Keurig Coffee Machine Won’t Turn On? Here’s What To Do

But don’t worry. All hope is not lost! I’ve managed to salvage a fair few Keurig coffee machines that haven’t been able to power on over the years and I’ve learnt some tricks along the way.

And now, I’m going to share them with you. So, join me as we take a look at the following subjects…

Are you ready to get started?

Key Takeaways

• Electrical faults and overheating are key reasons for Keurig machines not powering on
• It might also be a descaling issue, a water tank issue or a needles issue
• You can get a replacement device for unfixable issues within one year
• Cleaning and descaling your Keurig machine might bring it back to life
• You can still reset some parts of the machine without power 

Keurig Coffee Machine Won’t Turn On: The Main Issues 

It’s best to find out what the actual issue causing your Keurig coffee machine to not turn on is before you try any troubleshooting. This will save you time and effort when it comes to going through the motions of fixing it.

So, let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons that your machine won’t power on. Most of these issues could occur to any of the Keurig coffee machine model lineup, including all of the following:

Let’s take a look at those problems! 

1. Your machine has overheated

One of the most common reasons for the Keurig coffee machine power off issue is that it’s overheated to the point that it’s shut down and won’t switch back on again.

You might be able to tell if your machine has overheated by opening it up and looking inside it. If there are signs of burning, that’s a telltale sign. But, it’s not always visibly obvious that overheating has occurred.

2. There’s an electric fault 

Perhaps electronics are the reason for your Keurig coffee machine not turning on. These devices are quite complicated pieces of kit, so there are a few different internal parts that could run into issues that mean they don’t power on again. 

This one is a little trickier to fix unless you happen to be an electrician of some variety. The issue might be terminal, but it could be fixable. However, it’s unlikely that you’re going to be able to do that yourself.

So at this point, I’d recommend skipping straight to the last step of my fixes list and speaking to Keurig directly. They might be able to repair or replace the machine for you. 

3. The cable is faulty 

The cable that connects your Keurig coffee machine can get damaged internally over time and this could stop the current flowing from the mains into your brewer, and that would stop it from turning on.

You might be able to see if the cable is faulty because of exterior damage to it. But it’s more likely that a faulty cable will be damaged internally and not visible. And unfortunately, there isn’t really any way to test this other than to replace the cable.

And this is a pretty long winded process. I’ll show you how to do that later on in this article, but be warned!

4. Your mains output is faulty

It could be the case that the fault isn’t with the machine in the first place, but with the mains output itself. If the mains isn’t supplying any power, your coffee machine isn’t going to work, of course! 

The best way to test if this is the fault is to plug something else into the mains that will instantly tell you if power is running through it, such as a phone charger. Or, just plug your coffee machine into another outlet.

If you have a mains issue, you’re going to need to speak to an electrician who should be able to repair it.

It also might be the case that you’re actually just not correctly plugged into the socket in the first place, so check to make sure that everything is plugged in correctly first.

5. A buildup of limescale 

A lot of people tend to overlook the fact that descaling their Keurig coffee machine is an integral part of keeping it healthy. If you fail to do this for too long a period, you run the risk of not being able to power your brewer on.

Limescale can cause all kinds of issues with the internal workings of the machine. It can stop certain processes to the point where the brewer is unable to function at all anymore.

You should notice that your ‘descale’ light comes on but it might be faulty or you could miss it. Either way, be sure to keep an eye out for this and consult the next section to find out how to take care of it.

6. Coffee residue has interrupted the internal workings

Another physical substance that can cause issues with the internal workings of the machine is coffee residue. So if you fail to clean your Keurig for too long of a period, it could cause it to not be able to power on altogether.

That’s why it’s really important to clean your brewer on a regular basis (every week or so), and I’m going to show you how to do that later on.

7. The water tank isn’t connecting 

The Keurig water tank contains sensors that show the machine it’s ready to start working. If the machine can’t detect the water tank, it’s not going to be able to perform the brew. And in the worst case scenario, it might cause the brewer to not be able to power on at all.

Find out more about this issue and how to fix it in the next section of this article. 

Potential Fixes for Keurig Coffee Machine Not Turning On

We’ve figured out the key issues that are causing your Keurig coffee machine to not turn on. 

Perhaps you don’t know which of these things is causing the problem for you right now. If so, I recommend trying out all of these things in order.

1. Turn it on and off

1. Turn off the Keurig machine.
2. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
3. Wait 30 seconds.
4. Replug the power cord into the wall outlet.
5. Turn on the Keurig machine.

2. Double check everything is plugged in and switched on

Before you start with the real troubleshooting processes, make sure everything is actually ready to go!

Ensure that the power cable is correctly plugged into the mains and that your coffee brewer is powered on via the switch or the button.

3. Perform a hard reset

One way you can reset the Keurig machine when it’s not powering on is to perform a reset by using the buttons.

To do this, hold the power button for 10 seconds. It might take a minute or so for anything to happen when you do this, depending on what the issue is, so hold on! 

This won’t work if there’s a more deep-seated electrical issue or something to that effect. So if it doesn’t bring your brewer back to life, proceed to the next step. 

4. Remove and reattach the water tank

Some reports have suggested that the water tank not being connected could cause the machine to stop working. There are a couple of things you should do if this is the case.

First, make sure that the magnets connecting to the water tank to the rest of the brewer are correctly aligned. You can physically move the magnets with your hands without too much force and then line them up by eye. 

If that doesn’t fix things, remove the water tank then power the machine off at the mains. Then, wait a few seconds before you power the machine back on, then re-attach the water tank.

Still no good? Proceed to the next step…

5. Clean your coffee machine

It’d be rare for a dirty Keurig machine to not power off because of this alone. But it has been known for coffee residue to effect the internal workings of the machine, sometimes to the point that it won’t power on

So, make sure you clean your machine regularly. Not only will this potentially prevent the issue with the machine not turning on, but it will make your coffee taste better too!

I recommend cleaning your coffee machine every week if you use it every day. You should remove all the detachable part, like the K-Cup holder and the water tank, and wash them with warm soapy water then wipe down the rest of the machine with a warm, damp cloth.

You can read about cleaning your Keurig coffee machine in more detail in this article.

6. Descale your coffee machine

I mentioned that a build up of limescale could be the issue preventing your Keurig coffee machine from powering on. But luckily, it shouldn’t be too much hard work to put this right. 

To descale your Keurig coffee machine, you’ll need to add a descaling solution to the water tank and run a descale cycle on it, then let it sit for a while. 

For your Keurig coffee machine to actually not power on because it needs descaling so badly means that there’s going to be a lot of sediment inside it. So, you might have to repeat the process a few times in order to get things up and running.

In general, it’s worth making sure that you descale your coffee machine every six months at most. And you might have to do it even more frequently than that if you have hard water in your area and if you use the machine every day, perhaps as often as every three months.

If you want to know more about descaling your coffee machine (and find out how to do it in more detail), then take a look at this guide. 

7. Reset the overheating thermostat

If your Keurig coffee machine has overheated and won’t power on, you may be able to reset the thermostat inside to bring it back to life.

I’ve put this option quite far down in my list as it’s a little more complicated, but it can be really effective! You can watch this Youtube tutorial if you want to give it a go but be warned. It’s not well suited for beginners and it does require a few tools.

8. Replace the mains cable

This is another pretty awkward process, but it’s definitely worth doing if you know that the cable is causing you the problem. It might take some time, but it’s going to be a lot more

To replace the cable, check out this YouTube tutorial. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a little experience with electrical hardware repair work though. It’s not for beginners! 

The best option for most people will be to go to a specialist electrical hardware company who can take care of the replacement for you.

To avoid this issue happening in the first place, make sure to take care of the table. If you tug it a lot, internal damage is more likely to occur and this might lead to your coffee machine not powering on. 

9. Speak to the Keurig customer support team

Have you tried all of these potential fixes but your Keurig coffee machine still won’t turn on? Perhaps you’re going to need to speak to Keurig directly. They might be able to help you fix the machine or they could replace it for you.

The good news is that if your machine is under one year old, it will be covered under warranty so that replacement would be free of charge if it is necessary.

You’ll have three contact options if you want to speak to the Keurig support team. They are…

• Via a phone call: You can give Keurig a call directly on the number 866.901.2739. This line is open from 7am to 12am EST 7 hours a day. It’s the most efficient way to get hold of them. 
• The online contact form: Less urgent enquiries can be submitted by going over to the Keurig website and submitting a request there. A member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible. 
• A letter in the post: If you want to avoid the digital contact route altogether and you’re okay with waiting a while, you can always write a letter to Keurig at the postal address Keurig Green Mountain Inc. 53 South Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803.

Keurig Coffee Machine Won’t Turn On FAQ

There are a couple of extra pieces of recommendation that I’d recommend you consider if your Keurig coffee machine won’t power on.

Final Thoughts on Keurig Coffee Machine Not Turning On

So, your Keurig coffee machine might not have been turning on because it was overheating. Or maybe there was an electrical fault? Perhaps limescale was the issue?

Either way, I hope my tips for fixing any of those issues have brought your machine back to life. There are quite a few things you can try for that, such as resetting the machine, giving it a deep clean and performing a descale.

And if you’ve tried everything in this article and your Keurig coffee machine still won’t power on (plus it’s out of warranty) then sadly, the only thing left to do is invest in a new one. 

I’ve got you covered in that regard with this article on the best Keurig coffee machines right now. Check it out!