Instant Pot displays C5 and will not build pressure or start the selected program.

Safety: Cancel the program and allow the cooker to cool for several minutes before opening the lid.

• 1. Check liquid level: Open the lid and verify there is at least the minimum required liquid (usually 1–1.5 cups depending on model). Add more liquid if needed.
• 2. Deglaze the bottom: If food is stuck or scorched on the bottom, remove the inner pot, scrape off burnt bits, and wash thoroughly. Then add fresh liquid and deglaze by briefly using Saute with stirring.
• 3. Verify correct inner pot: Ensure you are using the original Instant Pot stainless steel inner pot for your model. Third-party or warped pots can cause poor contact and overheating.
• 4. Reseat the pot: Dry the outside of the inner pot and the heating plate. Reseat the pot firmly so it makes full contact with the heating plate and center sensor.
• 5. Restart with adjusted recipe: Reduce thick sauces or starchy ingredients at the bottom; layer them on top of thinner liquids to avoid scorching.
• 6. If C5 appears with adequate liquid and clean pot: The base temperature sensor may be overly sensitive or failing. Continued C5 errors under normal use suggest a sensor or control board issue that requires professional service.