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Nothing’s worse than being in the middle of cooking dinner and having your kitchen appliance go bust on you.
Instant pots are a great kitchen gadget. They’re simple, straightforward, and they are perfect for cranking out awesome weeknight meals for the family or your meal prep for the week.
They generally hold up well over time, but occasionally you might get an error message. The instant pot will stop working and will have flashing lights and you’ll see an error code on the front.
Today we’re going to help you fix the C6L instant pot error. This is also very similar to the C6H error on your instant pot. If you see the letters “C6” light up in red on the digital display, then you know you’ve got a problem.
We are going to walk you through everything that you could possibly need to know. We’ll cover what the C6L instant pot error is, 4 ways to fix the C6L error, and how to avoid it going forward.
In a hurry? Here’s a quick breakdown.
The C6L, C6, and C6H instant pot errors mean that your instant pot isn’t pressurizing and it’s causing the sensor to mess up.
- Try adding water or liquid if you’re in the middle of cooking. The instant pot needs enough liquid to create proper pressure.
- Check your pressure valve to make sure it’s sealed. If it’s not sealed, then it won’t create proper pressure.
- Deep clean your instant pot.
If all of that fails, you’ll need to contact customer service. We’ll walk you through exactly what you need to have on hand down below.
Need more instant pot help? Here’s our guide on how the instant pot timer works and a list of great instant pot meal prep recipes to try!
What is the Instant Pot C6L Error? What Does the C6H Instant Pot Code Mean?
There are three instant pot error codes that are very similar: C6, C6L, and C6H.
Your instant pot has a housing unit with pressure and temperature sensors. These work together to create the perfect environment to pressure cook your food.
When the pressure sensors aren’t working properly, your instant pot will stop working and you’ll end up with an error code on the front. This is for your safety because the last thing you want is for your instant pot to blow up from too much pressure.
The C6, C6L, and C6H error codes are all related to these pressure sensors.
| Error Code | Error Code Meaning |
| C6 | Faulty pressure sensor |
| C6L | Faulty low-pressure sensor |
| C6H | Faulty high-pressure sensor |
The instant pot has multiple pressure sensors. One that reads low pressure and the other measures for high pressure.
If you have too low of pressure, you won’t actually cook anything.
If you have too high of pressure, your instant pot could get over-pressurized and blow up.
The sensors work together to make sure your food gets cooked and you stay safe.
- If you have a C6 error code, then generally it means that the pressure sensors aren’t working properly.
- A C6L error code means that the low pressure sensor isn’t working. Fortunately, this one is easier to fix because it could just be a user error.
- A C6H error code is a sign that the high pressure sensor isn’t working.
There are a number of reasons that you could be getting a pressure sensor error code.
- The pressure sensors could be faulty. In this case, you’ll have to return it and get a new one.
- The connections could be faulty. Same solution as above.
- User error in the amount of liquid or the seal knob. Easy to fix.
Let’s talk about how to fix the C6L instant pot error.
How Do You Fix the Instant Pot C6L Error?
If cooking with frozen food, wait for it to thaw.
If you’re cooking with frozen food, this can throw off the temperature and pressure of the cooking environment.
Simply wait for the food to thaw a bit more and try cooking it again.
If cooking, add more liquid.
If you’re in the middle of cooking and get an error code then there might be an easy way to fix the C6L instant pot issue.
Sometimes your instant pot will send an error code for the low-pressure sensor because you don’t have enough pressure in your instant pot.
Instant pots require liquid to create a pressurized cooking environment.
The first thing to try is adding more liquid to your instant pot. I would start by adding one cup of liquid at a time. You can try water or use chicken or beef stock depending on what you’re making.
If this doesn’t work, then try checking the pressure valve on top.
Check the pressure valve.
When you’re cooking with an instant pot, you need the pressure valve on top to be working correctly.
There are two parts to look for:
- Steam release valve: This is the black knob that turns clockwise or counter clockwise.
- Float release valve: This is the silver button that pops up and down.
Sometimes these won’t be working properly and they can mess up the amount of pressure in your instant pot.
When you’re cooking, you want the steam release valve to be in the sealed position. This means that the steam inside will be building up and creating pressure.
If you’re cooking with the steam release valve in the vented position, then all of the liquid will evaporate away and there won’t be any pressure in your instant pot.
Fixing the C6L Error by adjusting the pressure valve
- If you your instant pot has a C6L error, then you might need to make sure that the instant pot is set to “sealed”
- If you have a C6H instant pot error, then you may need to set it to “venting” to release the pressure.
Deep Clean Your Instant Pot
If the above quick fixes don’t work, then the next thing to try is giving your instant pot a deep clean.
Sometimes food can get lodged in and around the lid or where the lid locks in. This can prevent the instant pot from properly sealing.
If your instant pot isn’t sealed, then it won’t pressurize.
Wait for the instant pot to completely cool down before you clean it.
Contact Customer Support
If all of the fixes above fail you, then the only thing left to do is contact Instant Pot’s customer support.
You’ll need the following information:
- The model name
- Your personal information
- Order number (optional)
- Date purchased (optional)
- Item / UPC number (optional)
- Where purchased (optional)
- Upload a picture of your receipt and the label (optional)
I recommend filling in the optional information. This will save you time and frustration by not having to go back and forth with the customer service people.
You can find the model name and item number on your instant pot itself.
There’s a box for you to fill in questions or comments. This is where you need to make your request. I’ve done the work for you if you want to copy and paste this!
| Hi there! I recently purchased an Instant Pot from ________. Today when I tried cooking with it, I got an error code on the front that said ____. I understand that this code means that the pressure sensors are not working properly. I’ve tried cleaning my instant pot thoroughly and it is still giving me an error. I’ve provided all of my information above and I’ve uploaded a copy of my receipt below. I would prefer to have a brand new instant pot sent to my address above. Please let me know if there is anything else you need from me. Your name P.s. I know that being in customer service is often a thankless job! I appreciate the work you’re doing and promise to be kind in all of our interactions. |
You’ll also want to upload a receipt of your purchase and a picture of the label on the back of your instant pot.
This will help them process your replacement as fast as possible.
How Do You Avoid the C6L and C6H Errors?
If you have a manufacturer defect, then there’s no way for you to avoid a C6L or C6H error with your instant pot. The hardware is messed up and needs to be replaced.
Here are 4 quick tips to maintain and properly use your instant pot.
- Don’t use frozen food.
- Keep it clean – especially the lid and rim.
- Make sure it is properly sealed before cooking.
- Use the right amount of liquid.
Good luck fixing your instant pot C6L and C6H errors!ins
Richmond Howard started Meal Prepify in 2019 and has helped over a million people learn how to meal prep, get better at meal planning, and create a kitchen they love to use. He’s an avid home chef and loves to bbq, grill out, and make awesome food for family and friends. He’s been featured on MSN, Renaissance Periodization, and Good Financial Cents.