Blinking red power light - Joy series machines

Edited: March 6, 2026

Observe at what point the indicator light begins to blink/flash red, then choose the appropriate  troubleshooting steps below.

When powering on the machine

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

When updating firmware

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

When loading a mat or Smart Materials

If the 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?
   • Ensure nothing is obstructing the movement of the carriage. If material or mat is stuck in the machine, power the machine off, then remove the mat/material by hand using firm, steady force.  
   • 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. You may need to clear the roller bar from debris. Power the machine off and close Design Space. Clear out any debris that may have gathered. Then, relaunch Design Space and power the machine back on and try the project again.
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.
2. Power the machine off and close Design Space. Then, relaunch Design Space and power the machine back on and try the project again.
3. Try a new Cricut machine mat to see if that makes a difference.
   • If there is no difference, try a different blade and blade housing.
4. If the issue persists, contact Member Care for assistance.