Adventurer 5M, 5M Pro or AD5X: no filament comes out, too little comes out or the nozzle is clogged
Guide based on the manufacturer's official documentation; usi3d has not yet verified it on a machine.
Technology: FDM · Brand: Flashforge · Symptoms: Clogged nozzle or hotend, No filament comes out, Too little filament (under-extrusion) · Updated on 9 October 2026
Symptom
The printer does not extrude when loading or starting a print, too little plastic comes out (parts with missing material or fuzz), or the extruder creaks when loading by hand.
Likely causes, from most to least likely
- Filament tangled on the spool, or a bent or uneven tip catching on the sensor or guide tube.
- The nozzle temperature does not match the loaded filament.
- Clogged nozzle: according to Flashforge, if the strand extruded by hand is thinner than 0.45 mm (normal is about 0.5 ± 0.03 mm), it is clogged.
- A clogged extruder or a slipping gear.
- Filament broken inside the guide tube.
- On the AD5X, also: extruder installed incorrectly, or a faulty extruder board or motor.
Checks to tell which one it is
- Check whether the filament is tangled on the spool and whether the tip is bent.
- Check that the loading temperature matches the loaded filament.
- Load filament and look at the strand: if it is thinner than normal, the nozzle is clogged.
- If the extruder creaks and does not feed when loading by hand, suspect the extruder.
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
Check the spool and tip
Untangle the spool. Press «Load» to heat, remove the guide tube above the extruder and look at the tip: if it is bent or uneven, cut it straight, put the tube and filament back and load again.
Check: Filament comes out continuously.
If that does not fix it: Push by hand while hot (next step).
Push by hand while hot
With the nozzle at the filament's temperature, remove the guide tube and push the filament down by hand while loading. On the AD5X, Flashforge suggests loading 20 °C hotter than the filament that clogged.
Check: The clog gives way and clean filament comes out.
If that does not fix it: Use the unclogging needle (next step).
Needle or cold pull with PLA
Use the included needle to clear the nozzle. If that is not enough, do a cold pull wearing heat-resistant gloves: load PLA, let it extrude 3-5 s, cut the filament above the extruder and let it cool. At 90-95 °C switch the printer off, remove the extruder and pull the filament out slowly and steadily. The tip should come out rounded, with the debris.
Check: The tip comes out clean with a rounded cone shape; when loading, the strand has normal thickness.
If that does not fix it: If it breaks or does not come out whole, repeat. If still clogged, replace the nozzle (next step).
Replace the quick-swap nozzle
Switch off, remove the guide tube, cut the filament, press the side clips and pull the nozzle out. Push the new one fully in until it clicks, check the red clips on each side and that the slot sits flush with the bottom of the extruder. Then run automatic levelling.
Check: The nozzle is firm and extrudes normally.
If that does not fix it: Check the extruder (next step).
Clean the extruder
If it still will not extrude with a new nozzle, or creaks when loading, the extruder is clogged or its gear slips: clean it following Flashforge's video. On the AD5X, if the motor turns backwards or erratically, Flashforge replaces the extruder board first and then the motor.
Check: The filament feeds without creaking.
If that does not fix it: Copy the logs to a USB drive and contact Flashforge support.
Prevention
- Cut the filament tip straight before loading.
- Use the temperature profile of the filament you are loading.
- Re-level every time you change the nozzle.
Still not fixed?
Tell usi3d's AI about your case: choose your printer, describe what you see and add photos if you like. It proposes checks step by step, with their sources.
Printers it applies to
Flashforge Adventurer 5M, Adventurer 5M Pro and AD5X.
Official sources
This guide summarises the official documentation linked here:
- Troubleshooting: Equipment Usage Issues (Adventurer 5M series) · Flashforge
- FAQ for Adventurer 5M · Flashforge
- Under-extrusion during printing (Adventurer series) · Flashforge
- Equipment Usage Issues (AD5X) · Flashforge
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.