ERR 05
Canon DSLR Camera
Severity: ModerateWhat it means
ERR 05 means the built-in flash could not fire or did not fully charge.
The flash mechanism may be stuck, the capacitor may be weak, or the pop-up mechanism is jammed.
Try gently lifting the flash manually and taking a test shot.
Affected Models
- Canon EOS Rebel T7
- Canon EOS Rebel T8i
- Canon EOS 90D
- Canon EOS 80D
- Canon cameras with built-in pop-up flash
Common Causes
- Pop-up flash mechanism stuck or jammed
- Flash capacitor cannot fully charge (weak battery)
- Flash unit internal failure
- Flash firing too rapidly — overheated
- External flash (Speedlite) communication error
How to Fix It
-
Make sure the battery is fully charged.
The flash needs significant power to charge.
A low battery may not have enough energy to fire the flash. -
Gently try to raise the pop-up flash manually.
If the flash is physically stuck, gently lift it.
Do not force it — the hinge is fragile. -
Wait 30 seconds between flash shots if the flash is overheating.
Rapid continuous flash firing can overheat the flash tube.
Let it cool down before trying again. -
If using an external Speedlite: remove it, clean the hot shoe contacts, and reattach.
Dirty hot shoe contacts cause communication errors with external flash units.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take photos without the flash?
Yes.
Switch to a mode that does not require flash (Av, Tv, M) or disable flash in the menu.
ERR 05 only prevents flash photography — all other functions work.
Do Canon mirrorless cameras have built-in flash?
Most Canon EOS R mirrorless cameras do NOT have built-in flash.
They use external Speedlites via the hot shoe.
ERR 05 is mainly a DSLR issue.