The flash wont work when i take a picture. should it work on auto mode?

Yes, but not in the Auto mode, where the camera decides whether or not it needs the flash. Switch to the P mode, which works like Auto except you have control over the flash, exposure, and other factors. See pages 26 and 42 of this manual.

hi,
is it on "auto mode" or not....if yes go to a dark place and try to take a picture it should come automatically...you cant override on this mode..to make a manual set up i.e forcing flash to fire all the time you should switch to "P" mode..
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Hope this helps!

You must have a software glitch because the flash is supposed to be in the auto mode when the selector is in auto, unless you manually turn the flash off and the flash should go back to auto every time the camera is turned off and back on. Here's a work around. Turn the dial to indoor and use the flash button on the ring to set the flash to auto. In the indoor setting you can set the flash to on, off, or auto.

The flash settings don't work in some modes...what mode do you have the camera set to?

i have a sony cybershot DSC-W210 and just recently the flash wont work when its on any mode to take a picture it has the flash symbol on the screen flashing and the code E:91:01 underneath also flashing its takin pictures as normal just without the flash it wont let me change the settings of the flash at all

Savvyme123, did you figure out this problem? Crazy thing -- the same day that you posted this, my camera was doing the same thing. When in flash mode, the red light on the front of the camera is on, but it won't actually the picture. When the camera is on flash-off mode, it takes pictures without any problem.

try using night mode indoors. otherwise, simply get into setup and go back to factory settings, and use AUTO mode. hope it helps

In all of modes you can use "up" key to toggle between "always on", "auto"  and "off" mode for flash. (in some mode there is only auto and off.) also the flash light icon on top right of screen shows th status of flash. I hope this helps...

Try a mode other than auto, and turn off the flash. Then try taking a picture. Did it work? If so, then your flash is either burned out, or the flash safety circuit thinks that the camera is open. If the flash is burned out, then professional repair is required, as a flash change-out is not trivial (Call 1-800-OK-CANON). However you mention the flash works sometimes, so a totally burned out flash tube is unlikely.

It's more likely to be only a break or bad connection in the safety circuit. Many Canon cameras use some of the screws in the camera case to serve as a means of detecting if the case is open (and thus disables the flash to prevent shock). Examine all the screws around the perimeter of your case. Are they all there and tight? If not, tighten loose screws and try moving and replacing any missing screws with one of the others that are still there.

My flash doesnt work either. Holding the flash button down doesnt do anything either (in program mode)