Cricut Mug Press Machine Troubleshooting

This indicates the press is in Connect mode. If you're using the press for the first time, this is normal as the press is waiting for you to complete the activation process at cricut.com/setup. 

This can also happen if you press and hold the power button for > 5 seconds. Press and release power button to power machine off. Then, press again (do not hold) to power machine on. 

Note: Connect mode is only necessary for machine activation or firmware updates. 

This happens when Cricut Mug Press detects an error. The sequence of LED lights can help you know what the error is. 

For all other errors, contact Member Care for assistance. 

This indicates that the press did not recognize a mug is there. This happens when a mug is inserted into the press and lever is not pressed down completely. To resolve, lift lever and remove mug. Allow mug to cool completely, then try again. Make sure you're following stacking instructions in the Cricut Heat Guide (i.e., use recommended number of butcher paper layers for marker projects).

• Before cleaning press, unplug and cool completely
• Clean with a soft cloth and glass cleaner or water
• Apply glass cleaner or water to cloth — do not spray directly on, or submerge press
• Never use flammable liquid or solvents like acetone or nail polish remover

If ink from marker projects bleeds onto heat plate, clean as directed above. If this does not help, continue to wrap mug with butcher paper as directed in Cricut Heat Guide to prevent transferring onto future projects. 

Because Infusible Ink transfers are permanent, we’ve worked hard to ensure your success from beginning to end. Unwanted transfer effects with Infusible Ink are permanent too, but can be easily avoided by following all recommended material and blank preparation guidelines for Infusible Ink projects. Select a link below to learn more about issues and how to avoid them.

• Blue specks
• Press marks
• Ghosting
• Marbling
• Blow out
• Colors not vibrant
• Ink transfer to Cricut EasyPress or Cricut EasyPress Mat

Blue Specks

Why it happens:

Even if you can’t see them with the naked eye, polyester fabrics have debris, lint, or dust particles that can activate when you apply heat, resulting in tiny blue specks. Any dye present in these particles permanently infuses into the blank during transfer.

How to avoid it:

Using a fresh adhesive, lint-roll the surface of your blank where you will apply your design prior to preheating to remove the lint. Be thorough! You may have to make a few passes to remove every bit of lint.

Press marks

Why it happens:  

Polyester fabric is a heat-sensitive fabric and may melt if it comes into contact with a hot surface, leaving a shiny or discolored mark. 

How to avoid it:  

To reduce the risk of creating press marks on your blank, place a clean sheet of butcher paper between the heat plate and your blank as instructed during preheating and transfer. The butcher paper should be larger than the heat plate so that the heat plate does not come into contact with your blank. 

Ghosting

Why it happens:  

A blurry or faint offset shadow of your design may appear after transfer because the design has somehow shifted during transfer. Any slight movement may result in this unwanted effect. This can also happen if the butcher paper you use has ink on it from another transfer, the design shifts, or the design falls back onto your blank when removing it after transfer.  

How to avoid it:  

1. Ensure the design is secure on your blank. When using Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets, make sure the adhesive liner has enough exposed area to secure your design to the blank. When using designs drawn with Infusible Ink Pens or Markers, use Heat Resistant Tape to secure your design to the blank. 
2. Ensure you’re using a clean sheet of butcher paper with every project. If the butcher paper you’re using has residual ink from another project, this WILL transfer to your current project during heating. 
3. Do not move Cricut EasyPress while pressing your project. This increases the likelihood that your design will detach and shift during transfer.   
4. Use great care to slowly lift Cricut EasyPress, butcher paper, and design after transfer. If you lift quickly, you risk the design lifting, then falling back onto the blank while still hot, resulting in an additional transfer.

Marbling

Why it happens:  

Uneven heating or pressure can result in areas that appear faded or inconsistent with the rest of the transfer. Wrinkles, seams, buttons, or zippers that pass under the heat plate inhibit even heating and even pressure and will cause this unwanted effect. This may also happen if you touch the printed side of the sheet with wet, moist, or oily hands.  

How to avoid it:  

1. Ensure your pressing surface is flat, firm, and waist-high and that there is no debris on or under your Cricut EasyPress Mat.  
2. Preheat your material to remove wrinkles and moisture from the blank prior to transfer.  
3. Ensure that your hands are free of lotion, oils, or other moisture before touching the printed side of Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets. 
4. Do not press designs over wrinkles, seams, buttons, or zippers. 

Blow out

Why it happens:  

Blow out is a burst of ink outside of the intended design area. This happens when moisture in the blank quickly turns to steam, displacing the ink and preventing it from transferring to the intended spot.   

How to avoid it: 

Preheat the blank as instructed prior to transfer. This removes moisture from the blank in preparation for transfer.  

Colors not vibrant

Why it happens:  

There are several reasons why colors may not appear vibrant after transfer, including incorrect temperature and time settings (whether too low or too high, too short or too long), incompatible blank, or an unrecommended heat source such as a household iron.  

How to avoid it:  

Carefully follow all instructions for preparing and completing your Infusible Ink project, including using compatible blanks and recommended heat sources, times, and temperatures. Infusible Ink instructions have been rigorously tested to provide the best experience.  

Ink transfer to Cricut EasyPress or Cricut EasyPress Mat

Why it happens:  

Infusible Ink may transfer to your Cricut EasyPress heat plate or EasyPress Mat if precautions are not taken to protect these. Be advised: if this does happen, subsequent projects will be infused with residual ink. 

How to avoid it:  

Prepare and layer project materials as instructed to protect Cricut EasyPress, Cricut EasyPress Mat, and your work surface from unwanted transfer.  

Note: Infusible Ink transfer may be removed from Cricut EasyPress heat plate by wiping it off while the heat plate is still warm. It may also be removed from Cricut EasyPress heat plate by pressing it several times on a clean sheet of cardstock or butcher paper (on protected EasyPress Mat), as if you are performing a transfer, until the unwanted transfer is completely gone. However, it cannot be removed from Cricut EasyPress mat.