Easy Ways to Reset Your Keurig: Common Issues Fixed

Download Article

Learn what to do when your Keurig won't brew

Co-authored by Trevor Storey and Jennifer Vasquez, BA, MA

Last Updated: August 20, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

Power Cycle Reset

|

Resetting After Descaling

|

Cleaning to Reset

|

Troubleshooting

|

Video

|

Tips

When you run into issues with your Keurig, a reset may be required. There are different methods you can try depending on what’s causing the problem. The following guide provides multiple ways you can get your machine up and running again. Get instructions on how to do a power cycle reset and reset your machine after descaling. We also offer additional troubleshooting tips!

Resetting a Keurig: Quick Steps

Download Image

Turn the Keurig off and unplug it.
Remove the water tank.
Wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it on.
If it appears clogged, use a paper clip to remove old coffee grounds from the entrance and exit needles.

Section 1 of 4:

Doing a Power Cycle Reset

Download Article

1
Unplug your Keurig, and remove the water reservoir. Sometimes removing the water reservoir helps reset the machine. While your machine is unplugged, take off the water reservoir. Give it a rinse and clean any gunk off the connectors. If your Keurig can't access the water, it's not going to brew. Fill the reservoir back up with fresh water so you can put it back on your machine.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If there's any water left inside that had already been pumped out of the reservoir before the machine stopped working, clear it by pressing and holding the brew button after you plug your Keurig back in.
- See our guide for more tips on cleaning your Keurig water reservoir.
2
Declog the entrance and exit needles. While your brewer is unplugged, clean out the Keurig needles. Since the needles go down into the coffee, they get grounds inside them. Cleaning expert Ryan Santos says to straighten out a paper clip or use a toothpick, and gently clear any clogs or debris from the needle.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Ryan Santos
Cleaning Expert

Expert Interview} If you had a K-Cup in your machine, take it out before you declog the needles.
- The way to access the needles varies depending on which Keurig model you have. You should be able to see them when you lift the handle and remove the K-Cup from the holder.
Advertisement
3
Plug your brewer back in and run a brew cycle. Restore power to your Keurig through a dedicated outlet. If your Keurig is the only thing plugged into that particular outlet, you can be certain that it's getting enough power. When you plug it in, watch for the lights on your machine to flash, showing that it's back and ready to work. You might need to open and close the K-Cup holder. If you clamp down the handle and the lights come on, you should be good to go!^{[3]
X
Research source}
- If the lights don't come on or your Keurig still won't run a brew cycle, you might need to clean or descale the machine.

Section 2 of 4:

Resetting Your Keurig After Descaling

Download Article

Hold down the 8oz and 12 oz buttons for 3 seconds. If you completed the descaling process but the descale light doesn’t turn off, some models require you to reset the Keurig. Turn your machine on, then press the 8oz and 12oz buttons at the same time for a few seconds. The descale light should turn off. However, if it blinks and stays on, repeat these steps again.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- For K-Elite models, hold the K and 12oz buttons for 5 seconds.
- If the descale light stays on, you may need to run another descaling cycle or do a thorough cleaning of your Keurig.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}

Section 3 of 4:

Cleaning to Reset Your Keurig

Download Article

Run a clean or descale cycle to eliminate buildup. If your Keurig won't brew, it might need to be cleaned first to reset it. Keurig recommends cleaning your brewer at least once every 3 months. Some models are programmed to prompt you for cleaning and won't brew at all until you've completed at least one cleaning cycle. If this was your issue, once you run the clean or descale cycle, your machine should work again.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- You might think of cleaning and descaling your Keurig as a chore, but they're quite simple tasks to do and should only take a few minutes.
- If the red drip tray light comes on, that means the drip tray is full and needs to be emptied. Slide it off toward you and empty it in the sink. You can give it a rinse as well, but don't put it in the dishwasher.^{[7]
  X
  Research source}

Section 4 of 4:

Troubleshooting Your Keurig

Download Article

Turn the machine off (if it's not already off), then unplug it from the wall. Leave it unplugged for at least 30 seconds to allow the tiny bit of power that remains in the machine to drain. Like most devices, a Keurig coffee maker contains a tiny computer. Power cycling that computer can get rid of any glitches that are causing it to malfunction.^{[8]
X
Research source}
2
Lift and lower the handle if the brew cycle was interrupted. If your brewer stopped in the middle of a brew cycle, reset it and start over. This could be an issue if your brewer lost power for any reason while you were trying to make a cup of coffee. The power might've flickered on and off briefly, or someone might've jostled the plug by accident. When this happens, lift the handle and then snap it back down in place.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- You may want to switch out the K-Cup with a fresh one if the machine had already started brewing.
- You might be able to estimate the size and keep the old K-Cup in. For example, if there's just a small amount of coffee in your cup when you originally selected the largest size, try a medium size the second time around.
3
Check the outlet if your brewer doesn't have power. Try plugging your brewer into a different outlet and see if it works. Start by tapping the power button. If the "Add Water" button flashes blue, your brewer has power.^{[10]
X
Research source} If not, it's possible that the problem isn't your brewer, but the outlet. This is likely if there are no lights or sounds coming from your brewer at all.
- If you have a reset switch on the outlet, you might try pushing that in. Plug in a different appliance and see if it works where you had your Keurig plugged in.
- Since Keurig brewers use a lot of power, Keurig recommends plugging your brewer into its own dedicated outlet. If the outlet is overloaded with other appliances, your Keurig might not work.^{[11]
  X
  Research source}
4
Call Keurig Customer Service at 1-866-901-2739. If none of the basic steps get your Keurig to work, get customer service to assist. This is especially important if your brewer is relatively new because you don't want to do anything to void the warranty. Tell the agent who takes your call what's going on with your machine, and they can tell you what to do next.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Have the model of your Keurig handy when you call, as well as how old it is. If it's more than a year old, a rough idea is fine.
- Keurig's warranty lasts one year from the date of purchase. They'll extend it an additional 12 months beyond that year if you connect your brewer to the Keurig app through WiFi at least once every 90 days for the first 2 years from the date of purchase.^{[13]
  X
  Research source}

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Keurig coffee makers won't work with distilled water. Tap water is fine, although Keurig recommends using bottled or filtered water for best results.^{[14]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Keurig user guides note that Keurig brewers aren't designed to be worked on by users, beyond the basic maintenance procedures. Any other reset tricks you might try can void your warranty.^{[15]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
For more tips, see our guide on how to use your Keurig machine.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0