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Ender 3 V3 or V3 Plus: the hotend does not heat (error 2564 or 111) or it restarts while heating

Guide based on the manufacturer's official documentation; usi3d has not yet verified it on a machine.

Technology: FDM · Brand: Creality · Symptoms: The hotend or the bed does not heat, Temperature error (MINTEMP, MAXTEMP, thermal runaway), The printer shows an error code or message, Frozen screen or restarts · Updated on 10 October 2026

Symptom

The Ender 3 V3 or V3 Plus shows «Error, key: 2564, the extruder is not heating as expected», gives error 111 at start-up or while printing (communication between the mainboard and the nozzle adapter board fails) or restarts while heating during the self-check or while printing.

Likely causes, from most to least likely

  1. 2564: nozzle heating or temperature reading fails: the heater or thermistor cables are not fully inserted, the ceramic heating ring is damaged or the thermistor or heater holder is loose.
  2. 2564 and 111: the cable in the nozzle drag chain is loose or missing its tie.
  3. 111: the mainboard or the nozzle adapter board has poor contact, burn marks or damaged soldering.
  4. Restarts while heating: the voltage selector was not set when the printer was assembled.
  5. Restarts while heating (V3): an insufficient power supply, a short circuit in the hotend kit or in the bed, or a mainboard fault.

Checks to tell which one it is

  • Note the code: 2564 (the hotend is not heating as expected) or 111 (communication with the nozzle board).
  • If it restarts, heat the hotend and the bed separately (during the self-check the screen shows which part is heating) and see which one triggers it.

Before you start

Before taking anything apart, cleaning or adjusting it, switch the printer off and unplug it, unless a step says otherwise, and do not touch the nozzle, the heater block or the bed until they have cooled down. If in any doubt about electricity, heat or moving parts, stop and ask a professional.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Check the hotend connections (2564)

    Switch off, unplug and let it cool. Check that the nozzle heater and thermistor cables are fully inserted and that the thermistor holder and heater holder are not loose.

    Check: The nozzle heats without 2564.

    If that does not fix it: Check the heating ring (next step).

  2. Check the ceramic heating ring (2564)

    With the nozzle cold, check whether the ceramic heating ring is damaged.

    Check: The ring is intact.

    If that does not fix it: If it is damaged, that hotend part has to be replaced: ask Creality support which one to order.

  3. Secure the drag chain cable (2564 and 111)

    Check that the cable running through the drag chain to the nozzle is not loose and has its tie.

    Check: The cable is firm and the error does not come back.

    If that does not fix it: With 111, check the boards (next step).

  4. Error 111: check the boards

    With the printer off and unplugged, check the mainboard and the nozzle adapter board for damaged components, burn marks or bad soldering.

    Check: There is no damage and 111 does not return after reassembly.

    If that does not fix it: If you see damage or 111 persists, contact Creality support: the faulty board must be replaced.

  5. Restarts while heating: voltage selector

    With the printer off and unplugged, set the power supply voltage selector to your country's mains voltage, as shown in the picture in Creality's guide.

    Check: It no longer restarts during the self-check or when heating.

    If that does not fix it: Find which part causes it (next step).

  6. Restarts while heating: find the part (V3)

    Switch off, unplug the hotend kit ribbon cable and try heating: if it no longer restarts (even if it shows an error), the hotend kit is faulty; if it restarts, the mainboard or the power supply. Do the same by unplugging the bed heating cable. Checking with a multimeter that the board gets a stable 24 V is only for people who can measure safely.

    Check: You know whether the hotend, the bed, the power supply or the mainboard is faulty.

    If that does not fix it: Contact Creality support with that result.

Prevention

  • When assembling the printer, set the voltage selector before switching it on.
  • Do not plug or unplug cables with the printer switched on.
  • When replacing the hotend, secure the drag chain cable with its tie.

Still not fixed?

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Printers it applies to

Creality Ender 3 V3 and Ender 3 V3 Plus.

Official sources

This guide summarises the official documentation linked here:

This guide is general information: usi3d has summarised it from the official documentation linked here, and it may not match your model, its version or its firmware. If in doubt, follow the manual and the support of your printer's manufacturer. You decide what you do with your machine, and working on it may affect its warranty.

Products that may help

Chosen for the symptoms in this guide and the printers it applies to, not for the commission. Check that they work with your printer before buying.

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