Instant Pot Pressure Cooker F1 Error Code Fix

Here’s the manufacturer-style path for dealing with an F1 code:

• Unplug the Instant Pot from the wall. Leave it off for at least 10–15 minutes so any latched error clears and the electronics cool down.
• Pull out the inner stainless-steel pot. Look inside the base for anything that could mess with the sensors:
  • Water or soup that spilled into the base
  • Food, starch, or burnt crud on the heater plate
  • Rust or corrosion around the center temperature sensor in the middle
• Check the bottom of the inner pot. If it’s badly warped, dented, or caked in burnt-on food, the sensor won’t read right.
• Clean and dry everything:
  • Wipe the heater plate and sensor in the base completely dry with a soft cloth.
  • Scrub the bottom of the inner pot smooth and clean. If it’s warped, plan on replacing it.
  • If you had a spill inside the base, leave the cooker open in a warm, dry spot for several hours so all moisture is gone.
• Inspect for damage. If you see melted plastic, scorch marks, or smell burnt electronics, do not plug it back in. That’s a dead unit.
• Reconnect the power cord firmly on both the cooker and the wall side. If you can, try a different outlet you know works (no sketchy power strips).
• Do a simple water test: 2 cups of water, lid locked, 5 minutes on Pressure Cook. No food, no starch, just water.
• If F1 pops back up after all that, the official fix is: stop using the cooker and contact Instant Pot support or replace the unit. F1 is treated as a non–user-serviceable hardware fault.

If they confirm F1 and you’re in warranty, they’ll usually repair or replace it. Out of warranty, they will typically tell you it’s not worth factory repair.

There’s no secret button combo that clears a real F1. If it keeps coming back after a clean, dry reset and a water test, you’re looking at failed electronics.