Using these battery - operated fairy lights is super easy. First, insert 3 x AA batteries into the battery pack. Then, you can turn on the lights using the ON/OFF switch. To change the lighting mode, just press the button on the battery pack to cycle through the 8 different modes like combination, waves, flashing, etc. When using outdoors, remember these lights are waterproof but not for submerging in water. Store the lights in a dry place when not in use. If the lights seem dim, it's probably time to replace the batteries. And keep in mind that one order only gives you the fairy lights, no extra decorations are included.