Instax Mini 90 Troubleshooting

The camera will not turn on.

Ensure the battery is fully charged, and that it is connected to the proper +/- terminals. If the camera still does not power on, the battery is defective. See our battery replacement guide.

If the battery is not securely connected to the proper terminals, it will not deliver power to the camera. See our battery contact replacement guide.

There is a blinking 'E' in the film counter window.

The battery or film are either not recognizable types, or are not secure in their compartments. Make sure the device is off, remove the battery to reset it, and then load a new set of film. See our film cartridge replacement guide. Put the battery back in the camera, and turn it on.

If the issue is still apparent, contact the manufacturer for a replacement battery.

If the camera has been dropped, the impact can damage the lens unit by cracking the lens or bending the track on which the lens travels. See our guide on lens unit replacement.

The subject of the photo is not clearly pictured.

The subject of the photo must be at least 60 cm away from the camera lens. If a closer photo is needed, attach a close-up lens.

Move to a spot that illuminates the subject more, or where the light is more evenly distributed.

If there are smudges on the lens, use a microfiber cloth and a few drops of lens cleaning solution to wipe the lens--starting at the center and spiraling outward.

If there is dirt or dust on the lens, gently remove it with a soft-bristled brush or a can of compressed air.

Remember that the key to a clean lens is prevention. Try to minimize all contact with the lens, especially cleaning.

A few spots appear in a line across the photo.

Foreign objects can get stuck on the film roller if the camera is not kept in a clean environment. Try to remove these impurities with compressed air. If this does not work, do not attempt further repairs. Contact the manufacturer for a solution.

Once printed, photos appear too dark.

Move to a spot that illuminates the subject more, or where the light is more evenly distributed.

Check the lighting mode on camera to see if the mode matches the specific environment. For example, the indoor lighting mode is used for a poorly lit environment.

If the flash and the light sensor in the front of the camera are blocked, photos will come out dark. Make sure nothing gets in between the flash and the subject of the photo.

Film ejected from camera has no picture, just black.

Replace the motherboard of the flash. Do this by removing all of the external screws to expose the flash device, as well as the motherboard in question. Contact the manufacturer for a replacement motherboard.

If the flash motherboard is not the problem, then it is likely that the photo flash capacitor does not hold charge anymore. See our capacitor replacement guide.

The shutter may have gotten stuck, resulting in a completely black photo. Contact the manufacturer for a solution.

Once printed, photos are white or brighter than they should be.

The film cover may not be closed properly. If any excess light enters the film, it causes the photos to be too bright when developed.

Never remove the film cartridge if there is film remaining. This will expose the film to light, rendering it useless.

If a photo is taken towards a reflective surface or a bright light, the film will be overexposed.