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Bosch tumble dryer error codes

5 codes that Bosch publishes for its tumble dryers, each with what it means, the likely cause, what you can safely check and when to call a technician. Tap your code:

Switch off and unplug before checking. Anything electrical, anything to do with gas, and any water leak at the mains: call a technician. Codes that need one are marked Technician.

Read this first

Bosch tumble dryers show a code that starts with E and two digits (E01, E03 …). Bosch UK publishes one support page per code; the five codes below are the ones it covers, and each page gives an owner fix: a blocked filter or heat exchanger, a full water container, too big a load, or the door opened mid-cycle. Siemens and Neff dryers come from the same group (BSH), but these pages are Bosch’s: check your own manual.

E01 Blocked fluff filter or heat exchanger

What it means
The dryer has found a blockage in the filter area or the heat exchanger, which makes it overheat.
Likely cause
Fluff in the two-part fluff filter or on the heat exchanger.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Pull out the two-part fluff filter from the door area, wipe fluff from around the filter area, open both parts, remove the fluff and rinse them under running water; dry and refit.
  • Once the dryer has cooled, put a cloth under the maintenance flap (water may run out), open it, take out the heat exchanger and flush it from all sides with water only — no hard or sharp objects. Clean the seals, refit it and lock the levers and flap.
When to call a technician
Bosch’s page gives no further step: if the code comes back after cleaning, book a Bosch technician.

Source: Bosch, Bosch UK — Tumble dryer E01 error Checked 2026-09-28.

E03 Water container full

What it means
The condensed water container is full.
Likely cause
The container was not emptied after the last cycle. Condenser and heat-pump dryers only.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Pull the container out slowly and keep it upright: the water may be warm and there is no screw cap.
  • Pour the water into a sink and push the container firmly back in.
  • Empty it after every cycle, as Bosch advises.
When to call a technician
If the code stays with an empty container, book a Bosch technician.

Source: Bosch, Bosch UK — Tumble dryer E03 error Checked 2026-09-28.

E04 Load too big

What it means
The drying cycle has been disrupted, usually by too big a load.
Likely cause
Overloading the drum.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Take some laundry out: you should be able to fit a hand’s width above the laundry in the drum.
  • Check your manual for the maximum load of the programme you chose.
When to call a technician
If the code stays with a normal load, book a Bosch technician.

Source: Bosch, Bosch UK — Tumble dryer E04 error Checked 2026-09-28.

E06 Fluff filter blocked

What it means
The lint (fluff) filter is most probably blocked.
Likely cause
The filter was not cleaned after the last cycles.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Take out the two-part fluff filter, open it, remove the fluff, rinse it under running water, dry it and refit it.
  • Clean the filter after every drying cycle.
When to call a technician
If the code stays after cleaning, book a Bosch technician.

Source: Bosch, Bosch UK — Tumble dryer E06 error Checked 2026-09-28.

E16 Door opened during a cycle

What it means
The door was opened while a drying cycle was running.
Likely cause
The door was opened mid-cycle, or an overloaded drum stops it working properly.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Shut the door firmly and press start to restart the cycle.
  • Use the child lock if someone keeps opening the door mid-cycle.
  • Do not overload: leave a hand’s width above the laundry.
When to call a technician
If the code stays with the door shut, book a Bosch technician.

Source: Bosch, Bosch UK — Tumble dryer E16 error Checked 2026-09-28.

A code that is not listed here

Bosch’s international support site names more dryer codes (among them E02, E08, E09, E24, E25, E28 and E90), but they are not on the Bosch UK pages we read, so they are not listed here.

We list only codes the source below states. If your code is not here, it may belong to a model the source does not cover: your model’s manual is the authority.

Related pages

Source

Every code on this page comes from these pages, published by Bosch and read on the date shown. Meanings are written in our own words; nothing is taken from other makes, other models or third-party code sites.