How to Fix a Dead Battery in Your Camera

Having a dead battery in your camera can be extremely frustrating, especially if you’re out shooting and suddenly your camera shuts off. However, there are several things you can try to bring your battery back to life. As a professional photographer with over 10 years of experience, I’ve had to troubleshoot my fair share of battery issues, so I’m happy to share what I’ve learned.

Assessing the Battery

The first step is to assess the actual condition of the battery. Here are some key things to check:

Symptoms of a Dead Battery

The camera won’t turn on at all
The battery icon shows empty
The camera shuts off immediately after being turned on

Inspect the Battery and Contacts

Examine the battery for any physical damage like cracks or leaks
Check that none of the contacts are bent or dirty

Test With a Voltmeter

Use a voltmeter to check the battery’s charge
A healthy Li-ion battery should show around 3.6-4.2 volts
A reading below 3 volts likely means the battery is dead

Try an Alternate Battery

Test your camera with another battery if available
If the alternate battery works, then you know the issue is with the original

If upon inspection the battery shows no physical damage and maintains some charge, there is a chance you can still bring it back to life.

Attempt to Charge the Battery

The next step is to attempt charging the seemingly dead battery:

Use the Camera to Charge

Leave the battery in the camera and connect the camera directly to a wall charger via USB cable overnight

Use an External Charger

Use a standalone third-party battery charger for the night
This isolates whether the issue is with the camera or battery

Try Different Chargers and Cables

Switch between multiple chargers and USB cables to rule them out as factors
Faulty chargers or cables could prevent a good charge

Leave on Charge for Several Hours

It can take more than a few hours to apply enough charge to restart a depleted Li-ion battery

If after 8-12 hours on charge there is still no life from the battery, then it likely needs to be reset.

Resetting the Battery Circuitry

If a Li-ion camera battery has drained completely to zero volts, the circuitry can get stuck and fail to charge properly. The solution is to manually reset or trick the battery’s microchip:

Perform a Power Drain

Leave battery in camera and turn camera on
Leave overnight until all power has drained
This clears out any residual charge

voltage Depletion

Use a small power resistor to drain battery to ~0 volts
This forces the microchip to reset

Jump Start the Protection Circuit

Apply a separate 3.7V Li-ion cell directly to the battery contacts
This will activate the protection PCB and allow recharging

Be very careful when attempting advanced battery fixes like jumps. I take no responsibility for any issues or damage.

After resetting, try charging the battery again via external charger and camera. If the battery now charges normally, the reset likely worked.

Cleaning the Battery Contacts

If you’ve determined the battery has charge but the camera isn’t recognizing it, the issue may be dirty contacts preventing a proper connection:

Examine Contacts

Closely inspect the battery contact points for dirt, oil, or grime

Clean With Isopropyl Alcohol

Use q-tips dipped in isopropyl alcohol to gently clean
Allow contacts to fully dry before reinserting battery

Don’t Use Other Solvents

Avoid acetone, thinner, or other harsh chemicals
These can strip metal or damage plastic casings

Check Camera Contacts

While you have the battery out, inspect camera’s slot contacts
Clean these gently with isopropyl alcohol as needed

Cleaning contacts can solve a lot of seemingly dead battery issues, so it’s one of the easiest things to try.

Testing for Issues with the Camera

In rare cases, there may be an underlying issue with the camera itself:

Test Battery in Another Camera

Try the questionable battery in another compatible camera
If it powers on in another body, suspect camera issues

Reset Camera to Factory Settings

Use camera menu system to restore factory defaults
This clears any software bugs corrupting battery communication

Test Camera Battery Slot Voltage

Use voltmeter probes in the camera battery slot/contacts
You should get a reading around 0-3 volts
No voltage could indicate internal electrical failure

If all evidence points to a fully charged battery but your camera isn’t turning on, it will likely require service to address internal issues.

When to Replace a Dead Battery

If after troubleshooting and attempting to reset your camera battery it still won’t hold a charge, then it’s time to replace it.

Declining Maximum Charge

Healthy Li-ion batteries charge to ~4.2 volts
If your battery won’t charge past 3.7V, its lifecycle is ending

No Charge After Resets

If voltage depletion and protection circuit reset attempts fail, the cell components have likely failed

Cracks or Leaks Present

Any visible cracks or electrolyte leaks mean the battery is toast
Immediately wrap in tape and properly dispose of

At around 300-500 discharge cycles, most Li-ion batteries reach the end of their usable lifespan. Buying a fresh battery is cheaper than replacing a whole camera if a faulty battery were to leak and cause damage!

Battery Safety Tips

To avoid ending up with dead batteries and maximize cell longevity, here are some of my top safety tips:

Store Batteries at Room Temperature

Avoid leaving batteries in hot cars or direct sunlight
High heat degrades chemicals over time

Charge Fully Before Storage

Don’t leave batteries discharged for extended periods
Self-discharge over months can drain them to unsafe levels

Avoid Knock-Off Replacement Batteries

Stick to reputable brands for quality cells
Saving money on no-name cells isn’t worth the risk

Inspect Frequently for Damage

Examine batteries for any dents, cracks, leaks etc
Immediately replace if physical damage is spotted

Following basic safety and maintenance best practices will give you peace of mind and the best performance from your camera batteries.

Final Thoughts

Reviving a seemingly dead camera battery is often possible by troubleshooting charging issues, resetting circuitry, cleaning contacts, or addressing problems with the camera itself. However, if after exhausting all options your battery still fails to hold a charge, it’s time to retire and replace it.

With nearly 10 years as a professional photographer and video creator for major brands, I’ve learned to be prepared for dead batteries with spares on hand. But taking time to deeply assess and attempt to revive batteries has saved me from having to replace them before their time.

I hope by sharing my decade of battery wisdom, you now feel empowered to take steps to troubleshoot your camera batteries and safely extend their lifetimes. Let me know in the comments if you have any other dead camera battery fixes I may have missed!