DeLonghi Error Codes & Warning Lights Guide

Understanding DeLonghi Error Codes and Warning Lights

DeLonghi bean-to-cup machines like the Magnifica and Dinamica don't use numbered error codes. They use warning icons: a water tank, a grounds container, a descale symbol and a warning triangle. Whether each one is steady or flashing changes its meaning. A steady triangle on its own is the "general alarm", which means the inside of the machine needs a thorough clean.

On most models, a flashing water tank means the tank isn't seated and a steady one means it's empty. The Magnifica S is the exception.

So before you do anything, note which icons are lit and whether each one is steady or flashing. Every meaning below comes from De'Longhi's own "Explanation of lights" tables in the instruction manuals for each model. Where models differ, we show them separately.

Numbered codes like "Error 1" or "E05" don't appear in the manuals for any of the models on this page. If you see numbered codes, check whether your machine is a Rivelia or a display model, and see its dedicated guide below.

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Quick Lookup: The Most Common Lights

This table covers the Magnifica Start, Magnifica Evo and Dinamica (ECAM35X.50), which share the same logic. The Magnifica S reverses the steady and flashing meanings for the water tank, grounds container and descale lights, so check its own section below.

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Try This First

• Write down the exact pattern: which icons are lit, which are steady and which are flashing. The same icon means different things in each state.
• Push the water tank and the drip tray fully home. A tank or tray that isn't seated is the cause of many "errors".
• Always empty the grounds container when you empty the drip tray. De'Longhi warns that if you don't, the container can overfill later and clog the machine.
• Check the infuser door on bean-to-cup models. After cleaning, the infuser has to be refitted, or the triangle flashes.
• Don't power-cycle repeatedly. None of these alerts clears with a restart. Each one clears when you fix what it's reporting.

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DeLonghi Magnifica S Warning Lights (ECAM22.110 and ECAM 20/21/22.11X)

The Magnifica S has four indicator icons in a row: ECO, a grounds container, a water tank and a warning triangle. There's also a descale light next to the control dial, and a light by the steam dial.

Note the reversals. De'Longhi's Magnifica S manual describes its lights this way:

• Water tank: flashing means not enough water, and steady means the tank is missing.
• Grounds container: flashing means full, and steady means it must be inserted.
• Descale: flashing means descaling is needed, and steady means a descale is in progress.

The Magnifica Start, Evo and Dinamica work the other way round. That's why generic guides often get this wrong.

For a Magnifica S that won't brew at all, see DeLonghi Magnifica S not working.

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Magnifica Evo and Magnifica Start Warning Lights

The Magnifica Evo (ECAM290 family) and Magnifica Start (ECAM220 family) share one strip of five warning symbols above the drink buttons. From left to right: water filter, water tank, warning triangle, grounds container and descale. De'Longhi's manuals for both give the same meanings. Each symbol means one thing when it's steady and another when it's flashing. The triangle also combines with the bean (intensity) lights and the pre-ground light below the drink buttons to pinpoint coffee problems.

Magnifica Evo with a milk carafe can also warn that the carafe connector isn't inserted properly, the carafe was removed during delivery, or there isn't enough milk. Check that the carafe is fully assembled and pushed home.

Evo won't dispense coffee with no warning symbol? The Evo manual's troubleshooting table also lists "impurities have been detected in the internal circuits": wait until the machine is ready again, then select the drink. Contact customer services if it keeps happening.

Stuck on the "water circuit empty" alarm? See Magnifica Evo priming stuck. For a Magnifica Start that won't brew, see Magnifica Start not working.

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DeLonghi Dinamica Warning Lights (ECAM35X.50 Touch Screen)

The Dinamica ECAM35X.50 has touch icons plus indicator lights for the jug (milk container), grounds container, water tank, a general alarm triangle, five aroma (bean) lights, a pre-ground light and descale.

Other Dinamica versions (like the ECAM350.15 with buttons, or models with a text display) use similar alerts on a different panel. Check the "Explanation of lights" section in your manual. For a Dinamica that won't brew, see DeLonghi Dinamica not working.

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DeLonghi Dedica Lights (EC685, EC695, EC785)

The Dedica is a manual espresso machine with no screen. It has 1 cup, 2 cup and steam buttons with white lights, plus an orange descale light. De'Longhi's manual explains its patterns this way:

The Dedica's settings menu (hold the steam button for 10 seconds) also makes all three buttons flash in sequence. That's normal. See DeLonghi Dedica EC685 not working for brewing faults.

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DeLonghi La Specialista Lights (EC935X Range)

The La Specialista range uses indicator lights around its grinding and tamping controls, plus a red descale light. The icons vary between versions, so match them to your manual's "Explanation of indicator lights" table. It lists these alerts:

• All lights blink briefly at switch-on: self-diagnosis. Wait.
• Beans container empty, or grinding selected with an empty container: fill the beans container.
• Not enough water, or tank not in place: fill the tank or reseat it.
• Brewing attempted with an empty tank, or coffee coming out too slowly: fill the tank, check the grind and tamp, rinse the filter, press the tank down to open its valves, or descale.
• Beans container not in place: refit it until the arrow lines up and it clicks.
• Grind selector outside the normal range: return it to a setting from 1 to 8, adjusting one level at a time with the grinder running.
• Machine calls for tamping, or tamping and grinding problems (incomplete grind, clogged funnel, jammed burrs): tamp, repeat the grind, or clean the tamping station and burrs.
• Red descale light steady: descaling required.
• Red descale light and orange light blinking: descaling in progress.
• Red light blinking with white light steady: rinsing required.

Tamping-related lights have their own guide: La Specialista Smart Tamping fix.

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Clearing the Two Alarms People Get Stuck On

The general alarm (steady warning triangle)

On the Magnifica S, Magnifica Start, Magnifica Evo and Dinamica, a steady triangle on its own means "the inside of the machine is very dirty". A restart won't clear it.

1. Switch off and unplug the machine. Let it cool.
2. Remove the drip tray and grounds container. Empty and wash them.
3. Open the infuser door and remove the infuser (brew unit). Rinse it under running water, without detergent, and let it air-dry.
4. Clean the inside of the machine around the infuser with a brush, and clear the pre-ground funnel.
5. Refit the infuser, making sure it clicks, then close the door and put back the tray and container.
6. Switch on. If the triangle is still steady after a thorough clean, De'Longhi's manuals say to contact a service centre.

The descale alert that won't go away

The descale icon clears only when the full descale program completes, including the rinse stage. On the Magnifica Start and Evo, a lit descale icon plus triangle, with the descale button flashing, means the cycle was interrupted. Restart from the step shown by the intensity lights. Full model-by-model steps are in our DeLonghi descaling guide.

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When to Contact De'Longhi

De'Longhi's manuals say to contact customer service when:

• The general alarm stays on after a thorough clean
• A Dedica doesn't work and all its lights flash
• An alert returns straight after you've fixed the cause
• The machine leaks from underneath, smells of burning or trips the breaker

The manuals also say not to repair the machine yourself. For warranty terms and the support number in your country, use the documents that came with your machine or the support page for your model at delonghi.com.

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Prevent Warning Lights

• Empty the grounds container every time you empty the drip tray
• Rinse the infuser regularly under running water, without soap
• Set the water hardness during setup, so the descale alert comes at the right time
• Descale as soon as the icon comes on, using De'Longhi descaler
• Use coffee ground for espresso machines in the pre-ground funnel
• Adjust the grinder one click at a time while it's running

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FAQ

What does the red triangle mean on my DeLonghi?

It depends on whether it's steady or flashing. On the Magnifica Start, Magnifica Evo and Dinamica, a steady triangle on its own is the general alarm: the inside of the machine is very dirty, so clean it thoroughly. A flashing triangle on its own means the infuser wasn't refitted after cleaning. Together with the bean or pre-ground lights, it points to beans, grind or coffee-dose problems.

Why is the water tank light on when the tank is full?

The tank usually isn't pushed fully home. On the Magnifica Start, Evo and Dinamica, a flashing water tank means it's missing or not seated. On the Magnifica S, a steady tank light means that. Remove the tank and push it back until it clicks.

Why does my DeLonghi say empty the grounds container when it's empty?

De'Longhi's manuals say to empty the grounds container every time you remove the drip tray, however little is in it. Otherwise it can fill up more than expected later and clog the machine. Empty both, reinsert them fully, and check the grounds-container icon isn't flashing, which would mean it isn't seated.

How do I reset the warning lights on my DeLonghi?

There's no reset button sequence in De'Longhi's manuals for these alerts. Each light clears when its cause is fixed. For example, the tank light clears when the tank is seated, the grounds light when the container is emptied, the descale light when the full descale program finishes, and the general alarm after a thorough clean.

Does my DeLonghi have numbered error codes?

The Magnifica S, Magnifica Start, Magnifica Evo, Dinamica ECAM35X.50, Dedica and La Specialista manuals use icon and light patterns, not numbered codes. If your machine shows numbered codes or text messages, check its model's manual or our Rivelia error codes guide.

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Related DeLonghi Guides

• Magnifica Evo priming stuck
• DeLonghi beans empty error
• DeLonghi Rivelia error codes
• DeLonghi descaling guide
• DeLonghi not heating water
• DeLonghi leaking water

Sources: De'Longhi instructions for use for the Magnifica S (ECAM 20/21/22.11X), Magnifica Start (ECAM22X.2Y), Magnifica Evo (ECAM29X.6Y), Dinamica (ECAM35X.50), Dedica (EC685/EC695/EC785) and La Specialista (EC935X).