Instax Mini 12 Blinking Orange Light? (Try These First!)

Whenever you see your Instax Mini 12 blinking orange light, you should know that in 90% of the cases, this is related to the batteries.

Whether it’s a depletion, incorrect positioning, or an incompatibility, this quick guide will help you out.

When the orange light does occur, your Instax Mini 12 will generally stop taking photos until the orange light is no longer there.

In short, this makes your Instax Mini 12 completely unusable.

Note: In rare cases of a persistent orange light, even after the batteries are replaced, there could be a mechanical fault, such as a disconnected ribbon cable or “jammed” eject mechanism.

How to Fix When the Instax Mini 12 Blinking Orange light?

Note: Have you tried turning off the Instax Mini 12 for at least ~5–10 minutes?

1. “Soft” Reset the Instax Mini 12 Camera

The “soft” reset is a simple procedure that’s extremely effective against issues with the camera.

That’s why we recommend ejecting the current batteries of the camera for several minutes to discharge the hardware before inserting a fresh set of double-A alkalines.

Here’s where the Instax batteries are located and how to take them out:

• Locate the battery compartment on the left side of the camera.
• Push the compartment downwards until it detaches from the pins. 
• Now, access and remove both of the AA alkaline batteries inside.
• Rotate the lens ring to the Off side to power off the Instax Mini 12.

When reinserting the batteries, verify they are upright in the compartment and face the correct electrical poles (positive and negative).

Only then, close the compartment and rotate the lens ring to the “On” side to test the functionality of the Instax Mini 12.

⚠️Alert: If the camera refuses to turn on after reinserting the batteries, replace them with a brand-new set of high-quality units (Duracell or Energizer).

2. Verify That You’re Using Correct Batteries

Well, besides depleted batteries, the orange lamp on the Instax Mini 12 might also come on if the batteries are incompatible.

Even if the camera manages to turn on and drain power from the current batteries, a mismatched polarity could lead to severe camera problems in the long run.

• The correct battery model for the Instax Mini is the double-A LR6 alkaline.

Verify you have inserted brand-new LR6 alkaline batteries and matched the polarity of the compartment, and check if the orange indicator is still flashing.

3. Clean the Instax Mini Battery Compartment

Perhaps, the Instax Mini 12 orange light blinking is because of a failure to recognize the inserted batteries.

This could often happen if the electrical poles of the camera are obstructed, or there is a blockage on the positive/negative pole on either of the camera batteries.

For cleaning the Instax battery compartment, you’ll need:

Now, here’s how to clean the Instax Mini 12 compartment:

1. Open the battery compartment to examine the contacts.
2. Next, gently wipe the battery contacts with a dry cloth.
3. Proceed with inspection for debris under the lens area.
4. Now, carefully remove any obstructions around the lens.
5. Test the camera to see if the orange light stops blinking.

⚠️Warning: Do not reassemble the Instax Mini if the battery compartment is still not fully dry!

4. Reset the Instax Mini 12 to Defaults

Perhaps, a factory reset could permanently resolve the orange blinking light, as long as your issue is on the software end.

The reset procedure is rather simple and can be conducted even while the Intax camera is off, but just in case, verify the lens barrel is extended towards “ON”.

Follow these steps to factory reset the Instax Mini 12:

1. Confirm the Instax Mini 12 is powered on with the lens extended.
2. Now, open the battery compartment located on the camera’s side.
3. Remove both of the AA batteries while the camera is powered on.
4. Wait 5 seconds, then place the batteries back in the compartment.
5. Push the lens barrel towards “Off”, wait 10 seconds, and extend it.

After reinserting the batteries, verify both of the alkaline units are correctly oriented and make proper contact with the electrical poles.

In case the orange light is still there, then the problem could be caused by a defect in the hardware.

5. Inspect the Instax Peripheral Hardware

Any defects with the Instax Mini 12 hardware could often prevent the camera from working, especially if it is a more essential component, such as the lens mechanism or rollers. 

Before proceeding with a thorough inspection of the camera’s internal hardware, we recommend checking the peripheral components that could also cause the orange light.

Here’s how to access the hardware of the Instax Mini 12:

1. Power off your camera and remove the batteries.
2. Uninstall the film pack, avoiding light exposure.
3. Undo the bottom, side, and film compartment.
4. Next, gently pry apart all the Instax components.
5. Then, access the hardware to start the inspection.

Now, you must verify that each of these components is in a proper condition:

#1 – Lens Mechanism

Examine the lens barrel for sand or misalignment causing noise or extension issues, and clean gently with a soft brush to verify that the extension and retraction are smooth.

#2 – Ejection Rollers

Next, check the film ejection rollers for debris buildup that may cause noise, and clean with a soft cloth and isopropyl alcohol for proper function.

#3 – Shutter Assembly

Look at the shutter near the lens for debris or damage affecting operation, using a brush to clear sand and restore performance.

Note: If the issue persists, then the issue lies with an internal hardware component.

6. Inspect the Instax Internal Hardware (Advanced)

In case the Instax Mini 12 blinking orange light does not disappear, regardless of what you’ve tried so far, then it is time for a thorough inspection of the camera hardware. 

During the previous step, you have only accessed and examined the peripheral components of the Instax Mini 12, which might or might not have been responsible for the flashing orange light. 

So, if the issue persists, then it is one of the essential components of the camera!

⚠️Alert: Disassembling the Instax Mini 12 voids the warranty of the product. Proceed with the disassembly with extreme caution to avoid damaging the internal components.

#1 – Main Control Board

Inspect the main control board of the Instax Mini 12 for signs of insufficient power delivery, such as burnt spots or loose ribbon cables, and verify that the connectors are in proper condition. 

Also, check if there are blown capacitors with split-open heads or untied circuits, which is an instant justification of where the issue comes from.

#2 – Inspect the Ribbon Cables

Also, check the ribbon cables for disconnection or damage that could disrupt communication between components.

You must verify that each of the cables is securely seated without any wear or damage that might have led to the mechanical fault.

#3 – Inspect the Eject Mechanism

Check if the eject mechanism is jammed as a result of dust accumulation or if any of the parts have been misaligned.

This prevents the camera from using up all of the film and will eventually block the mechanism and cause the orange light to come on.

Note: If you were not able to detect the problem, contact Instax Support!