Machine Troubleshooting - Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker series machines

Cause: A blinking red power or indicator light on the machine indicates an error with the machine.

What to do: There are a few different reasons this could happen. Observe at what point the error light state occurs, then follow the appropriate steps below. 

When powering on the machine

If the power / indicator light is flashing or blinking red when you first power the machine on, contact Member Care for assistance.

When updating firmware

If the power / indicator light is flashing or blinking red when attempting to update your machine's firmware, contact Member Care for assistance.

When loading a mat or Smart materials

If the power / indicator light begins to flash red when you try to load a cutting mat or Smart materials, follow the steps below:

1. Does this occur with multiple projects?
   • If the issue is isolated to one project, an error may have occurred when saving that corrupted the project, and the project will need to be re-created.
   • If the issue occurs with multiple projects, proceed to step 2.
2. The roller bar may have gathered some dust or debris that is causing the error. Power the machine off, then manually move the carriage across the roller bar 3-4 times to clear out any debris that may have gathered.
3. If this does not help, contact Member Care for further assistance.

When cutting a project

This can happen if the mat, material, or blade is causing an unexpected interaction. 

1. Does this happen with every material?
   • If it does, it could indicate issues with the machine, mat, or blade housing.
   • First, power the machine off. Then move the carriage back and forth at least six times. Power the machine back on and try the project again.
   • Try a new Cricut machine mat to see if that makes a difference.
   • Ensure there is sufficient clearance behind the machine for the mat/material to feed through the machine without hitting anything.
   • If there is no difference, try a different blade and blade housing.
   • If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.
2. Are you using Knife Blade with a Cricut Maker series machine?
   • Knife Blade is designed to cut thicker materials, such as balsa wood and leather. If the blade encounters inconsistencies in material thickness or density it will get stuck and may cause a blinking red light.
   • Simply follow the onscreen instructions to clear any debris, and press the cut button again to resume the cut. This may happen multiple times during a cut.
3. If this does not help, contact Member Care for further assistance. 

Cause: Possible issue with the machine's Bluetooth (BLE) module.

What to do: Power cycle the machine by unplugging the power cord, waiting 30-60 seconds, then plug the power cord back into the machine. 

If the indicator light continues to flash blue* after power cycling the machine, contact Member Care for assistance.

*The machine's indicator light is normally white.

Cause: A solid red power or indicator light on the machine can indicate a power issue, or it can indicate that a firmware update is needed. 

What to do: Observe whether any other lights on the machine are lit up, and follow the appropriate troubleshooting steps below. 

The power/indicator light is red & Load button is white

If the power/indicator light is steady/solid red and the Load button is white, this usually means the machine needs a firmware update visit this help article for instructions.

The power/indicator light is red & no other light is lit

If the power/indicator light  is steady/solid red and no other lights are lit, this can indicate it's a power-related issue. We recommend trying another wall outlet or power strip. Often, the machine is getting enough power to turn on the lights but not enough to fully run the machine.  

Note: This is also applicable if your machine's power button is red and the Print Then Cut sensor light is on.

1. If the machine has no power, or only intermittent power, first ensure that the power adapter’s cord is secure in the power port on the machine, and in the wall outlet. If your power cord comes in two pieces, ensure both pieces are securely attached.
   • It is possible for the machine mat or material to unplug the power cord and/or USB cable from the machine as it is moving through the machine if these cords are left in the path of the mat/material. To avoid this, position your power and USB cables away from the path of the material or mat exiting the back of your machine.
   • If the power adapter and cord are securely inserted at all points, proceed to step 2.
2. Ensure you are using the Cricut power adapter and cord that came with your machine. Check that the light on the power adapter is lit up (if applicable - not all power adapters have a light).
   • The light on Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Explore 4, Cricut Maker 3, and Cricut Maker 4 power adapters is white; for all others it is green.
3. If your power adapter or cord is damaged or lost, contact Member Care for assistance. If you are already using the Cricut power adapter or cord certified for your machine, proceed to step 4.
4. Plug the power cord into a different wall outlet (for best results plug directly into a wall outlet rather than into a power strip or surge protector). If this does not help, proceed to step 5.
5. To rule out an issue with your power cord, try a replacement power adapter and cord from Cricut.

Note: The power adapter that came with your machine is specially rated for its respective machine. For safety reasons, only use Cricut brand power cords and adapters that have been certified for your machine. 

6. If the power issue persists after completing these steps, contact Member Care for assistance.

Important: It is important to use the power adapter that came with your machine. Cricut Maker power adapters have extra output to support the USB charging port and higher cutting force. Using a Cricut Explore or legacy Cricut machine power adapter with your Cricut Maker machine can cause issues. Legacy Cricut power adapters will not work with Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Explore 4, Cricut Maker 3, and Cricut Maker 4 machines. 

Cause: The machine is in firmware recovery mode because a firmware update did not complete successfully.

What to do: Relaunch Design Space and reattempt firmware update. Refer to this article for instructions.

Cause: This issue may occur due to a build-up of static electricity. 

What to do: If you are cutting foil, metal sheets, or Smart Materials with your Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker series machine, and the machine is turning off unexpectedly, this may be due to a build-up of static electricity.

• Dry environments are particularly prone to the buildup of static electricity.
• Using a spray bottle filled with water, spray some mist into the air to help dissipate the buildup.
• You can also use a small humidifier or vaporizer in the area; increased humidity will help prevent the build-up of static electricity.
• When cutting Smart Materials with Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Explore 4, Cricut Maker 3, or Cricut Maker 4, prevent long lengths of Smart Materials from travelling/dragging on the floor as much as possible, as this will create more static electricity.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, contact Member Care.

Important: Do not spray water directly on to the Cricut machine.

Cause: Several variables may contribute to the machine roller bar not moving when expected.

What to do: If the roller bar on your Cricut machine does not rotate when powering the machine on or when pressing the Load button, check the color of the machine's power button and troubleshoot as follows:

Cause: This can be project-related or due to multiple apps or programs using up the device's resources.

What to do: If your Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker series machine pauses or stops in the middle of executing your project, follow the troubleshooting steps below:

1. Do you have multiple Design Space windows open? If so, close the additional windows until your project is complete. If this does not help, proceed to step 2.
2. Do you have this issue with multiple projects? If the issue is isolated to this particular project, you will need to re-create the project. If you’re experiencing this with multiple projects, proceed to step 3.
3. Close any other programs that may be running on the computer or mobile device and attempt the project again. If this does not help, proceed to step 4.
4. Disconnect your Cricut machine from your computer/device and turn your Cricut machine off. Then, restart your computer/device.
5. Next, reconnect your machine to your computer/device and wait a few moments, then open Design Space and attempt the process again.
6. If this does not resolve the issue, contact Member Care for assistance.

Cause: This can occur if multiple apps/programs or Bluetooth-connected accessories are competing for or with device resources. 

What to do: 

1. Make sure your computer or mobile device is within 10-15 feet of the cutting machine, with no obstructions between the device and cutting machine. 
2.  Close any high-demand applications or services running on the computer or mobile device, i.e., active teleconference calls (such as Zoom), streaming applications, AI applications, system backups, etc. 
3. Make sure other Bluetooth operations are not in use on the computer or mobile device, such as music streaming, Bluetooth-connected headphones playing music, Bluetooth-connected headphones on a call or teleconference.
4. If the issue persists after completing these steps, use the machine with a computer via USB connection (if available). 

Cause: This issue can happen with Cricut Explore 3 and later, or Cricut Maker 3 and later if something is interfering with the machine's material sensors. 

What to do: The machine's sensors may need to be cleaned. Visit this help article for troubleshooting steps. 

Cause: This issue may be caused by an obstruction in the carriage path, physical damage or misalignment in the machine, use of an incorrect power cord, or cut pressure that is too high..

What to do:

1. Perform a visual inspection of the machine, checking for:
   • Obstructions to carriage travel path. Remove any debris obstructing carriage movement.
   • Physical machine damage such as a broken or loose belt, or obvious issues with carriage alignment. If you observe any physical machine damage, contact Member Care for assistance.
2. If the carriage makes a loud noise when you push the cut button, as if the carriage is hitting the side of the machine, record a brief video with sound of the issue occurring, and contact Member Care for assistance.
3. If an unusual noise occurs with a new machine upon first use, contact Member Care for assistance. If you have been able to cut successfully with the machine before, and this is a new issue, proceed to step 4.
4. Ensure you are using the power cord that came with the machine. If you are using a different brand or configuration, the voltage coming into the machine may be wrong and may result in a grinding noise. If you are using the power cord that came with your machine, proceed to step 5.
5. The pressure setting you are using may be too high. Try reducing the pressure setting for the material you are attempting to cut by 2-4. You may need to do this 2-3 times to see a change.
6. If this does not resolve the issue for you, contact Member Care for further assistance.

Unusually Loud Noise - Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore Air 2

If your Cricut Maker (original model) or Cricut Explore Air 2 machine is louder than normal, check whether Fast Mode is engaged for cutting or writing. This option is selected on the Make screen in Design Space. If Fast Mode is not engaged, take a video with sound of the issue and contact Member Care for assistance.

Design Space for Desktop

Design Space for mobile

Cause: Your machine could be tearing through your material, or not cutting all the way through the material for a few different reasons that may be related to cut pressure. 

What to do: If your machine is tearing through your material, or doesn't cut all the way through, visit this help article for troubleshooting steps. 

Cause: Several variables may contribute to a failure to read Print Then Cut sensor marks, from printer setup, to ink saturation, to the material being used.

What to do: If you receive a Print Then Cut error message stating that the machine cannot read the cut sensor marks, visit this help article for troubleshooting steps.

Cause: This can occur if the wrong tool is inserted into the machine, or if the tool or machine's tool sensor is dirty. 

What to do: If you receive an error message stating that the Cricut Maker machine cannot detect the blade or tool, visit this help article for troubleshooting steps.