Nikon Coolpix AW130 Troubleshooting

You cannot capture that awkward underwater family moment.

First, make sure that the camera has some juice. Try charging the camera using an alternative electrical outlet in your home.

The camera may need a new battery altogether. Visit our battery replacement guide on the Nikon Coolpix AW130 homepage.

Ensure that the shutter button isn’t stuck. The shutter button is located at the top of the camera, next to the on/off button. Since this camera is waterproof and often used by avid travelers, sand and dirt can become trapped in the button groove. You may need to use a soft towel to clean off the surface. If this doesn’t work, the button may need to be replaced.

The motherboard could also be faulty. If you have replaced the battery and your shutter button is A-OK, this chip-like controller may need to be replaced. Refer to the user manual, which can be found here. Also visit our guide on the Nikon Coolpix AW130 homepage.

Your trip to Costa Rica looks a bit ominous.

First, try to turn your flash on. This button is a small lightning bolt on the back face of the camera. If the flash does not turn on, the actual button may need to be replaced.

If the flash is on and the photos are still dark, the filament, which is located in the center face of the camera, may need to be replaced.

If you were in Mexico, not Seattle.

If your vacation photos are blurred, try using a soft cloth to clean the lens on the front face.

The auto focus is known to be indecisive or hesitant in this model. Try switching through the camera's various modes, taking a photo with each.

If this doesn’t work, you may have condensation in the lens. Though Nikon intended for this camera to be waterproof, moisture can still creep into the camera. Most of this moisture enters the camera through the battery door on the camera’s side. Wear can break down the seal. Open the battery door and remove the battery and SD card. From there, submerge the camera in a small bowl of water for at least a minute. Remove the camera, wipe the residual water from the camera body, and open the battery compartment once again. If there is water in this space, the camera’s battery door needs to be replaced.

No matter how many times you hold down that on/off button.

First, charge your camera. Perhaps try an alternative outlet in your home, as it could be an electrical issue. If the camera still won’t turn on, the issue could rest in the battery contacts. Open the battery compartment door and remove the battery. Using a soft cloth, wipe off the metallic battery contacts. Reinsert the battery. If the camera still won’t turn on, the battery may need to be replaced.

If, after replacing the battery, the camera won’t turn on it, the problem may rest in the motherboard. The motherboard is the camera’s “brain,” as it controls all basic functions. This may need to be replaced. Consult the manual, found here. Also visit our repair guide on the Nikon Coolpix AW130 homepage.

If you just can’t give it life.

If the camera won’t charge at all, the problem may rest in the charger. Try to use an alternative charger and an alternative electrical outlet.

If this does not fix the issue, the charging port, a small metallic port in the battery compartment, may be ridden with dust or sand. Using canned air, clean out the small compartment. If this does not work, the charging port may need to be replaced.

All you want is to create a nifty slideshow.

There are two means of transferring photos from the Nikon Coolpix AW130 to your computer – the SD card and the USB cable.

If you are using the 32GB High Speed SD Memory Card, first ensure that the card is inserted properly. If all is good here, remove the SD card from its port and clean the SD port with canned air. Also clean the metallic contacts on the SD card. If this doesn’t help, try a different SD card.

If all else fails, the SD port may need to be replaced.

If the photos won’t transfer over your computer using a USB cable, try cleaning out the Micro-USB cable port. This is inside the battery compartment. Similar to the charging port, this compartment can become ridden with sand and dirt. If cleaning does not work, try an alternative USB cable or alternative USB port on your computer.

If cleaning the port does not work, the Micro-USB port may need to be replaced.