We are sorry to hear that you had this issue. The batteries should be allowed to fully charge in the solar lights for at least 8 hours in direct sunlight prior to initial use. Also, make sure to check that the batteries are the correct size for your application. If the batteries are the correct size and do not work after being allowed to charge in direct sunlight for at least 8 hours, the issue may be with the solar lights. If the lights are Hampton Bay lights, please call Hampton Bay customer service at 1-855-HD-HAMPTON (1-855-434-2678) and one of the team members will be able to get more information to help troubleshoot and resolve the issue.