Bella air fryer shows E5 and will not start or stops mid‑cycle.

Safety first: Unplug the air fryer before any disassembly. Do not spray cleaners directly into the control panel.

Basic reset:

• Unplug the unit for at least 10 minutes to allow capacitors to discharge.
• Plug back in and attempt to start a simple manual cook cycle (e.g., 350°F for 5 minutes) instead of a preset.

Panel and board inspection:

• Remove the control panel bezel (if accessible) to inspect the control PCB.
• Look for signs of moisture, sticky residue, or grease on the board. Carefully clean light contamination with a dry, soft brush. Do not use water; if needed, use a small amount of 90%+ isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab and let it dry fully.
• Check the ribbon cable or harness between the display/touch panel and the main board. Reseat both ends.

If E5 returns after a full power reset and cleaning, the internal firmware or memory is likely corrupted. In most Bella air fryers, this requires replacing the entire control PCB, as firmware reprogramming is not supported for consumers.