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First Layer Not Sticking

Follow the steps. Most problems are fixed by step 1 or 2.

Title
Bambu Lab First Layer Problems: Causes and Fixes
Page
Status
Not affiliated with Bambu Lab
Section of a first layer with round, loose lines on the build plate, with the four places to check12341Clean the plate first2Bed leveling3Plate type in Studio4Nozzle and bed temp Section of a first layer with round, loose lines on the build plate, with the four places to check12341Clean the plate first2Bed leveling3Plate type in Studio4Nozzle and bed temp
Work top to bottom: most adhesion problems end at a clean plate.
Step 1 of 5

1 Most likely fix

Clean the build plate

Wash it with warm water and dish soap (no oils or moisturizers), scrub with a sponge or plastic brush so the soap reaches into the texture, rinse and dry with a paper towel. Finger oils are the #1 reason prints don't stick, and alcohol tends to spread them instead of removing them (Bambu).

After washing, touch the plate only at its edges. A 90%+ IPA wipe on a cool plate is fine between washes, but it does not replace the wash. Never use acetone on PEI. Scratched or worn plate? Our build plate buying guide compares replacements that fit Bambu printers.

2 Calibration

Run auto bed leveling

Run Auto Bed Leveling from the printer's calibration menu (A1: Settings → Maintenance → Calibration; X1: Settings → Print Calibration; others: Settings → Calibration). Corrects Z-offset drift that builds up over time.

3 Plate type

Select the right plate type

In Bambu Studio, the plate type must match the plate on the printer. A model sliced for the Cool Plate often will not stick on the Textured PEI Plate: the two plates need different bed temperatures (step 4), and the Textured PEI Plate has a different Z offset.

A2L: Settings → Maintenance → First Layer Calibration; X2D: Settings → Calibration → First Layer Calibration. It fine-tunes the distance between nozzle and heatbed for the first layer; Bambu calls it generally unnecessary, so use it only when the other steps did not help (see our nozzle-too-close guide).

P2S: tap Calibration in the sidebar, then First Layer Quality Calibration. For a first layer that sits too high, Bambu says to lower the offset in small steps (for example from 0 to -0.01 mm) and print a test after each change.

Lines round with gapsNozzle too far from the plate
Lines transparent/paper-thinNozzle too close to the plate
Lines squished, opaque, touchingCorrect
First layer with the nozzle too far, correct at 0.2 mm, and too close, schematictoo far> 0.2 mmcorrect0.2 mmtoo close< 0.2 mmFirst layer with the nozzle too far, correct at 0.2 mm, and too close, schematictoo far> 0.2 mmcorrect0.2 mmtoo close< 0.2 mm
Fig. 1The three first layers from the table: too far (round lines with gaps), correct at the 0.2 mm first layer height (squished, touching) and too close (thin, see-through).
  • Schematic, not to scale.
  • Source: Bambu Studio system profiles, BBL set 02.08.00.09 (initial layer height 0.2 mm), checked 2026-10-16

4 Temperature

Check bed temperature

Wrong bed temp = no adhesion. Verify in your slicer:

PLA35–45°C (Cool Plate), 45–65°C (other plates)
PETG60–80°C
ABS / ASA90–100°C
TPU35–45°C (Engineering Plate 30–35°C)

Also try reducing first layer speed to 30–50%.

5 Advanced

Less common causes

If steps 1–4 didn't fix it, expand the topic that matches your situation:

Warping / corners lifting

Add a brim (5–10mm width). Reduce part cooling on the first layers. For ABS/ASA, you need an enclosure. Check for drafts.

Only sticks on one side

Bed mesh is uneven. Run auto bed leveling again. Check bed mounting screws underneath.

New plate won't stick

Wash with soap and water first (remove factory film). New plates need 2–3 prints to "break in."

Which plate for which material?

PlateMaterialsGlue
Cool Plate (discontinued)PLA only; Bambu lists PETG as not recommendedA thin coat of glue stick as release agent
Cool Plate SuperTack (its successor)PLA and PETG, never TPUNo glue
Textured PEIPLA, PETG, TPU, ABS, ASA, PA, PCBambu suggests glue stick for PC, PA, ABS and ASA
Smooth PEI (High-Temp)PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, PC, PA, TPUPLA without glue; everything else only with a layer of glue, or the PEI sheet can tear

Full plate care guide

Nothing worked?

Ask in the official Bambu Lab forum or open a ticket via Bambu Lab support; photos help a lot. You can also contact us or post in our community forum. Or try the interactive troubleshooter.

Problem solved!

Bookmark this page for next time.

Troubleshooting Maintenance Our Picks

Sources

Bambu Lab wiki. Last checked October 7, 2026.

ShowHide
Bambu Lab Wiki: Bad Print Quality: Causes and Solutions (plate type, Textured PEI Z offset) and the screen operation guides for the A2L and X2D (First Layer Calibration). Checked October 2, 2026. Bambu's P2S first-layer guide (First Layer Quality Calibration), checked October 4, 2026. Build plates: Bambu's build plate overview, Cool Plate page (discontinued) and Cool Plate SuperTack page, checked October 7, 2026.

Tools that fix this

Give the first layer a surface it can actually stick to.

  • TEQStone Bed Adhesive

    TEQStone Bed Adhesive

    When a first layer will not stick despite correct settings, this adhesive gives it the extra grip to hold.

    Amazon

  • BIQU PEI Sheet

    BIQU PEI Sheet

    A scratched or contaminated build plate ruins first layers; a fresh PEI sheet gives an even, reliable bonding surface.

    Amazon

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HMS codes that point here

If Bambu Handy or Bambu Studio shows one of these HMS codes, it maps to the problem on this page. Each code links to Bambu's official step-by-step fix; come back here if the official steps don't solve it.

  • HMS_0300-1800-0001-0006 – Heatbed leveling data abnormal (check plate and nozzle tip), official fix
  • HMS_0300-1800-0001-0005 – Z-axis motor obstructed (foreign objects in the Z slider), official fix