Do you have a faulty Instant Pot Vortex plus air fryer that just displays Close Basket and won’t start? Or maybe the air fryer just stops after a short time and shows Close Basket? If so here’s three ideas to fix it without having to send it back or buy another. Updated 22 Dec 2024.
1. Faulty Microswitch
Our problem with the Vortex Plus was due to the tiny microswitch on the top front centre of the housing – see below. The basket failed to engage fully with the switch button even when pushing the basket fully into place.

Push button switch for basket
We took delivery of our Vortex Plus as air fryers were becoming a popular way to reduce energy costs. So when the Close Basket problem became apparent after a few runs we decided to keep it rather than ask Amazon for a refund. We found by pulling up on the basket handle as you pushed it into place the Close Basket prompt disappeared. We could hear a faint click as the switch registered the drawer was in place.

Basket wedge that operates push button switch
After several months the switch problem became more frequent and I searched for a simple fix. First I cut a small piece of aluminium tape and wrapped it around the top basket wedge that engages with the switch. A double thickness worked well and the Close Basket nagging display disappeared. But it was short lived, the aluminium tape adhesive became weak with heat and wore away.
The tape proved the switch or basket position were to blame, but there’s no visible adjustment to either.
Next I applied a very small spot of high temperature epoxy to the end of the push button switch. The idea was to make the push button longer. After waiting 24h for the epoxy to cure I gently closed the basket and the glue broke off. I used very fine sand paper to roughen the tip of the switch button but the epoxy still failed to adhere.
De-greasing with alcohol may allow a stronger bond but the slippery plastic suggests it’s not suitable for the resin I used.

Basket switch with small dab of epoxy
Opening a tin of tuna treat for our cat I wondered if a thin tin strip folded over the basket wedge would work. Take care with tin snips and sharp metal edges! I found it does not take long to cut a 10mm square piece from a lid and fold into shape with two pairs of round nosed pliers.
I left a small tail to fold over the front to engage with the round push button end. The tin piece slides over the top of the basket wedge and works well. I used the high temperature epoxy to secure the tin and avoid it ending up in a meal!

Basket with tin cover fixed over wedge
The Close Basket problem has now gone and the Vortex Plus has helped reduce our electricity bills by avoiding the inefficient Neff grill and oven. If you also have a Neff combi microwave oven read more here.
If your Instant Pot Vortex Plus air fryer suffers from the same ‘Close Basket‘ fault and you too can’t return it as it’s out of warranty then try this simple fix rather than throw it away.
2. Tighten loose screws
Thanks to David (see comments below) for this tip. I checked our Vortex, now two years old. The Close Basket warning was being displayed every time unless we pulled the basket up as we forced it back in. This was despite the tin plate fix, which you can see below had worn.
Don’t attempt this if the heating element is still hot!
I found all the screws inside the unit and drawer had become loose just as David suggested. I used a short handled crosshead driver to tighten the ones inside see pictures below. Many needed a couple of turns so had worked quite loose. Don’t forget the three screws at the rear as well. This improved the problem and Close Basket did not show first time I tried it. But it still showed up after a few more goes.

Loose screws inside heating area.

Tin plate worn after 2 years use
I turned to the basket drawer and checked the 4 screws holding the front in place. In my case two of them were loose, so I tightened and the Close basket warning now only shows occasionally, so long as you push firmly. I suspect it really needs the microswitch replacing (see next tip) but I can confirm tightening the screws helped in my case.

4 loose screws inside drawer
3. Replace microswitch
If you are willing to try opening up the air fryer – making sure you disconnect from mains power first – you could try replacing the microswitch inside the unit. Thanks to Ed & Chris for the details in the comments below.
The suggested microswitch can be found on Amazon – Ed suggested works – https://www.amazon.com/Microwave-Switch-Replacement-KW3AT-16-Normally/dp/B083CNS17V
Use a plastic pry bar to separate the top and bottom of the case. There are many available made to remove car upholstery and trim.
Post script notes:
- On our air fryer the basket switch needs a firm action to operate. Over a few months use the plastic wedge wore away preventing firm contact to register. I’d be surprised if this problem is not more widespread and indicates a manufacturing or design defect.
- In engineering terms, the switch contact hysteresis is either too high – i.e. the spring tension is too great – or the radius profile between the basket wedge and push button too shallow to provide enough force.
- Adding a thin tin cover over the plastic wedge replaces the worn plastic and the sharper radius formed by the tin tail provides more force to operate reliably.
- Overall the Instant Brands design is very good, the air fryer works well and feels substantial so it’s a pity such a small part can lead to early product failure. I trust this is not built in obsolesce and Instant Brands will improve future models in this regard.
- Despite repeated attempts to contact Instant Brands support they have failed to respond to my questions and in view of this I will not be buying from them again and can’t recommend this brand of air fryer.
24/08/2023 at 3:45 am
Hey man. Thanks for the post.
I’ll try the same and Ill let you know.
08/10/2023 at 6:00 pm
I too have just developed this fault – thanks for the fix details, I’ll give it a go!
08/10/2023 at 8:28 pm
Hope you fix it Diego & Mark – my tin plate shroud is still working but the switch button is showing some wear. Lots of hits for this post so guess many other’s are seeing the fault. It’s a weak design from Instant which is a shame as otherwise it’s a good product.
18/10/2023 at 3:44 pm
I have the same issue, will give this ago thank you
18/10/2023 at 4:19 pm
Thanks, hope it works, let us know if you manage to fix it.
29/11/2023 at 10:07 pm
I am having this issue and tried your fix but it has not fixed the error. Any further guesses or suggestions?
30/11/2023 at 2:33 pm
Did you try the epoxy glue or the tin fix? Check the Close Basket error clears if you push the switch button with a chopstick or something small and insulated. See how much pressure it needs to operate. If the error clears the glue or tin will need to be thicker to operate the switch.
Maybe the switch has failed completely and will need replacement. Ours is still working but occasionally does require a shove to get it to work so could do with thicker tin. The tin has probably worn the plastic button but at least we’ve had a year or so more use from it!
29/01/2024 at 5:57 am
I pushed the little sensor switch up with a knife, stuck a wooden toothpick up the side of the switch and broke the toothpick off up in it. Now the switch is permanently pushed up and it always reads it as closed / ready.
29/01/2024 at 8:25 am
Hi Michele, that is dangerous, I would not advise forcing the switch to read closed. The air fryer could operate with the basket open and cause a fire.
13/01/2024 at 3:44 am
Yup! It’s a big headache to suffer for the engineering design of the switch Close Basket! Hate it! We bought it because of the brand trust we have! The manufacturer must do improvement to solve this irritating problem for us users. Not everybody is a handyman to solve the problem of the manufacturer. We bought it for quality and price and should work well.
13/01/2024 at 9:16 am
Yes Ed, it’s bad design from Instant Brands which is a real shame as we’ve been using their InstantPot pressure cooker for years without a problem.
13/01/2024 at 5:32 am
Thanks Rick for this post since you’re one of the few users that discuss this switch door problem. This fix might help in some cases but I feel that fault error is caused by a failing or failed micro switch. This fix will not work for a failed switch. I purchased the model AFB6112SS from a thrift store with the “Close Basket” error but the micro switch was stuck in the open position so no amount of pressure would close the circuit. What is visible at the top front center housing is not a switch but the tip of the cone shaped extension to the actual micro switch. The only solution for me was to open the unit and replace the switch. You can get into the unit by lifting the top cover using a mini pry bar at the corners and sides. The top is held in with snap-fit design joints which are hard to separate so using a forged mini pry bar helps (Vaughan 222 Mini Pry bar, 5-1/2). I broke one of the bottom joints while try to release the mating joints. The switch was a Ushun KW-16, but without the specs, I took a gamble on the KW3AT-16 (normally open) from Amazon as a replacement. It works perfectly now.
13/01/2024 at 10:47 am
Hi Ed, thank you for letting us all know and glad you fixed it. My repair with the tin cover avoided opening the air fryer but would not have helped your case. I couldn’t see how to access the switch when the fault occurred. It’s disappointing that Instant Brands engineered a snap-fit cover which without specialist tools and knowhow makes it near impossible to repair without damage. Bit like clamshell remote controls that need pry tools. Thanks for including tool and part details. I wonder if plastic / glass fibre reinforced pry tools, as used for auto trim repairs, could avoid damaging the joints or would be strong enough?
25/11/2024 at 12:01 am
HI Ed! Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and thorough post! I ordered the switch from Amazon today!
15/02/2024 at 1:07 am
That doesn’t fix it for me unfortunately. It just got the clothes basket error for the first time right in the middle of cooking. When I hit the button manually it still says close basket. There’s something going on with mine that doesn’t have to do what the button being pushed
15/02/2024 at 8:27 am
Hi Lia, it must be the microswitch has failed inside the top. See Ed’s comment above. I tried contacting Instant Brands EMEA Customer Care here in the UK about the issue that’s affecting a significant number of customers – I’m seeing hundreds of clicks per month on this problem – but they have not responded. Pretty bad support from Instant Brands and I can only suggest finding a repair shop that could change the microswitch. This is the one Ed suggested works – https://www.amazon.com/Microwave-Switch-Replacement-KW3AT-16-Normally/dp/B083CNS17V
11/03/2024 at 12:40 pm
Same issue. Will try your solution. Thank you for posting.
11/03/2024 at 1:12 pm
Thanks Ken, hope it works and fixes your air fryer.
08/08/2024 at 7:31 am
I got this message last night midway through cooking a meal. Had a bit of a fiddle last night but gave up as we were hungry! I hoped it might resolve itself when I switched on this morning. Wishful thinking. I have the dual zone which is 2 weeks out of warranty. Any suggestions? Being a known, and very common fault, I will not be happy if I have to buy a new one after a year.
08/08/2024 at 9:52 am
Yes it’s a pain when you need to eat and it suddenly stops working. Check the little push button – it’s located at the top where the drawer tray fits – use a chopstick or something insulated to push the button in and see if the Close Basket warning disappears and the light comes on. You should hear a firm click. If this works, check the drawer tray to see if the plastic lug that pushes against the button is warn or damaged – see post for details on a fix for that. If you still see Close Basket when pushing the button fully home or it does not click I’m afraid it needs a new microswitch.
As your air fryer is only just over a year old I’d email UKSupport@instantbrands.com to ask what they can do. If they won’t help then make a note not to buy Instabrands products and try a local Repair Cafe to see if they will help repair. Otherwsie these air fryers just end up in landfill at the recycling centre and for a product that’s just a year old it’s a crime IMHO!
27/08/2024 at 8:03 pm
Same issue. Just spent ages going in circles with Instant’s customer service. They will do absolutely nothing to solve the problem, offer a refund, replacement, nothing. Absolutely appalling. Will never buy from them again.
28/08/2024 at 1:10 pm
It’s such a shame Instant Brands don’t live up to their name and offer a quick response to customers. This post is still the post searched on Google so it’s clear many customers are getting this fault. Unfortunately many will give up throw it away and buy another for the whole cycle to repeat for the sake of a microswitch that costs a few pounds. The other problem is the product has not been designed for service so it’s difficult to access and replace the switch. Stop buying is the only way to force manufacturers to change.
14/09/2024 at 5:52 pm
We had the same problem. Followed the switch replacement suggestion and it’s working now. I bought a plastic prybar kit to open up the case without scratching the plastic. Nothing broken on us. We found the old switch to be partly melted. The switch has a direct line of sight to the central heating unit. Radiant heat from the heater must have melted the switch. Other materials in the air fryer can handle the heat but the plastic used the switch must have a melting point that is too low. We replaced the switch with the part that was suggested by a previous poster on this discussion board. To deal with the heat issue I made a shield with aluminum foil and high temperature tape. Kapton is what I used. The shield was placed on the plastic part that holds the switch so that heat from the heating unit reflects back to the unit rather than fall on the switch. We put everything back together and it has been working well for several months. I post this to help others, but proceed at your own risk. Modification and repair will likely void your warranty.
14/09/2024 at 8:50 pm
Thank you Chris for your detailed comment. I will try your suggestion and see if our switch has melted too. Despite my tin plate modification the dreaded Close Basket message is now appearing regularly so your success at fixing it has renewed hope! Thanks for your help.
07/11/2024 at 12:52 am
Same problem, but switch appears to work fine. It’s that basket nub that engages the switch that has worn down. Shame this fryer has this Achilles Heel that has rendered it useless. Just like a lit of appliances- you never buy it, you just rent it for a period equal to warranty period + 2 weeks
07/11/2024 at 8:58 am
You can try the tin trick I suggested in the post and glue in place with high temperature epoxy. It worked on ours for about a year. Now it needs a firm push and lift to trigger the microswitch. I agree the manufactures really want a subscription revenue model so you never own their product just keep paying to use.
22/12/2024 at 9:42 am
I had a similar problem with the Instant Vortex. I found the 2 screws inside the (right) microswitch side of the drawer had worked loose, so the drawer was not held securely in place by the fascia on which the handles and wedges are mounted. Tightening them solved the problem. From the picture above it looks as though the design has some similarities so I hope this helps.
22/12/2024 at 1:45 pm
Thank you David! I checked our air fryer and just as you say the screws had become loose and tightening them all has reduced the Close Basket warning frequency. It still occurs maybe one in 5 goes but not every time. I’ve updated the post above with your ideas and added some pictures. Thanks again, it will certainly reduce the swearing in the kitchen this Christmas!!
22/12/2024 at 2:29 pm
If the screws were loose then tightening should correct the alignment. IIt might be worth removing the tin to see whether it now works correctly as designed.
22/12/2024 at 9:31 pm
Not in my case. The screws were not loose when the problem first started – you can see in the original photos the top screws next to the switch are in place. They have worked loose over the 18 months or so. Even with the screws now fully tightened the microswitch does not engage every time. There’s still an issue with the Instant Vortex switch as many have found, but at least tightening the fixings helps. The fact that the fixings work loose during operation is a worry as they could spin out completely and end up in the food!