The basket is probably overfilled with food. An overstuffed basket puts pressure on the sides and won't seat properly, which also prevents the unit from turning on.
Fix:
- Remove the basket from the air fryer.
- Take out some food. You need to cook in smaller batches. Heaping amounts of food block airflow and cause this problem.
- Ensure the crisper plate is correctly seated. Tilt it to insert one side into the basket first, then press down on the other side. Forcing it in flat can damage it.
- Try sliding the basket back in. It should go in smoothly and click into place.
If that didn't work: Check that nothing is obstructing the tracks inside the air fryer. Look for food debris or a misaligned crisper plate. Also, make sure you're not trying to use the air fryer without the basket—that's a hard no.
Heads up: Overfilling doesn't just make it hard to insert; it causes food to cook unevenly. Always leave enough space for the hot air to circulate around the food.