Troubleshoot Cricut Maker 5 projects that don't turn out as expected

1. Confirm that the material setting is the closest match to what you are using.
2. Confirm the correct blade or tool is installed and fully seated.
3. Remove the cutting tool and check for fibers, adhesive, or debris around the blade and housing.
4. Use a clean mat with sufficient grip, and press the material down firmly.
5. If available for your material, change the pressure from Default to More after selecting the base material by using the Pressure drop-down menu, and then make a small test cut.
6. For a custom material setting, increase pressure in small increments of 2–4 and retest.
7. Replace a worn or damaged blade/cutting tool if results remain inconsistent.

• Confirm that the material setting is the closest match to what you are using, and that the correct tool is loaded into the machine.
• For a custom material, reduce pressure in increments of 2–4 and test again.
• Use a mat with less grip for delicate materials such as the Light Grip mat.
• Simplify very small or intricate design details, or try increasing the design size to see if it cuts better.
• Select Default or Less pressure on the Make screen when available.
• Replace a damaged blade; a chipped or dull edge can drag material.

• Remove the cap just before use and test the pen on scrap material before inserting into the Pen Holder.
• Use a compatible Cricut pen or marker and press until it clicks.
• Confirm that the relevant layer of your design is set to Draw or Pen, and that it is attached to the correct cut layer. Attach will keep the Draw and Cut layers fastened together when you Make your project.
• Make sure your mat is flat and that the material is firmly secured so it cannot shift during use.
• Allow ink to dry before touching or unloading material that smears easily.
• Remove the pen before a later blade or tool step unless Design Space tells you otherwise. 

• Make sure the tool you have installed matches the tool indicated in Design Space as there are three different scoring tools compatible with Cricut Maker 5:
  • The standard Scoring Tool has a white housing with a pointed tip.
  • The Scoring Wheel is labeled “01” on the side of the tip and attaches to the QuickSwap Housing which has a gold gear on top.
  • The Double Scoring Wheel is labeled “02” on the side of the tip and is also designed for use with the QuickSwap Housing.
• Confirm that the relevant design layers use the Score operation and are attached to the correct layer.
• Place the material on the mat in the orientation shown for the project.
• Use the material setting that matches the material; do not substitute a cutting pressure setting.
• Make a test score and fold along the score line before producing the final project.

• Confirm that your material is compatible with the Engraving operation.
• Use single-line artwork or a writing-style font for clean, narrow lines.
• For a deeper appearance, duplicate the engraving layer and align it with the first, then use Attach to fasten the layers together. This will result in the machine making another pass with the Engraving Tip for each duplicated layer. Please be aware that this will increase the overall time needed to complete the project.
• Ensure the blank is firmly secured to a Strong Grip mat and taped along all edges; ensure tape does not cover the engraving area.
• Move star wheels all the way to the sides of the machine so that they do not roll over the top of the blank.
• For clear acrylic, mirror the design and engrave the back of the blank. This allows the design to show through the smooth, unengraved side of the blank.
• If lines appear doubled, check that any duplicate layers have the Engrave operation, are perfectly aligned, and that the blank did not shift. 

• Confirm that the installed QuickSwap or Foil Transfer tool matches the Design Space prompt.
• Check that the tip is fully seated in the housing, and that the housing is secure in the Tool Clamp.
• Use compatible material and choose the material setting that is the closest match in Design Space.  
• Ensure the material is flat and firmly adhered to the mat.
• For foil, tape the foil sheet taut without allowing tape to cover the project area and carefully follow prompts in Design Space to remove it. Click here for our Foil Transfer System FAQ.

1. Print Then Cut setup
   • Confirm that the project was printed from Design Space and that the printed cut sensor markings were not cropped, resized, covered, or otherwise altered in any way.
   • Make sure there is no direct, bright light such as overhead lamps or sunlight directed toward your machine as this can interfere with the sensor light. Indirect and ambient lighting will not interfere.
   • Ensure that your image size is not larger than the maximum shown in Design Space. If it is too large, you will receive a warning message and be given the opportunity to automatically resize your image.
2. Material & position
   • Use non-reflective materials that are lightly colored with a solid color or simple pattern.
   • Place the printed sheet on the mat in the exact orientation shown in Design Space.
   • Ensure the material is flat on the mat with no wrinkles.
3. Machine Mat
   • Use a clean, undamaged mat and keep the scanning path free of scraps, glitter, and adhesive.
   • Ensure the mat has been placed under the mat guides and is loading into the machine evenly.
4. Printer setup
   • Confirm that the printer used the page size and scale sent from Design Space. 
   • Turn off any printer setting that fits or scales the page.
   • Make sure your printer is not low on ink.
5. System requirements
   • Ensure your system meets the minimum system requirements for Design Space.
   • If it does not meet those requirements, attempt your Print Then Cut project with a system that does meet the requirements.
6. Print Then Cut calibration
   • Complete the Print Then Cut calibration in Design Space, then print a new project sheet and try again. 

Note: Calibration corrects the relationship between printing and cutting. It cannot correct a page that was resized after printing or a sheet that moved on the mat.