Cricut Autopress Troubleshooting FAQ

If Cricut Autopress does not power on 

1. Ensure the machine is plugged into a compatible wall outlet. We do not recommend using a power strip or extension cord with this device, unless it meets the power requirements for the machine.

Note: Cricut Autopress is designed for 120-240V ~50/60 Hz and uses 1300W.

2. Connect the machine to another wall outlet.
3. If the issues persist, contact Member Care for further assistance.

If the auto-shutoff seems to take longer than you expect, remember that the internal auto-off does not begin until the press reaches the temperature indicated on the control pod. Once it reaches the set temperature, it will shut off automatically after 13 minutes of inactivity. Touching the handle, moving the heat plate, moving the dials on the pod will reset the timer for the auto-off.

When first turning on the machine, use the switch on the right side of the machine to unlock. If the switch shows unlocked and lifting the handle does not open the press, contact Member Care for assistance.

If Cricut Autopress does not open automatically after the press is complete, lift the handle to open. Remove your project from the press and follow the steps below.

1. Lift handle to open press.
2. Remove project from platen (it's fine if the mat remains).
3. Set time on control pod to 10 seconds (no temp adjustment necessary).
4. Lower the heat plate and press down the handle to re-engage the motors.
5. Press should now open automatically when the timer reaches zero.

If the steps above do not help, do a hard power cycle by turning the machine off, unplug the power cord from the machine for at least 30 seconds. Plug back in and try steps 1-5 again. If the issue continues, contact Member Care for assistance.

If an error code appears on your control pod, complete the following steps:

1. Power Cricut Autopress off.
2. Unplug Cricut Autopress from the power outlet.
3. Wait at least 30 seconds.
4. Plug Cricut Autopress back in and power it on.
5. If control pod continues to show the error once press is powered on and connected, contact Member Care for assistance.

The most common reasons for your images not sticking are: 

1. Cricut Autopress didn’t make full contact with the pressing area. This could be because of seams, zippers, or anything else that will keep the base material from lying flat on the platen. Visit Cricut Autopress: Working with seams for tips on positioning base materials with bulky seams, zippers, and buttons.
2. Verify Cricut Autopress is set to the recommended settings for your materials in our Heat Guide.
3. Press the material again for an additional 10-15 seconds. 

When you press down the handle of Cricut Autopress, you will hear the motors start to engage. As they do so, pressure is being applied to your project, and this noise is normal.

Why it happens

Heat-sensitive fabrics may melt if they contact a hot surface, such as the Cricut Autopress heat plate, leaving a shiny or discolored mark in the material.

Additionally, permanent press marks along edges of heat-transfer material, seams, buttons, or zippers may occur.

How to avoid it

Threading

To thread your blank on the mat/platen, open the blank and slide it over the mat/platen so that only one layer of the base material is on the mat. This will help you avoid press marks created by pressing over bulky seams, buttons, zippers, etc.

Pressing pillow

A pressing pillow helps you avoid press marks created by the edges of heat-transfer material liners or paper. Place the pressing pillow inside the blank so that it elevates and supports the pressing area and design but allows excess liner or paper to flow off the edge of the pillow. This way the heat plate doesn’t apply full pressure to those edges and leave press marks in your base material.

Protective Barrier

Use a Teflon sheet (for iron-on projects) or clean sheet of butcher paper (for Infusible Ink or sublimation projects) between your blank and the heat plate during preheat and transfer as instructed in our online Heat Guide. The Teflon sheet or butcher paper should be large enough that the heat plate does not make direct contact with your base material.

Important: Do not use Teflon sheets or Teflon pressing pillows with Infusible Ink projects. Teflon does not absorb moisture and may cause other unwanted transfer effects.

Ensure control pod is connected via USB cable to Cricut Autopress. If the cord is securely connected to both control pod and Cricut Autopress and the error persists, contact Member Care for assistance.

We run thorough accuracy and uniformity testing on Cricut heat presses. This testing is done in two steps. First, we paint the surface of the heat plate with a thermal paint. The thermal paint eliminates heat plate reflections during infrared scanning for accurate readings. Second, we add thermal couples or temperature probes directly to the heat plate. By adding temperature probes directly to the heat plate, we eliminate outside factors that may affect readings when heating up and at set temperature. All testing is also done in controlled environments. When testing with a heat gun, consider these factors:

• Heat gun must be regulated for high temperatures (heat guns intended for testing temperatures on humans will not read accurately in higher-temperature ranges)
• Heat guns with lasers do not always have perfect alignment between laser and temperature sensor
• Temperature of heat gun at time of testing Distance from heat gun to heat plate
• Ambient temperature in the room
• Tilting of the heat plate due to heat convection
• Reflectiveness of heat plate surface

Should you have concerns with the accuracy or uniformity of the heat plates on your product, our Member Care team can help.