Keurig Blinking Lights – 4 Step Solution

We had a question yesterday from Randy who had a problem with a very poorly Keurig B60 and the dreaded Keurig blinking lights problem …: “My Keurig stopped working. It has the “ready to brew” light on and the three-cup size lights blinking. You can’t turn it off, and the menu button or any other button won’t work. Is there a reset or something I can try?”.

It wasn’t an issue that we had covered before, and so we thought we better get to work. We wanted to find a solution that would get Randy back to making his regular Keurig coffee. Having worked through different solutions with our trusty B60 testbed, we have a solution that fixes the blinking light problem.

Keurig Blinking Light Cause

The cause of the blinking lights situation with a Keurig brewer is the machine unsure of its next step. This is usually the result of an interrupt to whatever it was working on. The interrupt could be from a power change, a break in a sensor signal, or just a bad day! Most people don’t realize underneath all that plastic is an 8-bit PIC Microcontroller that manages all the functions going on. And sometimes this unit can get itself a bit worked up and hence the flashing or blinking lights.

Photo of the blue LCD and cup size selection buttons and the blinking blue light on a Keurig.

A Solution to the Keurig Blinking Lights

The following solution was designed to enable a Keurig brewer’s “brain” to be reset and get it back into its normal mode of operation.

Step 1

Ensure the brewer is turned off (and at this point, the lights should be blinking, and the brewer isn’t in the middle of any other operation).

Step 2

Press and hold the auto-off button.

Step 3

Press and hold both cup-size buttons (for those brewers with only two cup sizes). For those with three cup size selections, press and hold down the medium and large cup size buttons.

Step 4

Once all the lights go out, release the buttons. The brewer should now turn itself back on, and you should be able to get back to making coffee. If the brewer doesn’t turn on automatically, press the power button.

As with all of our work, we would love to hear from you. In particular, if a proposed solution worked or didn’t work for you. Please use the comments section below or the Contact Us form.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Randall Hutton ,

    First time I had heard of this error but it worked and we are back to drinking coffee. Thanks you!!

  • Stephanie Munding ,

    This exact error was showing up on my coffee maker after I had unplugged it and stored it for a couple weeks. Your steps above helped to get my coffeemaker working again, so thank you!!!!! Now, on to cleaning and brewing 🙂

  • Michael Andrew Serna ,

    i have this problem with the three cup option….didnt work….how long do i hold the auto off? it says press and hold…till when? till something happens? till i get tired? it also says make sure the brewer is turned off…if the brewer is off there wouldnt be any lights blinking, cause its off….very confusing

    • craig Whatley ,

      exactly. supper confusing. if the brewer is off it will not have blinking lights. My brewer failed and then randomly started working and failed again. Very bad experience with my first Keurig just when I was starting to enjoy it and its new! Didn’t even last 3 weeks. Please help.

      • Heather ,

        You press and hold the auto off button and at the same time you hold the medium and large button options. Mine shut off pretty fast once I held all 3 buttons at once.

        The device has to be plugged in so that part was a little confusing for me at first too.

      • LaTonda Wallace ,

        I pressed the auto off button (with my pointer finger) for maybe 3 seconds. With my finger still on the auto off button, I used my thumb (turned sideways) to press the large and medium button at the same time. After a couple of seconds, the lights went off. It didn’t automatically come back on, so I pressed the power button. I hope this helps. I did this with all the lights flashing because I had already tried unplugging it.

  • TexanForever ,

    I have two top-of-the-line Keurigs and both are in the attic storage room due to malfunctions. The single cupper where I work stopped working today after a cup was loaded and the buttons pressed. All it does is flash either blue or red. Keurigs are good looking junk designed to fail.

    I’m going back to a simple percolator (made in the USA) that always works.

  • Melissa campbell ,

    Great have to type it all over again because of time limits seriously captcha. Above doesn’t work. If power is off nothing is flashing. When I turn it on and choose a size, water comes out for a second then everything starts flashing.

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Melissa. Thanks for the question, sorry about the captcha … just helps to keep a lot of spam off the site. If you would like to use our Contact Us page and drop us some details about the brewer we’ll see if we can help. Thanks, Andrew

      • Kathy ,

        I bought this in December for our cabin. Used it two weekends and now have the flashing problem, tried pressing the on off with two cup buttons. Did not help. Not what

  • Anne Macek Lachelt ,

    Thanks! Worked!!!

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Anne. Great to hear, thanks for letting us know. All the best, Andrew

  • Jess ,

    It worked! Thank you.

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hey Jess, you are very welcome and thanks for letting us know. Kind regards, Andrew

  • Bobbijayne noll ,

    Thank you so much,it is working

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      You are very welcome. Glad the brewer is back workings.

    • Cindy Blasko ,

      Did not work! Still flashing an no coffee

  • Laura ,

    Thanks so much! Mother in law’s coffee pot was freaking out and this fixed it!

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hey Laura. You are very welcome. And pleased some “in-law credit” has been earned. Thanks for letting us know. All the best, Andrew

  • Lyle ,

    I was trying to make coffee when our power went out and after 15 minutes when it came back on so too did all of the flashing lights on the Keurig coffee pot. I unplugged it for a few hours hoping it would reset but on re-plugging same issue – all flashing lights. I tried your solution, and it worked first time, thank goodness because my caffeine level was getting low ;-).
    Much appreciated !

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Lyle. Thanks for letting us know. Glad the appropriate levels of caffeine have been restored. Regards, Andrew

  • Honee dew ,

    It didn’t work. Also the add water light is blinking along with all 3 cups. I’ve only had it for. Year or so . Very disappointed

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi there, sorry for delay in replying. With any brewer around a year old or less just ask Keurig to replace it. You are covered by their one year warranty. We have heard from customers with machines older than a year still receiving full replacements. Persistence is the key with Keurig from our experience. All the best, Andrew

  • Lyuska Rendon ,

    Mine its doing the same. I tried the solution above but the lights dont go off. Mine its new, not even a year old. What should I do?

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Lyuska. Sorry for the delay in replying. I would get in touch with Keurig and ask for a new brewer. You are still covered by their one year warranty – so don’t worry about trying to fix it; just ask for a new replacement and they’ll send it out to you. All the best, Andrew

  • Vel ,

    Unable to press buttons when the light is blinking.

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Vel … we’ll need a few more details to help. If you would like to use our Contact Us page and we can go from there. Thanks, Andrew

      • Mike Terwilliger ,

        We have a 3 button Keurig… all lights blinking. Pressing and holding any buttons do nothing… please advise.

        • Carol Ann Moore ,

          Just purchased the K-Elite and the clock lights keep blinking. Tried the method you suggested & it doesn’t work. There are 5 brew sizes and can’t hold them all down. Please help. Very frustrating 😩

  • Lisa ,

    Hi guys:
    My Keurig Classic’s blue add-water light and sensor have stopped working. Thoughts?…Lisa

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Lisa. If you would like to get in touch with our Contact Us page with a few more details we can see if we can get the classic working again. Thanks, Andrew

      • Lindsay ,

        Hi, having this problem with a K35 model at a rented cottage so we are unfamiliar with the machine. We have a different one at home. All lights (power and 3 sizes) are blinking in a sequence as soon as we plugged it in. These is no auto-off button that I can see. Water tank is full. K-cup has been placed and top closed. Help?

  • Mercedes melo ,

    Al lights on won’t work

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Mercedes … if you would like to use our Contact Us page and send us a few more details we might be able to help. Thanks, Andrew

  • Shiva ,

    Hi I have the Keurig machine with 3 sizes and an on button. I tried this method. But it’s not working. I even kept it unplugged for 12 hrs or so. Still the same problem. Could you please suggest what else I can try? Thanks!

  • Gerald L Burgess ,

    Held down buttons still flashing it did not work for me

  • Robert ,

    My Keri has a flashing power light and holding the buttons does not work

  • Bonnie skierski ,

    My Kubrick coffee maker is blinking and won’t work. I’ve unplugged it and tried your trick of holding down the buttons. Didnt work. I have no auto button.

  • Ericia Arlene Compani ,

    Thank you so much, you are a lifesaver!!

  • Brandon ,

    I think I should just resign and buy a new one. The steps didn’t exactly work for me. If held down the buttons while plugging it in the lights either stayed solid or go completely out and never cut back on. But if I unplug it and plug it back in after doing that without holding any buttons the lights go back to flashing for me. I can hear water swishing around inside.

  • Bob ,

    Thank you thank you thank you

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Bob, you are very welcome. Glad it worked for you.

  • Theresa Bitz ,

    My keurig 2.0 power button just keeps blinking and won’t turn on

  • Robin ,

    My machine has three cup sizes. When plugged in, all lights flash and the machine will not turn off. I tried the above steps.

    Steps I took:
    1) I unplugged the machine for a few minutes but the lights continued to flash when plugged back in.

    2)While plugged in and the lights flashing, I held down the on/off switch and the large and medium cup buttons all at the same time for a minute or so. The blinking did not stop.

    What now?

  • Amanda Hood ,

    My Keurig (3 cup size option) has blinking lights (add water, heating and medium cup size). I tried holding all the buttons, as you stated, but nothing. I also dumped ot the water, added fresh, changed the filter, and cleaned the needle. Nothing works. Please help.

    Amanda

    • A ,

      Exact same thing on mine. It’s also making noise like it’s about to take flight

  • RONALD COMEAUX ,

    my Keurig is a 2017 model but it has brewed only around 10 cups coffee. For as much as was paid for this unit is very sad that I would have to dispose of it. I have gone through different sequences pressing buttons and opening and closing the lid. no good.

  • Cindy Morrison ,

    This didn’t fix my Keurig😪, thank you though!

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Cindy … sorry it didn’t work out for you. Hope you find a solution.

  • Jan Rassman ,

    Solution not working. Lights still blinking. Any other suggestions.no warranty, just expired.

  • Carrie Lee Simmons ,

    Well we got our going after holding down for a few seconds. My bf is just impatient.

  • Paula Sutphin ,

    Your solution worked perfectly – we were afraid we were going to have to trash a perfectly good machine – you are awesome!!!

  • laura slover ,

    I followed the steps and the lights went out. now no lights will come on. If I unplug and plug in again the lights all flash fast again. I did this three times,whats the next step.

  • Tammy Cole ,

    What is the fix or my Keurig supeme Plus flashing “add water” when it is full of water? I have descaled and still have the problem.

  • Janet ,

    It worked and my husband is very happy.
    Thank you 🙂

  • Janet ,

    It worked and my husband is very happy.
    Thank you 🙂

  • Malcolm ,

    Model: Compact K35

    Bought new for camper in spring 2019. Only went camping 4-5 times. Has 3 plus a power button. All flash when plugged in. I holding any button when plugging in. It stays powered off with no lights blinking. But still nothing. Not so much as a peep like its even trying… Grrr

  • Bill Manley ,

    3 button Keurig (sm, med, large)
    blinking blue (add water)
    blinking red (heating)

    auto and med and large turn lights off
    add water light works and functions well

  • Everett Knopp ,

    Didn’t work. 😒

  • John ,

    It worked. Thank you

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi John, pleased it worked for you and thank you for lettings us know.

  • Ahny ,

    This worked! So happy. It did not turn itself back on so had to redo the process and when the lights turned off I hit the power button and boom, it worked! THANK YOU!

  • Ahny ,

    I pushed and held the auto-off button while pressing and holding the medium and large cup buttons, this stopped the blinking lights. I then had to push the power button which turned it back on. I was able to make my coffee. If I leave it on after its finished brewing it will start with the all lights blinking again and I have start the process over again. Even if I leave it turned off it starts the blinking again, I have to unplug it.

  • How do I fix Keurig B145 when the drain knob is selected but the drain brewer light above the drain button will not light up?

  • LoWaynne Woolridge ,

    Had my Keurig for a number of years and today is the first time I have had any problems with it. All the lights were blinking and I did not know what to expect. First thing I did was toon on website and get prices for a new one. I then went on website to look for trouble shooting for blinking lights. Did exactly as it said and it worked. I can now have my coffee again. Thanks very much.

  • Kim ,

    This solution worked for me but I think this can be better phrased.
    While the machine is plugged in and the lights are blinking, start holding down the Auto-Off off button.
    While holding that button, begin holding down the two cup size buttons (or in my case, the Medium & Large cup size buttons).
    When all the lights shut off, release all the buttons. The machine didn’t automatically start after that for me, I had to press the Power button. Everything turned on fine and worked well after that.

  • Pam Sligar ,

    My letter K keeps blinking. No other lights blink. Any suggestions? Thank you

  • Andy Johnson ,

    Gump! You’re a goddamn genius! I’m drinking coffee again! Thank you!

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Thanks Andy. Good to hear you are back in coffee making action!

  • Diego ,

    Im having this issue and nothing is working lights are still blinking held the 3 buttons for 30 min nothing happened just keeps blinking. I have the 3 cup sizes one. Plz help. And if theres something else to do edit it into the info sp it can help other people

  • Michael ,

    Holding down the auto-off while then holding do wn the medium and large size buttons did the trick! Thanks bundles!!

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Great to hear it worked. Thanks for letting us know.

  • Tom ,

    Worked for me

  • Bonnie Rix ,

    I have the single keurig with the full tank on the back. The power was interrupted and now the descaler light comes on and can’t make coffee. This is a new machine. I’ve tried holding the buttons down like posted and didn’t work. Now what????

  • Doris Watson ,

    I had a power surge occur and now my keurig keeps flashing all the lights ! I’ve only had it two months! I called customer service but let me tell you, when a coffee addict can’t have coffee they’re not I’m the mood to listen to promotions of other services! Got no nelp there !’ I have tried the sighrxyions and they’re not working!

  • Bill ,

    Thank you for the solution to this problem. I followed your steps and it worked!

    Bill

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hey Bill. Thanks for letting us know. Pleased we could help you back to coffee. All the best, Andrew

  • Found your remedy this evening, I’m going to try it at 6am..
    I’ll tell your fans if it worked or not 🤞🤞🤞

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Both of the fans wait in eager anticipation.

  • Judy ,

    Thank you for showing how to fix problem

  • Daniel Barnes ,

    Keurig k-compact, lights blinking in secquence, starting with power, large, middle, small. Then all off, then repeat. Tried the 3 button reset but did not work. Help!

  • Robert Bradbury ,

    i have all 4 lights blinking at the same time and holding down the power button and the med and large button did not help

    help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Your solution fixed my problem, so glad I found it on fixingthek.com. Was no problem going by your instructions. Thanks

  • Rex ,

    Turned on K50 in the morning, was low on water so filled up the tank while machine was heating and when putting the water tank on the machine dropped the tank and water got on the machine and all over buttons and lights. I quickly pulled the plug and cleaned up the water and plugged it back in and then the power, add water, descale, heating and power lights and 3 cup size lights where flashing but not the auto off light. I couldn’t get it do anything. I took it apart dried the inside, put back together and still the same thing. Found this trouble shooter and did as directed “hold auto off and med & large brew buttons at the same time” then the lights went out, I let buttons go lights stayed off but machine didn’t come back on by it self. I pushed power button and it turned back on and it works again. Thanks Rex

  • A ,

    My machine was unplugged for a couple months in storage and now it’s making very loud noises like it’s about to take flight and won’t do anything else. Briefly the heating, and add water lights were both flashing. Tried your reset and now nothing else happens.

  • James Fischer ,

    I have tried all you have suggested still all lights flashing any othrr ideas

  • Justin ,

    I was 34 when I started holding down the buttons. Today is my 43rd birthday and I’m still waiting for them to go off. Any suggestions?

  • Jacqueline R Buckley ,

    My k express lights all flash when rich on switch. Nothing happens. I’ve cleaned needles. Push n help on med n large buttons. Cold water comes out til stop pushing n holding buttons. What’s wrong?. I can not find anything like this problem on net so far.

  • Loretta ,

    Yay !!!!! It worked

  • None of this worked floor me I have a compact 3 cups size machine and it’s 4 years old, none of these worked. I have had a lot of problems with this machine since about 6 months after I bought it. I just decaled it a couple of weeks ago but now this, this is the first time I couldn’t get the lights to quit blinking. I only drink coffee a couple of days a week so I don’t understand why this is happening. I will say that I will not be replacing it with another Kerig.

  • I tried holding down the power button along with the 2 cup size buttons but nothing happened. Al lights continued to flash on and off.

  • Charles Conway ,

    Thanks! It worked. Needed to have it powered on for the reset to work, but otherwise instructions are fine.

  • We have a Keurig K-25. This is the 3rd Keurig we have purchased in 2021, and the last one. All different problems. We have gone to Walmart to purchse the Mr. Coffee, and we will have to open the cups to get the coffee out of them to put into Mr. Coffee so we can have coffee tomorrow morning.
    The problems we’ve encountered are simple but beyond the user’s ability to fix. There is little, if any customer, support. One comment from your website is that, perhaps, our Keurig is “…having a bad day…”
    When it works, it’s great. The operative words…”when it works.” We are so disappointed in the Keurig.

  • scott ,

    power light blinks all three blue lights blink holding on or all of them doesent work????

  • It worked! My wonderful ♥ Keurig ♥ coffee maker is working again thanks to your instructions. Thank you so
    much for your help.

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Dianne. Great news! Thanks for letting us know. All the best, Andrew

  • Teresa ,

    I have only had my Keurig a year bought after house fire for replacement. I drink 1 cup a day from the single side. My mom comes out on weekends and we make One 8 cup pot on Saturday and Sunday. Now my lights are blinking and tried your button thing and still not working. I need help should not have to buy new after a year.

  • Matt ,

    We have a K-Express and that worked for us. Interesting. From what I gather, it’s more apt to have to be reset by this method after a descaling. What ever the reason, we’re all set now.

  • Mary Anne Kalbfus ,

    After trying to get an answer from keurig, l finally found my answer here. Thanks.

  • Joyce ,

    OMG I was getting ready to go buy a new Keurig I’m sorry this one out but it worked thank you thank you

    • Andrew Shephard ,

      Hi Joyce. Thanks for letting us know; pleased we could help out. Kind regards, Andrew

  • Kipp ,

    I have a brand-new Keurig duo. When I plugged it in and turned it on all the lights begin flashing in a row and three different sizes plus the carafe and the cup on and off buttons. I am plugged it and tried it again doing either the cup or the carafe. I did this about four times before I googled troubleshooting. By unplugging and plugging in again pushing it on button and then holding the 10 and 12 down for several several seconds I let go when the lights went off then I pushed a power button again, then the 10 ounce and it worked. Yay

  • Paula F Krogh ,

    My adored K worked for years and seemed to just blow up. I was about to toss it and order a new one – but then decided to google the problem on the off chance it was fixable. This solution was so simple and worked instantly. It was such an amazingly pleasant surprise! Thank you!!!

  • I tried at least 10 other methods until I read this one and it worked!! Yay and thank you!!

  • Tim ,

    I have a K90 Elite, and it won’t do the air purge at the end of the brew cycle, Any thoughts?

  • Erin ,

    It worked! Thank you!!

  • Suzanne ,

    I was about to give up and order another Keurig. THIS is the only place where I saw these instructions and THEY WORKED!!! Thank you so much!

  • Cheryle ,

    Hi, I have a Cuisinart/Keurig combo unit with 3 cup sizes on the Keurig side. I don’t have an auto off button. So I turn off the power but then there are no blinking lights. I tried pressing the med & large buttons at the same time when the power is on but that doesn’t work anymore (it did months ago when I first had this problem).

    My latest trick was to just let it rest for 10 minutes with the coffee pod lid up but even this morning that didn’t work until I tried it and then let rest 3 times before I was able to get a cup of coffee. Cleaned out the pod holder, the needle, anything I could!

    It seems to be getting worse – lots of steam and squeaking! I would appreciate any guidance.

  • Jerry Bongiorno ,

    did not work. different model i think. Mine blinks Descale for a month after it was done.

  • Jerry Bongiorno ,

    did not work. different model i think. Mine blinks Descale for a month after it was done. did not submit previously

  • Barry ,

    You saved another one. Thanks !