No pan detected (pan detection)
The induction zone cannot find a pan it can heat: there is no pan, it is off-centre, too small for the zone, or its base is not magnetic.
What it is for
Centre the pan on the zone, use a zone close to the pan’s size, and check the base: a fridge magnet should stick firmly. If nothing is found the zone gives up and switches off by itself.
Makes differ, check your hob’s manual: the same letter or drawing can do a different job on another brand, and only your model’s manual gives its exact times and limits.
- What it looks like
- A small pan drawing, sometimes with a line under it, or the zone’s number flashing instead of staying lit.
- Names makers use
- “no pot” message (Whirlpool); Incorrect or too small cookware or no cookware (AEG); Pan detection — the power level flashes (Bosch, Miele)
Where makes differ
Some hobs draw a pan symbol, some write a word, and Bosch and Miele simply flash the number. How long it keeps searching changes too: 60 seconds on the Whirlpool manual cited, 90 seconds on Bosch, 2 minutes on AEG.
What it does not mean
It does not mean the hob is broken, and it is not the residual-heat H. A pan that works on a gas or ceramic hob is not necessarily an induction pan — aluminium, copper and glass pans are not detected unless they have a magnetic plate in the base.
Related
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No published standard we could check defines hob control icons, so this meaning is taken from 3 makers’ own manuals and support pages, each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Bosch: Bosch — Instruction manual PIE...F... hob (9000884453) — “If no pan is placed on the selected hotplate, or if it is made of unsuitable material or is not the correct size, the power level displayed on the hotplate indicator will flash… If this takes more than 90 seconds, the hotplate will switch off automatically.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- Whirlpool: Whirlpool — Induction hob instructions for use (flexible-zone models) — “Incorrect or missing pot indicator. If you are using a pot that is not suitable, not correctly positioned or not of the correct dimensions… the message “no pot” will appear… If no pot is detected within 60 seconds, the hob switches off.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- AEG: AEG — HKP85410FB induction hob user manual — Display table: “Incorrect or too small cookware or no cookware on the cooking zone”; with incorrect cookware “the symbol comes on and the cooking zone deactivates automatically after 2 minutes.” Checked 2026-09-28.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.