Why isn’t my Instax Mini 11 working? Well, you’re not the only one asking this question!
The hurdle with the Instax Mini 11 camera comes whenever there’s an issue with printing out a picture or when the quality of the taken pictures is bad.
This is a sign of a camera problem that we must look into, so keep reading to understand how to overcome the issue permanently!
When the Instax Mini 11 camera not working, very important to begin with the batteries and determine whether they are low or dead.
In case the batteries are fresh, you need to reboot the camera and perform a thorough inspection to identify the culprit.
There is much more to learn so keep reading further!
Why Isn’t My Instax Mini 11 Not Working?
“Not working” can be perceived in different ways when talking about the Instax Mini 11.
There are a bunch of different ways that the camera can go wrong and we must identify the problem by the symptoms of the device.
- Dark or Overexposed Photos
If the images are coming out black, white, or extremely blurred, it probably has something to do with the lens or film of the Instax Mini 11 camera.
- Pictures Are Not Coming Out
If no pictures are coming out when you shoot the camera, there’s an issue with the printer or the camera doesn’t have a battery.
- Flashing Instax Camera Light
When the Instax device flashes with a bright light upon trying to take a picture, it means that the photo cannot be printed or the target is too far away.
Instax Mini 11 Isn’t Working | Top-Working Solutions!
Necessary: If the camera hits the ground too hard or liquid has been poured on top of the device, we could be looking at a hardware malfunction.
If the camera seems physically damaged, it may be better to put the warranty into use or seek qualified technicians to help.
1. Replace Instax Mini 11 Batteries!
One of the reasons that the Instax camera is failing to work is the batteries of the device.
If the camera isn’t turning on due to power problems, the issue is often related to the batteries, if you haven’t replaced them in a while.
- What Batteries Do I Need for Instax Mini 11?
You need two AA (LR6) batteries for your Instax Mini 11. Also, make sure the batteries are brand-new and have not been used by another device.
Here’s how to replace the batteries:
- Push the side latch of the camera downwards.
- Eject both of the batteries inside the camera.
- Gently embed the 2 x new AA batteries.
- Don’t forget to close the battery compartment.
Note: We recommend using DURACELL or ENERGIZER batteries for long-lasting life!
2. Power-Cycle the Instax Mini 11
The power cycle or also known as “soft reset” helps with many possibilities, affecting the Instax camera’s internal operation.
The power circulation will not impact your Instax Mini 11 in any way so it’s the perfect method to attempt early on…
- To power cycle Instax Mini 11, remove the batteries for 30 seconds!
In addition, while the batteries are out, thoroughly clean the battery compartment and contact poles.
If your camera was not turning on due to issues with the battery charge, it’s likely that there is dust accumulation or other obstructions in the battery compartment.
3. Clean the Camera Sensors & Lens!
In this method, you will understand how important are the light sensors of the Instax 11 and how not cleaning them will drastically reduce the quality of the photos taken.
Instax 11 Mini uses light sensors to calculate the brightness of the photo and crystalize the environment you’re capturing.
- Cleaning Instax Mini 11 Light Sensors:
The sensors of the Instax Mini 11 are near the lens, beneath the “INSTAX” logo on the camera. Use a wet cloth to clean the light sensors and wait for them to fully dry up before the test photo.
- Cleaning Instax Mini 11 Photo Lens:
Locate the lens of the camera on the front and use an anti-fiber cloth (or regular cleaning cloth) with a little bit of rubbing alcohol to clean it. All dust/debris on the lens of the camera will be printed on the pictures you take.
4. Factory Reset the Instax Camera
The factory reset is a proven method to resolve any issues with the Instax Mini 11 camera.
If there’s any whiteness on the pictures that came out, fragments, or the camera simply refuses to take a shot, then this method should help.
Here’s how to complete a factory reset on Instax Mini 11:
- Power off the Instax Mini camera with the power button.
- Open the battery latch and gently take out the batteries.
- Locate the Reset button inside the battery compartment.
- Tightly press and hold that reset button for ~10 seconds.
- Reinsert the batteries and close the battery compartment.
- Check if the Instax Mini 11 camera is now able to turn on.
Tip: Feel free to use a pin or a paper clip to press the reset button tightly!
5. Take Pictures Correctly
To know why isn’t my Instax Mini 11 working you must review and hopefully improve the technique of taking photos.
Extremely low light conditions and shooting against very bright light sources cause flare or overexposure of the film, potentially ruining the quality of the photos.
Let’s review the conditions for taking the best-quality pictures with Instax Mini 11!
Condition #1 Subject Distance
There must be a distance between the lens of the Instax Mini and the subject you’re capturing. If you’re standing too close to the target while holding the camera, the picture will come out blurry and unrecognizable.
Condition #2 Light/Dark Source
It’s not recommended to take photos in a very bright or very dark environment. You need to try and balance the lighting as much as possible so you can know the best angle to shoot from.
Condition #3 Scenery / Angle
One of the key factors to capturing the best-quality pictures is shooting with the correct scenery.
Try to regulate the background light of the subject to maximize the picture’s quality. If there are bright light sources in the background, it could interfere with the picture you’ve taken.
Tip: The natural light from the sun makes better pictures than light from your electrical bulb!
6. Insert New Film into the Camera
Instax Mini 11’s are really sensitive and can be damaged easily when exposed to sunlight, scratched on, or if the film touches the ground.
The result of damaged camera film is blank/black photos, blurry segments, and a drastic drop in the photo’s quality.
- What Film Does Instax Mini 11 Use?
All Instax Mini cameras use FUJIFILM instant film that can be purchased online at any time!
| FUJIFILM Instax Mini Instax Film – Parameters | |
| Photo Picture Size | 62mm x 46 mm |
| Lens | 2 elements, 2 components, f = 60mm, 1:12:7 |
| Viewfinder | 0.37x real image finder, with target spot |
| Shooting Range | Beyond 0.3m |
| Shutter | Electronically programmed shutter |
| Exposure Control | Lv 5.0 up to 14.5 (ISO 800) [Automatic] |
| Film Ejection | Automatic |
| Film Developing Time | ~90 seconds |
| Flash | Constant firing flash |
How to Replace Instax Mini 11 Film?
We strongly recommend replacing the camera’s film during the night with the lights off. Feel free to use a very weak and distant light source, while replacing the film.
When you have a dark environment to work in, follow the steps below:
- Open the instant film you’ve purchased.
- Open the latch at the back of the camera.
- Take out the current film from the compartment.
- Load the new batch of instant film into the camera.
- Close the holding latch and take a picture.
Need More Help?
In case your Instax Mini 11 is not working or something is still wrong after attempting all of the solutions in this guide, it’s time to seek qualified help.
We recommend first contacting Instax Support, or checking the warranty of your product and going to the local merchant. Good luck!
Quick Recap:
In this guide, we’ve learned why isn’t my Instax Mini 11 working, and the best solution is to replace the batteries, and the soft-reset camera.
In case the issues continue, it’s very recommended to perform a factory reset and check whether the camera’s film is faulty.
Read Next: How to Fix Instax Mini 11 Blurry Photos?
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.