Instant Pot
Instant Pot Multicookers Error Codes
Complete list of fault codes and troubleshooting guides. Use the search below to find your specific error.
Advertisements
Burn
Display shows 'Burn' and the cooker stops or switches to Keep Warm.
Burn protection – high localized temperature at bottom
C1
Instant Pot displays C1 and will not start a cooking program.
High-temperature sensor circuit fault (sensor 1)
C2
Instant Pot displays C2 and will not start or stops shortly after starting.
High-temperature sensor circuit fault (sensor 2 / secondary sensor)
C5
Instant Pot displays C5 and will not build pressure or start the selected program.
Overheat protection triggered due to insufficient liquid or inner pot issue
C6
Instant Pot displays C6 and will not start a cooking cycle.
Pressure sensor circuit fault
C7
Instant Pot displays C7 and may not heat properly or complete the program.
Heating element or power drive fault
C8
Instant Pot displays C8 and will not start pressure cooking.
Incorrect or incompatible inner pot detected
E1
Instant Pot displays E1 and beeps, refusing to start a program.
Primary temperature sensor open circuit
E10
Instant Pot displays E10 and will not start or complete a pressure program.
Steam leak or pressure not building within expected time
E11
Instant Pot displays E11 and fails to maintain pressure or complete the cycle.
Abnormal pressure drop or leak detected during cooking
E12
Instant Pot displays E12 and stops the cooking program.
Internal communication or sensor synchronization error
E2
Instant Pot displays E2 and will not operate.
Primary temperature sensor short circuit
E3
Instant Pot displays E3 during preheat or cooking and stops the program.
Overheat protection – excessive temperature detected
E4
Instant Pot displays E4 and will not start or stops mid-cycle.
Overheat protection – extreme temperature or sensor calibration fault
E5
Instant Pot displays E5 and beeps, refusing to start or continue cooking.
High temperature at bottom – overheat protection triggered
E6
Instant Pot displays E6 and will not start or stops during preheating.
Pressure sensor out of range or malfunction
E8
Instant Pot displays E8 and fails to build pressure or complete the cycle.
Overheat or pressure imbalance error (often related to lid/venting)
Lid
Display shows 'Lid' or 'LID' and the cooker will not start pressure cooking.
Lid position or lid lock sensor not engaged
no lid
Display shows 'no lid' or similar message and pressure programs cannot start.
Lid detection failure
noPr
Display shows 'noPr' and the Instant Pot fails to reach or maintain pressure.
Insufficient pressure buildup or pressure loss during cooking
OvHt
Display shows 'OvHt' or 'Burn' and cooking stops or pauses.
Overheat / burn protection triggered at bottom of inner pot
PrSE
Display shows 'PrSE' and the cooker will not start a new program.
Pressure sensor detects residual pressure when it should be at zero
Symptom
Burning plastic or electrical smell during use.
Overheating of internal components or wiring
Symptom
Display lights up but buttons are unresponsive or only some keys work.
Keypad / control panel failure
Symptom
Excessive steam or food splatter from steam release valve during pressure cooking.
Over-foaming or blocked anti-block shield
Symptom
Exterior of cooker becomes excessively hot to the touch during normal operation.
Insulation or thermal barrier degradation
Symptom
Float valve does not rise, and the cooker never reaches pressure.
Float valve / pressure indicator malfunction
Symptom
Float valve rises but then drops during cooking, causing loss of pressure and undercooked food.
Intermittent pressure loss during cycle
Symptom
Inner pot bottom is discolored, pitted, or food sticks excessively.
Inner pot surface degradation
Symptom
Inner pot is stuck to the heating plate and difficult to remove after cooking.
Vacuum or thermal expansion sticking inner pot to base
Symptom
Keep Warm function overheats food, causing burning or drying out.
Keep Warm temperature regulation fault
Symptom
Lid is difficult to close or open, feels jammed or misaligned.
Lid locking mechanism binding
Symptom
Loud rattling, buzzing, or clicking noises from the base during operation.
Mechanical vibration or electrical relay noise
Symptom
Slow Cook mode runs but does not heat enough; food remains undercooked.
Low-temperature heating fault in slow cook mode
Symptom
Steam constantly escapes from the steam release valve area and the float valve never rises.
Steam release valve not sealing
Symptom
Steam leaking continuously from around the lid rim during pressure cooking.
Lid seal failure
Symptom
Unit does not power on at all – no lights or display when plugged in.
No power / dead control panel
Symptom
Unit powers on but will not start any cooking program (no error code shown).
Start logic or safety interlock fault
Symptom
Unit switches to Keep Warm prematurely and food is undercooked (no error code).
Premature cycle termination
Symptom
Unit takes an unusually long time to come to pressure.
Extended preheat / delayed pressurization
Symptom
Water or condensation collecting under the cooker or on the countertop.
External leakage or condensation management issue
| Error Code | Symptom | Fault Type | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burn |
Display shows 'Burn' and the cooker stops or switches to Keep Warm.
|
Burn protection – high localized temperature at bottom | View Details |
| C1 |
Instant Pot displays C1 and will not start a cooking program.
|
High-temperature sensor circuit fault (sensor 1) | View Details |
| C2 |
Instant Pot displays C2 and will not start or stops shortly after starting.
|
High-temperature sensor circuit fault (sensor 2 / secondary sensor) | View Details |
| C5 |
Instant Pot displays C5 and will not build pressure or start the selected program.
|
Overheat protection triggered due to insufficient liquid or inner pot issue | View Details |
| C6 |
Instant Pot displays C6 and will not start a cooking cycle.
|
Pressure sensor circuit fault | View Details |
| C7 |
Instant Pot displays C7 and may not heat properly or complete the program.
|
Heating element or power drive fault | View Details |
| C8 |
Instant Pot displays C8 and will not start pressure cooking.
|
Incorrect or incompatible inner pot detected | View Details |
| E1 |
Instant Pot displays E1 and beeps, refusing to start a program.
|
Primary temperature sensor open circuit | View Details |
| E10 |
Instant Pot displays E10 and will not start or complete a pressure program.
|
Steam leak or pressure not building within expected time | View Details |
| E11 |
Instant Pot displays E11 and fails to maintain pressure or complete the cycle.
|
Abnormal pressure drop or leak detected during cooking | View Details |
| E12 |
Instant Pot displays E12 and stops the cooking program.
|
Internal communication or sensor synchronization error | View Details |
| E2 |
Instant Pot displays E2 and will not operate.
|
Primary temperature sensor short circuit | View Details |
| E3 |
Instant Pot displays E3 during preheat or cooking and stops the program.
|
Overheat protection – excessive temperature detected | View Details |
| E4 |
Instant Pot displays E4 and will not start or stops mid-cycle.
|
Overheat protection – extreme temperature or sensor calibration fault | View Details |
| E5 |
Instant Pot displays E5 and beeps, refusing to start or continue cooking.
|
High temperature at bottom – overheat protection triggered | View Details |
| E6 |
Instant Pot displays E6 and will not start or stops during preheating.
|
Pressure sensor out of range or malfunction | View Details |
| E8 |
Instant Pot displays E8 and fails to build pressure or complete the cycle.
|
Overheat or pressure imbalance error (often related to lid/venting) | View Details |
| Lid |
Display shows 'Lid' or 'LID' and the cooker will not start pressure cooking.
|
Lid position or lid lock sensor not engaged | View Details |
| no lid |
Display shows 'no lid' or similar message and pressure programs cannot start.
|
Lid detection failure | View Details |
| noPr |
Display shows 'noPr' and the Instant Pot fails to reach or maintain pressure.
|
Insufficient pressure buildup or pressure loss during cooking | View Details |
| OvHt |
Display shows 'OvHt' or 'Burn' and cooking stops or pauses.
|
Overheat / burn protection triggered at bottom of inner pot | View Details |
| PrSE |
Display shows 'PrSE' and the cooker will not start a new program.
|
Pressure sensor detects residual pressure when it should be at zero | View Details |
| – |
Burning plastic or electrical smell during use.
|
Overheating of internal components or wiring | View Details |
| – |
Display lights up but buttons are unresponsive or only some keys work.
|
Keypad / control panel failure | View Details |
| – |
Excessive steam or food splatter from steam release valve during pressure cooking.
|
Over-foaming or blocked anti-block shield | View Details |
| – |
Exterior of cooker becomes excessively hot to the touch during normal operation.
|
Insulation or thermal barrier degradation | View Details |
| – |
Float valve does not rise, and the cooker never reaches pressure.
|
Float valve / pressure indicator malfunction | View Details |
| – |
Float valve rises but then drops during cooking, causing loss of pressure and undercooked food.
|
Intermittent pressure loss during cycle | View Details |
| – |
Inner pot bottom is discolored, pitted, or food sticks excessively.
|
Inner pot surface degradation | View Details |
| – |
Inner pot is stuck to the heating plate and difficult to remove after cooking.
|
Vacuum or thermal expansion sticking inner pot to base | View Details |
| – |
Keep Warm function overheats food, causing burning or drying out.
|
Keep Warm temperature regulation fault | View Details |
| – |
Lid is difficult to close or open, feels jammed or misaligned.
|
Lid locking mechanism binding | View Details |
| – |
Loud rattling, buzzing, or clicking noises from the base during operation.
|
Mechanical vibration or electrical relay noise | View Details |
| – |
Slow Cook mode runs but does not heat enough; food remains undercooked.
|
Low-temperature heating fault in slow cook mode | View Details |
| – |
Steam constantly escapes from the steam release valve area and the float valve never rises.
|
Steam release valve not sealing | View Details |
| – |
Steam leaking continuously from around the lid rim during pressure cooking.
|
Lid seal failure | View Details |
| – |
Unit does not power on at all – no lights or display when plugged in.
|
No power / dead control panel | View Details |
| – |
Unit powers on but will not start any cooking program (no error code shown).
|
Start logic or safety interlock fault | View Details |
| – |
Unit switches to Keep Warm prematurely and food is undercooked (no error code).
|
Premature cycle termination | View Details |
| – |
Unit takes an unusually long time to come to pressure.
|
Extended preheat / delayed pressurization | View Details |
| – |
Water or condensation collecting under the cooker or on the countertop.
|
External leakage or condensation management issue | View Details |
No matching codes found
Advertisements