Camera Battery Won't Charge or Drains Fast? Checks to Run First
Most "dead battery" problems are cheaper than a new battery. Run the checks in order: reseat the battery and wipe its contacts, make sure the battery and the camera are not too hot or too cold, try a different cable or adapter, confirm the battery is the right model, and only then suspect age. If the same battery fails on a charger you know works, replace the battery. If a known-good battery fails on your charger, replace the charger.
The examples below come from two camera makers' own support pages. Your camera may behave differently, so treat them as the pattern and read your own manual for the details. For background on chargers, see our charger explainer.
Check 1: seating and contacts
Start with the simple mechanical checks. A Sony support page for one camera says to insert the battery in the correct direction and press the lock lever until it locks. It adds that if the charge lamp flashes or stays off, the terminal may be dirty or the battery faulty, and advises wiping the terminal with a dry cloth and recharging. It also says not to touch the terminal with your hands or any metal object.
A Canon guide for one camera gives a similar remedy for a "battery communication error" message: remove and reinstall the battery and wipe dirty electrical contacts with a soft cloth. Do this on the battery and also on the charger or battery chamber contacts, with the power off and the battery removed. Use a dry cloth only, and do not scrape the contacts.
Check 2: temperature
Heat and cold both stop charging. The Sony page says charging may fail if the camera is hot after a long video shoot, or if the room temperature is outside 10 to 30 degrees Celsius (50 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). The Canon page says a charger lamp that is off or blinking can mean the battery is too hot, and that charging resumes automatically once it cools. Those are the figures for those cameras; yours may differ, so check your manual.
The fix is patience: let the battery and camera reach room temperature, then try again. If you shoot in the cold, read our cold-weather battery guide, which explains why you should warm a battery before charging it.
Check 3: charger, cable and power source
Many cameras now charge over USB, which adds variables. The Sony page says that some USB adapters cannot charge the battery, which can show up as the lamp lighting for a short time and then going out. It advises using the maker's recommended adapter or a USB PD device if the camera supports it, and it notes that on some cameras charging works through one USB port but not another. Read your manual for which port charges the battery.
- Try a different wall adapter and cable. Cheap cables vary in quality.
- Try a different outlet, not a power strip or a laptop port that may supply too little.
- Look at the charger lamp and compare its pattern with the manual. Lamp meanings differ between makers.
- Test the charger with a second battery, if you have one, to see whether the fault is in the battery or the charger.
If you charge from a power bank, our power bank guide covers what to check. Always confirm that your camera supports charging from USB.
Check 4: is the battery the right one?
The Canon guide says to use only the maker's genuine battery pack for that camera, and says that a charger lamp may blink fast in orange when the protection circuit stops charging after a charger or battery fault or failed communication with a non-maker pack. The Sony page likewise says third-party products may charge improperly or cause malfunctions. That does not mean every third-party battery is bad, but a mismatch is a common suspect. Compare the model printed on your battery with your manual, and read our OEM versus third-party guide if you use a non-maker pack.
A full battery will not recharge
One more case: the Canon page says its camera's charger will not recharge a battery whose remaining capacity is 94 percent or higher. A battery that is nearly full may therefore seem not to charge. Check the manual for your charger's behavior before deciding the charger is faulty.
Check 5: the battery is draining fast
If the battery charges but empties quickly, look at what the camera is doing. The Canon page lists habits that use more power: holding the shutter button half-pressed for long periods, frequent autofocus without shooting, using the image stabilizer, frequent screen use, long live view or movie recording, and wireless functions. Switch off what you do not need, and compare the battery life again.
Also check the age. The Canon page says to look at the recharge performance level in the camera's battery information menu, and to replace the battery if the performance is poor. Many cameras have a similar battery screen; your manual shows where. A battery that holds less than it used to is normal with age, and a replacement is then the right answer. Our guide on how many batteries you need helps you decide how many spares to carry.
| Symptom | First thing to try | If it persists |
|---|---|---|
| Charge lamp off or flashing | Reseat the battery, wipe the contacts | Try another battery or charger |
| Charges in one place but not another | Compare the cable, adapter and port | Replace the cable or adapter |
| Battery feels hot, or the lamp pauses | Let it cool to room temperature | Check the manual for temperature limits |
| Error about battery communication | Confirm the model and reseat it | Contact the maker |
| Charges but drains fast | Check settings and recent use | Check battery age and replace |
When to stop and replace it
If a battery looks swollen, leaks, smells odd or gets hot while idle, stop using it and contact the maker or your local disposal service for advice. Do not keep charging it. For anything else, replace the battery only after the checks above, and keep the old one out of your bag so it does not get mixed with good ones.
Searches that match the check
A replacement battery matching your model
Use the exact model printed on your battery or listed in your manual, and check that the listing names your camera.
A charger or USB cable to test with
A second charger or a known-good cable helps you tell whether the fault is in the battery or the charging path.
Reseat the battery, wipe the contacts, let it reach room temperature, try another cable and adapter, and confirm the battery is the right model before you buy anything. Replace the battery if it fails on a known-good charger or if its own health screen says it is worn out.
Read for this guide: Sony support article on a camera battery that will not charge (seating, dirty terminal, temperature range, USB adapters and ports) and Canon camera user guide, troubleshooting (charger lamp meanings, genuine pack, communication error, battery information screen, power-hungry habits). Each describes one camera; yours may differ, so read your own manual, including its temperature limits and lamp meanings.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my camera battery not charge?
Common causes are a dirty contact, heat or cold, a cable or adapter that cannot deliver enough power, a battery that is not the right model, or an old battery. Run the checks in order before you replace anything.
Why does my charger light blink?
Meanings differ by maker. Some chargers blink when the battery is too hot or when a fault is detected, so check your manual for the lamp pattern.
Does a third-party battery cause charging problems?
It can, because some cameras and chargers expect the maker's battery. Compare the model with your manual and use a pack that names your camera.
Why does my battery drain fast?
Screen use, live view, video, wireless features, stabilization and constant autofocus all use power. An old battery also holds less, so check its health screen.
Is it safe to keep using a swollen battery?
No. Stop using a battery that looks swollen, leaks or gets hot, and contact the maker or a local disposal service for advice.