistakenly replaced the batteries while the camera was off and now the lights won’t stop flashing.
I think I’ll have to contact the repair ppl, tried all these tips and suggestions and everything is blinking and the red light holds a steady red until I turn it off. I got it to take a few pictures but they are white and got stuck half way out of the slot. I love my camera and I don’t want it to be broken. Anyone else have this problem??
Hi… this is tracy.. my camera isn’t working… I replaced them with AA new batteries and also a new film cz the old one was more than a month old.. it still keeps blinking… what should I do?
Hey mine isn’t working it keeps making a clicking noise even after i turn it off then the orange light starts blinking idk what to do 🙁