Battery Error
Panasonic Digital Camera / Mirrorless
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
A Panasonic Lumix battery error usually means the camera cannot communicate with the battery correctly — most often caused by a third-party battery without the required authentication chip, or dirty battery contacts.
Affected Models
- Panasonic Lumix S5 II
- Panasonic Lumix S1
- Panasonic Lumix GH6
- Panasonic Lumix GH5
- Panasonic Lumix G9
- Panasonic Lumix GX9
Common Causes
- Third-party battery without Panasonic authentication chip
- Battery contacts dirty or oxidised
- Battery not seated correctly in the compartment
- Genuine battery aged and below minimum voltage
- Battery charged outside the camera with an incompatible charger
- Cold weather reducing battery voltage below camera threshold
How to Fix It
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Remove and reinsert the battery.
Open the battery compartment, remove the battery fully, wait 10 seconds, and reinsert it firmly until the latch clicks. A slightly misaligned battery causes contact issues that the camera reads as a battery fault.
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Clean the battery contacts.
Use a dry cotton swab to gently clean the contacts on both the battery and inside the camera battery compartment. Oxidation or dust on these contacts causes voltage communication failures that trigger battery errors.
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Replace third-party batteries with genuine Panasonic batteries.
Panasonic cameras authenticate batteries via a chip and display a warning or error for batteries without the correct chip. Panasonic DMW-BLF19, DMW-BLK22, or model-appropriate genuine batteries are required for error-free operation. Some third-party batteries work initially but trigger errors as the camera firmware updates its authentication requirements.
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Charge the battery fully.
Use the Panasonic supplied charger (or in-camera USB-C charging where available) for a complete charge. Avoid quick charges that leave the battery at 80%. Some Lumix cameras require a minimum voltage that a partially charged battery does not meet.
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Warm the battery if shooting in cold conditions.
Temperatures below 0°C can reduce battery voltage enough to trigger a battery error even in a charged battery. Keep a spare battery in an inside coat pocket. Once warmed to room temperature (10–15 minutes), the error typically resolves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Panasonic Lumix say 'This battery cannot be used' with a new battery?
Panasonic Lumix cameras check battery chip authentication. If the battery does not have the correct Panasonic authentication chip, the camera displays 'This battery cannot be used' even if the battery is fully charged. This message appears most commonly with third-party or counterfeit batteries. Using a genuine Panasonic battery for your model resolves this immediately.