Canon PowerShot S100 Troubleshooting

When you press the power button, the camera won't turn on.

If the battery is inserted backwards, then the camera will not turn on. Check that the battery is placed correctly inside the camera.

If the battery cover is not properly closed, then the battery may not be connected properly and the camera won’t turn on. Make sure that the battery cover is closed correctly.

If the battery is too low on energy, then the camera won’t turn on. Remove and recharge the battery for 20 minutes, reinsert the battery, secure the cover, and try to turn the camera back on. If the camera turns on, then the battery has low power and should be recharged completely.

If the camera still does not turn on, then the battery or battery charger may be broken and should be replaced.

If the motherboard has suffered water damage or physical damage from hard contact with surfaces, then the camera may fail to turn on. In this case the camera may have to be replaced.

There was a widespread problem with this camera’s lens that affected specific batches of cameras. The screen identifies the error as a “Lens Error.” However, the lens may need to be replaced entirely. Canon discusses this specific issue on this page.

When you turn off the camera, the lens remains extended.

To resolve this issue first sure that the camera is turned off. Then open the battery cover, and remove and reinsert the battery and the memory card. Close the battery cover completely. Turn the camera on and then turn the camera off again. If this does not retract the lens, the lens may be broken and might need to be replaced.

Nothing displays on the LCD screen when your camera is in use.

If the camera is off, the screen won’t display anything. Make sure the camera is turned on by pressing the power button

If the screen is cracked or damaged, then it may not display anything. Follow this guide to replace the LCD screen.

Pictures you take appear blurry when they are displayed on the LCD screen or when you print them.

Pictures may appear blurry if the LCD screen is dirty. Clean the LCD screen with a soft cloth, such as a microfiber cloth.

The camera may be capturing blurry photos if the lens is dirty. Clean the lens with a soft cloth, such as a microfiber cloth.

The camera has a focus feature that is activated by pressing the shutter button halfway. Make sure to depress the shutter button half way, and hold it there for a moment, before fully depressing it to take the photo.

Sometimes photos don’t come out desirable because of insufficient lighting. If you are indoors, or in a dark environment, using the flash may help.

The camera’s capture settings may also be effecting the quality of the photos. Reviewing the “Setting the Shutter Speed” portion of the user manual may also help.

When I try to take pictures or videos, the LCD screen on my camera displays a 'Memory Card Full' message.

If the camera's memory card is full, it will not allow you to take additional pictures or videos. If you don't want to delete any previous photos, an additional memory card can be purchased. A more practical option is to move photos and videos from the camera to a computer or laptop. To move content from the camera to a computer, connect the camera to a computer using the USB cable that came with the camera. Once connected, follow the instructions on your computer for opening picture and video files. Cut the content you want to keep and paste it into any desired file on your computer.