Canon PowerShot S230 Troubleshooting

The display screen on your camera either doesn't show anything or isn't showing the correct image.

If your display is blank or dysfunctional, it may be because your screen is cracked. If the crack is small (less than 10 centimeters), it can be replaced but does not have to. If the crack is large (greater than 10 centimeters), the screen needs to be replaced.

If your display is blank or dysfunctional, it may be because your camera isn't turned on. Press and hold the power button, which is the larger of the two buttons on top of the camera on the left side.

Your camera will not sync with the computer.

If your camera won't sync with the computer,you might have not downloaded your camera software. Make sure that you have the correct software downloaded onto your computer. The software should have come in the same packaging with the camera. The camera manual has information on what system requirements the software has.

If your camera won't sync with the computer, you may have incorrectly connected the camera cord. Check that the cable is inserted into both the camera and the computer correctly. The cord should be inserted into the "AV out" slot on the right side of the camera. Do not force either end into the camera or computer, as you may damage the camera further.

Pressing the power button doesn't turn the camera on.

If your camera won't turn on, your battery may be dead. The battery charger may need to be plugged in for a full 130 minutes for the battery to charge completely. First, check that there are no visible signs of damage to the battery (i.e., deep scratches or dents). Second, check that the battery is inserted correctly in the battery charger. If the battery is still fully drained of power after the charger has been plugged in for 30 minutes or more, the battery may need to be replaced. See battery guide here.

If the camera has been dropped or tossed around, the battery may have been slightly dislodged inside the camera. Remove the battery and be sure to replace it correctly, checking that the battery's edges fit into the camera uniformly. If the battery or the structure of the camera have been damaged, the battery may not fit securely. The damaged casing or battery may need to be replaced. See battery guide here. See camera casing guide here.

If your camera won't turn on, the battery charger may not be working properly. The battery charger has a light that will turn on when the battery has been placed inside and the unit plugged in. This light will change from red to green when the battery is fully charged. Be sure that the charger cable is inserted correctly in the power source. If the light remains off when the charger is plugged in, the charger may need to be replaced. See the additional links on the device page for more information on purchasing a new charger.

You press the buttons on the camera and they will not respond to your touch.

If your button sensors are worn, then the buttons will not respond as well to your touch as they used to. The responsiveness of the sensors behind the buttons (inside the camera) may decrease with extensive use. Remove the outer casing of the camera to see the the buttons from the back (from inside the camera). If any part of the buttons on the inside of the camera is loose, cracked, broken, or missing, one or more of the buttons may need to be replaced. See button repair guide here.

If your buttons aren't working, it may be from extensive use. Buttons can wear and crack over time. You may find that getting a button to work requires you to press significantly harder than you needed to when the camera was new (or when it was refurbished if you bought a used camera). If getting a particular button to work is difficult or impossible, look at the buttons closely to see what condition they are in. First, be sure that none of the buttons are loose, cracked, or broken. See button repair guide here.

The camera lens doesn't extend when the camera is turned on or retract when the camera is turned off. Try to restart the camera.

If your lens isn't working properly, your battery and memory card covers may not be closed. Make sure the battery cover or memory card slot cover is not open while the power is on. Close the battery cover or memory card slot cover and turn power off.

If there is something obstructing the lens, it will not extend or retract. Make sure nothing is blocking the lens when the camera is turned on.

If a lens error message pops up on the screen, the lens may have got stuck while extending or retracting. The error message should pop up in the lower-left corner of the screen and the camera will beep a few times. Try restarting the camera. If restarting the camera doesn’t work, place the camera down with the lens facing up. Check to see if the spacing around the lens is even all the way around. If the spacing is not all the same, gently push down on the areas where there spacing is larger. There should be a clicking sound when the lens pops back into place. If this solution doesn’t work the lens may need to be replaced. You may also have a problem with your logic board. See logic board guide here.

If your lens will not extend or retract, there may be something caught in the lens. Dirt or dust particles often get stuck in the lens. If dust is trapped, the lens cover may not close or it may not extend and retract smoothly. To clean the lens, try using compressed air, which can be found at an office supply store. Move the fine tip around the lens area while facing the camera downwards so that the dirt falls out.

The flash doesn't fire when you take a picture.

If the flash doesn't work, it may be set to off. Make sure the flash setting is on. To change the flash settings, press the lightning bolt button to the right of the screen.

If the flash will not discharge with the flash setting on, the assembly may be faulty or worn out. The flash assembly may need to be replaced.