- 3D printers
- 3D printer
13201
Prusa 13201 on a MK4 3D printer: bed preheat error
Risk level
Medium
Proceed carefully and stop if the check is unclear.
Urgency
Medium
Quick answer
Prusa error 13201 on the MK4 means the bed did not rise more than 2 °C in 20 seconds during preheat and the printer stopped heating. Check the room temperature and the bed thermistor before asking for help.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- Do not disable or bypass the thermal protection or change the firmware to clear the alert: it is what cuts the heat when the temperature does not add up. Do not open the printer's power supply or mains board: anything at mains voltage is for the service team.
- Prusa asks for the printer to be cooled down and switched off before you access any part or electronic board. The nozzle and the bed burn while they are hot.
Safe checks you can perform
- Stable room temperature
- Thermistor under the Kapton tape
- Hairdryer test
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: xBuddy board check
- Do not attempt this professional task: Multimeter measurement
- Do not attempt this professional task: Case with Prusa support
What a technician must be able to justify
Technician visit
These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
xBuddy board check
What they doThe technician opens the xBuddy board and checks the heatbed power cable, the heatbed thermistor and the fuse protecting the bed, plus the washer and nut on the bed connector.
They must show youthe state of cables, fuse and connector.
In writingwhat was checked and replaced.
Multimeter measurement
What they doThe technician measures the resistance of the bed cables following the multimeter usage guide Prusa links to.
They must show youthe values measured against Prusa's guide.
In writingthe readings and the part replaced.
Case with Prusa support
What they doPrusa's 24/7 technical support guides the check of the bed or arranges the part if needed.
They must show youthe steps they ask for and why.
In writingcase number and part sent.
Before accepting a part or repair
Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.
Follow these steps
Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.
Stable room temperature
- Who:
- you.
- How:
- look at where the printer sits: Prusa asks for a stable ambient temperature above 18 °C.
- Result that matters:
- whether the room is cold or draughty.
- If it is cold or draughty:
- move the printer or fix the room before trying again.
- If the room is fine:
- the cause is in the printer.
- Evidence to keep:
- room temperature and time.
Evidence: Prusa Knowledge Base: Bed preheat error #31201 (CORE One) #35201 (CORE One L) #36201 (CORE One INDX) #26201 (MK4S) #13201 (MK4) #27201 (MK3.9S) #21201 (MK3.9) #28201 (MK3.5S) #23201 (MK3.5)
Thermistor under the Kapton tape
- Who:
- you.
- How:
- with the bed cold and the printer off, check whether the bed thermistor is still held firmly under the golden Kapton tape, without touching or lifting the tape.
- Result that matters:
- whether the thermistor is in place.
- If it looks loose or lifted:
- tell support or the technician.
- If it is held firmly:
- the cause is in the cables or the thermistor.
- Evidence to keep:
- photo of the thermistor.
Evidence: Prusa Knowledge Base: Bed preheat error #31201 (CORE One) #35201 (CORE One L) #36201 (CORE One INDX) #26201 (MK4S) #13201 (MK4) #27201 (MK3.9S) #21201 (MK3.9) #28201 (MK3.5S) #23201 (MK3.5)
Hairdryer test
- Who:
- you.
- How:
- blow hot air at the bed with a hairdryer, without touching it, while watching the bed temperature on the screen, as Prusa suggests.
- Result that matters:
- whether the temperature on screen rises.
- If it rises:
- the thermistor works and the heater is the faulty part.
- If nothing changes:
- the bed thermistor is faulty.
- Evidence to keep:
- video of the screen during the test.
Evidence: Prusa Knowledge Base: Bed preheat error #31201 (CORE One) #35201 (CORE One L) #36201 (CORE One INDX) #26201 (MK4S) #13201 (MK4) #27201 (MK3.9S) #21201 (MK3.9) #28201 (MK3.5S) #23201 (MK3.5)
Still not solved
If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.
Where this code applies
A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.
Primary scope
- System
- 3D printers
- Brand
- Prusa Research
- Product type
- 3D printer
Known code variants
- #13201
- 21201
- 23201
- 26201
- 31201
- Bed preheat error
- Error precalentamiento base
- Prusa 13201
What it means
Prusa explains this message appears when, during preheat, the bed does not rise more than 2 °C in 20 seconds, and heating is paused so the issue can be fixed. The screen asks you to check the heatbed heater and thermistor wiring for damage. Prusa puts the error down to damage to the heatbed thermistor or its power cable and, if everything looks right, to an internal break in one of the cables. The same error is 26201 on the MK4S and 31201 on the CORE One.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Criticaleditorial warning
Do not disable or bypass the thermal protection or change the firmware to clear the alert: it is what cuts the heat when the temperature does not add up. Do not open the printer's power supply or mains board: anything at mains voltage is for the service team.
Evidence: Prusa Knowledge Base: Bed preheat error #31201 (CORE One) #35201 (CORE One L) #36201 (CORE One INDX) #26201 (MK4S) #13201 (MK4) #27201 (MK3.9S) #21201 (MK3.9) #28201 (MK3.5S) #23201 (MK3.5)
- Highsource verified
Prusa asks for the printer to be cooled down and switched off before you access any part or electronic board. The nozzle and the bed burn while they are hot.
Evidence: Prusa Knowledge Base: Bed preheat error #31201 (CORE One) #35201 (CORE One L) #36201 (CORE One INDX) #26201 (MK4S) #13201 (MK4) #27201 (MK3.9S) #21201 (MK3.9) #28201 (MK3.5S) #23201 (MK3.5)
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- Damaged bed thermistorPossible
If the bed thermistor is damaged or not seated under the Kapton tape, the printer does not see the temperature rise.
Evidence: Prusa Knowledge Base: Bed preheat error #31201 (CORE One) #35201 (CORE One L) #36201 (CORE One INDX) #26201 (MK4S) #13201 (MK4) #27201 (MK3.9S) #21201 (MK3.9) #28201 (MK3.5S) #23201 (MK3.5)
- Damaged bed power cablePossible
If the heatbed power cable is damaged, the bed gets no power and does not heat.
Evidence: Prusa Knowledge Base: Bed preheat error #31201 (CORE One) #35201 (CORE One L) #36201 (CORE One INDX) #26201 (MK4S) #13201 (MK4) #27201 (MK3.9S) #21201 (MK3.9) #28201 (MK3.5S) #23201 (MK3.5)
- Internal cable breakLess common
If connectors and thermistor look correct, Prusa says there may be an internal break in one of the cables.
Evidence: Prusa Knowledge Base: Bed preheat error #31201 (CORE One) #35201 (CORE One L) #36201 (CORE One INDX) #26201 (MK4S) #13201 (MK4) #27201 (MK3.9S) #21201 (MK3.9) #28201 (MK3.5S) #23201 (MK3.5)
Virtual technician
Does 13201 still appear after these checks?
Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.
Sources and technical references
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