I still remember the panic in my chest when my Cricut Maker made that off-cut. I’d spent days designing custom stickers and cupcake toppers for my niece’s birthday party. I printed them on glossy vinyl sheets and loaded my crafting machine. Everything was going great until I hit “Print Then Cut.” Suddenly, the cuts were completely misaligned. Some shapes were misaligned, others were chopped in half. I knew something wasn’t right.
I thought, it’s time to calibrate. I went into Design Space, Settings, Calibration, and chose “Print Then Cut.” I followed every prompt exactly, printed the test sheet, and selected the best-aligned line.
It still didn’t work and failed repeatedly. Don’t worry, though, Learn “How to fix the Cricut calibration not working“. If you’re here because of this problem, you’re not alone, and you’re in the right place. Let’s fix it together and save yourself time!
What to Do When Cricut Calibration Isn’t Working
Calibration involves more than just following software steps; factors like paper type, lighting conditions, and printer settings significantly affect its accuracy. Here’s what many tutorials don’t tell you:
1. Use the Right Paper
Calibration sheets should be printed on matte white paper. Glossy paper reflects light and can confuse Cricut’s sensor, causing misreads.
2. Control the Lighting
Avoid overhead lights, direct sunlight, or shadows during calibration. Glare can cause your Cricut to misread the black lines on the test sheet. Use soft, indirect lighting, or try calibrating with controlled desk lighting at night.
3. Clean the Sensor
The little black sensor on your Cricut (located under the housing unit) can get dusty or smudged. Wipe it gently with a microfiber cloth before calibration.
4. Check Printer Settings
- Make sure you’re printing at the actual size or 100%.
- Avoid options like “Fit to Page,” as they shrink the image and throw off alignment.
- Using the same printer ensures consistent results.
5. Reboot and Retry
Sometimes, Design Space or your machine needs a clean slate. You can perform a hard reset by switching off your machine, unplugging it for a minute, and restarting your computer.
6. Try a Different Printer
If the issues persist, try printing the calibration sheet from a different printer. If it works, the problem may be with your primary printer.
How to Recalibrate Properly: Quick and Easy Steps
Let’s learn why Cricut calibration not working with the help of the following steps:
Open Settings on Cricut Design Space
Step 1: Open the Cricut Design Space software on your device.
Step 2: Ensure your machine is powered on and connected to your system with a USB or Bluetooth connection.
Step 3: Then, go to Menu and select Settings.
Step 4: Within Settings, choose “Machines” and then “Machine Calibration.”
Step 5: After that, choose your specific Cricut Machine Model.
Step 6: Select the appropriate calibration type (e.g., Print Then Cut, Knife Blade).
Step 7: Next, select “Print Then Cut” from the options.
Step 8: Cricut Design Space will guide you through printing a calibration sheet.
Place Sheet on Mat
Step 1: Place the printed sheet onto your StandardGrip (green) mat as instructed by Design Space (usually the top left corner, but it might be different for some machines).
Step 2: Follow the prompts in Cricut Design Space, including selecting your machine in the dropdown menu, loading the mat, and pressing “Go.”
Step 3: The Cricut machine begins by scanning the printed sheet for calibration markings, which are small squares printed on the sheet. Once the scanning is complete, the machine will then cut around a small square near the center of the sheet.
Step 4: Tap Yes in Cricut Design Space to confirm that the calibration is accurate. After that, the user should click “Continue” in the app to proceed to the next step in the Print Then Cut process.
Step 5: The machine will make a test cut around the printed rectangle on the calibration sheet. Once the cut is complete, unload the mat from the machine.
Step 6: Remove the calibration sheet from the machine and respond to the final question in Cricut Design Space.
- If the cut aligns closely with the center, confirm the calibration by selecting “Yes.” If not, follow the prompts to adjust or recalibrate.
- If you select No, I’d like to do another calibration; you will be asked to go through the calibration process again.
Note: Cricut Design Space might prompt you to recalibrate multiple times, especially if the initial calibration isn’t perfect.
Still off? Repeat the process using different lighting or paper.
Tips to Consider While Cricut Calibration
Follow these tips to avoid mistakes while calibrating properly:
- Don’t calibrate on a mobile device – use a laptop or desktop for best accuracy.
- Restart your machine after a successful calibration for best results.
- Label your calibration test sheets to compare results easily.
- Cricut Joy doesn’t support the Print Then Cut feature, so no calibration is required.
- Explore and Maker models require occasional calibration, especially after blade changes.
- If you have a dusty or dirty sensor, gently clean it with a slightly damp Q-tip.
Final Thoughts
This guide could save you from unnecessary stress. Now that my Cricut is calibrated, my projects are finally printing and cutting like a dream. Cricut calibration problems can feel like a nightmare, especially when your projects are due or tied to your business. But most of the time, the solution is simple: the right paper, the right light, and a little patience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Won’t My Cricut Cutting Properly After Calibration?
If your machine is still not cutting accurately after calibration, it could be due to a few factors.
- Replace the blade if it’s dull, as a dull blade will not cut cleanly or accurately.
- If your mat is no longer sticky, it may not hold the material securely, leading to inaccurate cuts.
- Ensure you are selecting the correct material setting in Cricut Design Space or on the Smart Set Dial and that it matches your material type.
- Ensure the machine can read the registration marks on the printed sheet. Light, print quality, or the type of paper used can affect this.
Why Won’t My Cricut detect Sensor Marks?
A machine’s inability to read cut sensor marks can stem from various factors. These include improper mat placement, material defects (like wrinkles, smudges, or reflective surfaces), or issues with the machine itself. Ensure the following points:
- Calibration issues or even a need to clean the machine’s sensors can also be contributing factors.
- Strong lighting can reflect off glossy surfaces and confuse the sensor. Try closing the machine lid or reducing ambient light.
- Dust or debris on the sensors can affect their ability to read marks. Clean sensors using compressed air or a microfiber cloth.
Is it Possible to Recalibrate a Cricut too Many times?
No, you cannot recalibrate your machine too many times. If your cuts are consistently off, you can repeat the calibration process multiple times until you achieve the desired accuracy. If you’re still having issues, it could be a sign of a machine malfunction. Sometimes, Cricut Design Space might have issues saving calibrations, which can cause you to recalibrate multiple times.