Instant Pot Pressure Cooker F18 Error Code Fix Guide

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What This Error Means

F18 means internal sensor or communication fault inside the Instant Pot.
The control board isn’t getting a clean signal from the pressure/temperature system, so it refuses to heat for safety.

Official Fix

Do what the manual would tell you, in plain language:

  • Kill the power first. Unplug the Instant Pot from the wall. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes for a full reset.
  • Cool it down. If it was hot, let it cool completely. F18 can pop when the electronics get confused by heat or steam.
  • Empty and dry. Pull out the inner stainless pot. Wipe any spilled food, foam, or moisture off the heating plate and around the center sensor in the base. Make sure everything is dry, not sticky.
  • Check the lid hardware.
    • Make sure the float valve moves freely up and down.
    • Pop off the anti-block shield (little metal cap under the lid), clean it, and snap it back firmly.
  • Inspect the sealing ring. No tears, burns, or bad deformation. Fully seated in its groove all the way around the lid.
  • Use enough liquid. Put the inner pot back in, add at least 1–2 cups of water. Too little liquid can make the sensors act up.
  • Basic test run. Plug it back in. Lock the lid. Set it to Pressure Cook for about 5–10 minutes with just water and see if it builds pressure without throwing F18.
  • If F18 comes back quickly or every time: stop using it. Unplug it. The official line at this point is: contact Instant Pot customer support or an authorized service center. They’ll talk main board or sensor replacement, or tell you it’s done if it’s out of support.

If it passes the water test and F18 doesn’t return, you likely had a temporary sensor glitch or moisture issue.

The Technician’s Trick

Out of warranty and not scared of a screwdriver? Here’s what a bench tech actually does before calling it dead.

  • Unplug. Always. No power, no exceptions. You’re going into the base.
  • Flip it over. Put a towel on the counter, flip the Instant Pot upside down.
  • Pull the bottom cover. Remove the screws around the base plate. Keep them in a cup. Gently lift the bottom off; don’t yank any wires.
  • Look for the obvious fails.
    • Burn marks or dark spots on the circuit board.
    • Corroded or green/white crusty areas from liquid spills.
    • Loose or half-plugged connectors going to the pressure sensor and lid sensor harness.
  • Reseat the connectors. One by one, unplug the small plastic connectors from the main board (especially any going to the top/lid and pressure sensors), then plug them back in firmly. Loose connectors are a classic “mystery” F-code cause.
  • Clean off gunk or moisture.
    • If you see sticky residue or light corrosion, hit it with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol and a soft brush or cotton swab.
    • Let the board dry completely (minimum 1 hour, or use a fan on cool). No hair dryers on hot.
  • Rebuild and test. Reinstall the base plate, flip the pot upright, put in the inner pot with 1–2 cups of water, plug it in, and run a short Pressure Cook test.
  • Read the result like a tech:
    • No more F18: it was likely a loose/dirty connection or minor moisture issue. You’re back in business.
    • F18 still there: you’re looking at a bad pressure sensor or a failing main control board. At that point it’s parts money vs. replacement time.

Do not operate the cooker with the bottom cover off. Reassemble it fully before any powered test.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Unit is under warranty or only a few years old, error cleared with reset/cleaning/connector reseat, or you can swap a sensor/board yourself with cheap parts.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Mid-age Instant Pot where a shop wants 50–70% of the cost of a new cooker to diagnose and replace the main board or sensors.
  • ❌ Replace: Old, heavily used model with burned board, melted wiring, or multiple issues (leaks + F18); parts and labor are close to or more than a brand-new Instant Pot.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Working on other appliances throwing cryptic codes? These guides might save you more time: