Electric Hob Reset: How to Fix a Locked or Unresponsive Cooktop

When your electric hob, a cooking surface powered by electricity, often found in modern kitchens. Also known as an induction hob or ceramic cooktop, it suddenly stops responding, it’s rarely a broken element—it’s probably just locked or in a safety reset mode. Many people panic when the display goes dark or the burners won’t heat, but in most cases, a simple electric hob reset brings it back to life. This isn’t a complex electrical fault; it’s often a child lock, power surge, or overheating trigger that’s just asking for a quick reboot.

Most electric hobs have a built-in safety system that shuts down the unit if it detects abnormal heat, a power glitch, or if the child lock was accidentally activated. You might see a flashing light, a locked symbol, or nothing at all. The fix? Turn off the power at the wall socket or circuit breaker for 10 to 15 minutes. That’s it. Letting the system cool and reset clears temporary errors. If that doesn’t work, check the user manual for a reset button—some models have one near the control panel. Others require you to hold down a specific button combination, like ‘+’ and ‘-’ for five seconds. This isn’t magic; it’s basic electronics. The same reset process works for brands like Indesit, Bosch, Hotpoint, and Siemens. If your hob still won’t respond after a reset, the issue might be deeper: a faulty control board, broken touch sensor, or damaged wiring. But those are rare. Most times, it’s just a glitch waiting to be cleared.

Before you call a technician, ask yourself: Did you spill something? Did the power flicker? Was the hob left on too long? These are the usual suspects. A reset won’t fix a cracked glass top or a burned-out coil, but it will fix 8 out of 10 cases where the hob just seems dead. And if you’ve tried everything and it still won’t turn on, you’re not alone—many of the repair guides below walk through real cases where users thought their hob was dead, only to find a simple reset or loose connection was the culprit. Below, you’ll find step-by-step fixes for similar issues: how to test a faulty heating element, what to do when your oven won’t heat, and how to tell if your appliance needs a professional. No fluff. Just what works.