I Descaled My Nespresso but the Light Is Still On- How To Fix?

If you descaled your Nespresso but the light is still on, a missed step or stuck mode is usually to blame and you can clear it with a few checks.

When you descale your Nespresso exactly as the booklet says and that orange or red light still stares back at you, it feels like the machine ignored the whole job. The cup is clean, the tank is empty, but the warning ring or blinking button stays there as if nothing changed.

The good news: in most cases nothing is broken. A stuck descaling light usually means the machine still thinks it is inside a maintenance cycle, the rinse step ran short, or a sensor did not reset. With a handful of checks you can usually tell whether this is a simple mode issue or a fault that needs service.

This guide stays close to the exact complaint “I descaled my Nespresso but the light is still on” and gives direct steps you can follow at home. You will see why the alert stays on, how to clear it on Vertuo and Original line machines, and when it makes sense to stop tinkering and contact Nespresso.

Why Your Nespresso Descaling Light Stays On

That glowing ring or blinking button is not only a timer. It tracks whether the last descaling cycle was completed the way the firmware expects. If any step ends too early, the descaling light on a Nespresso often stays orange, red, or half red/green even though you already ran solution through the machine.

In most cases, the “descaled Nespresso but light still on” situation comes from one of a handful of patterns.

Descaling cycle did not fully finish — The machine expects a certain volume of descaling solution and rinse water. If the tank ran dry early, the outlet was blocked, or you stopped the flow too soon, the internal counter never reaches the point where it can clear the alert.
Machine is still in descaling mode — Many Vertuo and Original models stay in a special mode until you press a button combination to exit. The light keeps blinking or glowing in a “maintenance” pattern even though the limescale is already dissolved.
Rinse stage ran with too little water — Some machines need a full tank of fresh water during the rinse stage before the board will accept that descaling is complete. If the rinse ended with water still in the tank or you stopped it halfway, the light may stay on.
Wrong descaling solution or mix — Nespresso recommends its own lactic or citric based descaling kit instead of vinegar or random cleaners, and warns that strong household products can damage internal parts and tubing.^* If the mix is too weak, mineral deposits can stay on sensors and keep the alert active.
Sensor or electronics glitch — Power spikes, repeated short cycles, or minor board faults can leave the descaling state stuck even when the mechanical side is clean. A reset or one more full cycle often clears this.

Before you worry about a failed machine, match what you see on the light ring or button to the patterns in the table below.

What You See	Likely Cause	First Fix To Try
Solid orange or red after descaling	Machine still in descaling mode	Use the model’s exit button combo, then let it cool
Alternating red/green or orange/white	Descale alert active or cycle not logged as complete	Repeat rinse, then exit mode again
Slow blinking light with empty tank	Rinse step stopped early	Fill tank to “max” and run fresh water through
Fast blinking as soon as you power on	Machine expects descaling to start or continue	Run the full descaling cycle from the start
Warning light after every descale	Hard water buildup or faulty sensor	Run a full second cycle and then contact Nespresso

Descaled Nespresso But Light Still On Fix Steps

Work through these fixes in order. You can stop as soon as the descaling light on your Nespresso returns to the normal steady green pattern for that model.

Check the basics — Make sure the water tank is seated correctly, filled at least to the minimum line, and uses fresh drinking water. Remove any capsule, empty the drip tray and capsule container, and close the head fully.
Power cycle the machine — Turn the machine off with its button or switch, unplug it, wait at least ten minutes so internal parts cool down, then plug it back in and turn it on again.
Repeat the rinse step — Fill the tank with fresh water to the “max” mark and start a rinse or cleaning cycle. If your model lacks a dedicated rinse button, you can run water by pressing the main brew button with no capsule in place until the tank runs empty.
Exit descaling mode — Many stuck lights come from forgetting the final exit step. Use the button combination for your exact model so the machine leaves maintenance mode and returns to standard brewing.
Run a second full descaling cycle — If the light still stays on after a rinse and exit, repeat descaling with the correct descaling solution and follow every timing step closely.

If the “I descaled my Nespresso but the light is still on” problem clears after any of these steps and does not return for months, you can treat it as a one-off glitch. If the warning comes back almost straight away, spend a little extra care on the exit steps for your exact model.

Exit Descaling Mode On Popular Nespresso Models

Every family of machines has its own button codes to enter and exit descaling mode. The patterns below match common Vertuo and Original line models. If your lights do not match any of these, scan the manual or model page for the exact wording used there.

VertuoPlus And Vertuo Next

VertuoPlus and Vertuo Next machines often show an orange or half red/green ring during maintenance. When someone says “I descaled my Nespresso but the light is still on” with one of these, the cause is often a missed exit step.

Empty and prepare the machine — Remove any capsule, empty the drip tray and capsule container, and fit them back so the machine is ready for normal use.
Check the light rhythm — A slow orange blink usually means the machine is still in descaling mode and is waiting for you to finish the sequence.
Press button and lever together — Hold the main coffee button and the lever down at the same time for about three seconds until the light turns steady green instead of orange or red/green.
Let the machine cool — Leave it alone for around ten minutes so the boiler cools before you pull the next shot.

If the light returns to a normal steady green after that button and lever press, the VertuoPlus or Vertuo Next has left descaling mode and you can brew again.

Original Line Machines Like CitiZ, Pixie, And Inissia

On many Original line machines with two coffee buttons, both buttons blink during descaling. After the rinse step with fresh water, you still need to tell the board that the procedure is done.

Wait until the flow stops — When the descaling and rinse cycles finish, the machine stops pumping and keeps both buttons blinking.
Hold both coffee buttons — Press and hold the small and large cup buttons together for about three to five seconds, until the lights stop blinking rapidly and turn steady.
Check that indicators look normal — On most models, both buttons should stay lit or return to standby. The descaling alert should no longer flash.
Let the machine rest — Give it about ten minutes and then pull a shot with plain water to clear any last traces of solution.

If the lights on your CitiZ or Inissia still show a descaling pattern after this step, repeat the button hold once more with the machine warmed up and sitting idle.

Machines With Different Light Patterns

Some newer models have extra indicators, such as a lock symbol, a separate temperature light, or a center button that changes color. In those cases, use your exact model name on the official Nespresso site and follow the chart there rather than guessing from another machine.

On the official Nespresso descaling process guide you can pick your product family and open the step-by-step sheet or video for that machine. Matching the light pattern on that page with what you see on your own machine helps you avoid wrong button presses that might start a new cycle by mistake.

When To Run Another Descaling Cycle

Sometimes the only way to clear a stubborn descaling alert is to run the entire procedure again from the start. This often happens in hard water areas or when the first cycle ran with a weak mix of solution and water.

If you already used proper descaling solution once and the machine shows no signs of leaks or damage, you can often run a second cycle using plain water instead of fresh solution. This helps flush any remaining liquid and gives sensors one more full sequence to track.

Prepare the machine again — Empty and rinse the tank, drip tray, and capsule container. Make sure no capsule sits in the head and the outlet is clear.
Fill the tank with fresh water — Use clean drinking water and fill to the “max” mark. Do not add more descaling solution unless the manual tells you to do so for a second pass.
Re-enter descaling mode — Use the same button code you used the first time so the machine enters maintenance mode again.
Let the full volume run — Do not interrupt the flow unless the manual tells you to stop mid-way. Wait until the pump stops and the tank is empty.
Repeat the rinse if needed — Refill with fresh water and run one more full tank through if any smell of solution remains.
Exit descaling mode again — Use the correct button or button-and-lever hold for your model so the light returns to its normal pattern.

If the light finally switches back to the ready state and stays that way for weeks of normal brewing, the issue was likely an incomplete log of the first cycle rather than a hardware problem.

Prevent The Nespresso Descaling Light Coming Back Fast

Once the warning is gone, a few simple habits will keep the next “descaled my Nespresso but the light is still on” alert far in the distance. These steps focus on keeping mineral buildup under control and making each future descaling cycle easy for the machine to track.

Follow the three-month or 300-capsule rule — Nespresso suggests descaling every three months or roughly every 300 coffees, whichever comes first, especially in hard water areas.
Use the recommended descaling kit — The official solution is blended so it removes limescale without damaging internal seals or tubing. Strong acids or vinegar can harm parts and leave a smell inside the machine.
Use filtered water where possible — A simple filter jug or plumbed filter lowers mineral content. Less limescale means the descaling sensor will reach its target less often and each cycle will feel lighter.
Empty the tank and drip tray when you travel — Standing water encourages deposits and residue. Emptying these parts before a long break keeps the inside fresher and makes the next descale easier.
Run a short water-only shot each day — With no capsule in place, run hot water into a cup. This flushes coffee oils from the head and keeps passages clear so descaling solution can reach all the right surfaces later.

Good cleaning habits also help with taste. Scale and residue change flow, temperature, and flavor, so staying ahead of buildup protects both your machine and your coffee.

When To Contact Nespresso For Help

If you followed every step here, ran at least one full descaling cycle with proper solution, repeated a water-only cycle, and used the right exit code for your machine, yet the light still stays stuck, the problem may sit deeper than a simple missed step.

At that point, repeating “I descaled my Nespresso but the light is still on” cycles at home only wastes time and solution. Some warning lights point to a faulty flow meter, clogged internal line, or board that does not log completion even though the boiler is clear.

Use the serial number on the bottom or back of the machine and reach out through the Nespresso website or phone line. The official VertuoPlus descaling FAQ gives a good example of the kind of detail they share, including full button sequences, light codes, and cooling times.

Stop using the machine if you see leaks — Any water around the base or from the head during standby points to a fault that needs attention from a technician.
Stop if you smell burning or see smoke — Unplug the machine and do not attempt more descaling or brewing. A service center should check internal wiring and heaters.
Mention every light pattern you see — When you talk to Nespresso, list the exact colors, blink speeds, and what you were doing when each one appeared.
Check warranty status — If your Nespresso is still within its warranty window, the team can advise on replacement or repair options.

Once a technician confirms that hardware is sound and you have a clear routine for descaling and exiting the maintenance mode, the “light still on after descaling” problem should fade away. The next time you run solution through the machine, follow the same steady sequence, keep an eye on the light rhythm, and make sure to perform the final exit step before you reach for a fresh capsule.