Bambu Lab Prints Not Sticking? How to Fix Bed Adhesion

On most printers, prints that won't stick come down to bed levelling or Z offset. Bambu Lab printers handle those for you, so if there's no error message, it's almost always one of two things: missing supports or a contaminated build plate. Here's how to fix both.

The quick version

1. Check for overhangs and supports on every part, even when the slicer warning looks harmless.
2. Wash the plate with dish soap and hot water (not hand soap), wearing gloves and using clean microfibre cloths.
3. Optionally finish with high-percentage IPA on a microfibre cloth.
4. Still failing? Check the hotend isn't loose, dry your filament, and make sure the plate selected in the slicer matches the one on the printer.
5. Adjust the Z offset only as a last resort.

1. Supports

Small parts and hidden overhangs are easy to miss. I printed a door hinge where Bambu Studio's unsupported-overhang warning seemed to be just about the screw holes, and the print failed. Always check every part on the plate for overhangs before you print.

2. A properly clean plate

Fingerprints are invisible until you print, and then you'll see exactly where the oil from your skin stopped the first layer sticking. Wiping with IPA alone just spreads the oil around, so you swap a few bad spots for a bad middle.

How I clean a plate properly:

1. Use a freshly washed microfibre cloth. Never the one you use on the outside of the printer, as dust and residue cause first-layer problems.
2. Wear gloves so you don't re-contaminate the plate (or hold it by the edges).
3. Apply dish soap to both sides. Avoid hand soap: its moisturisers ruin adhesion.
4. Rinse thoroughly with hot water, wiping off all the soap.
5. Dry with a second clean, dry microfibre cloth.

That alone printed almost perfectly for me. For an extra-clean plate, wipe it once more with the highest-percentage IPA you can get on another microfibre cloth. Microfibre gets into the plate's texture, while paper towel tends to slide over the top and leave residue.

Still not sticking?

• Check the hotend: it can work loose over time and cause first-layer issues.
• Dry your filament: moisture affects adhesion too.
• Match the build plate in the slicer to the one on the printer. Each plate has its own Z offset.
• Z offset is the very last resort: too low and the nozzle can dig into and ruin your plate.
• If you want a different surface, I've had good results with the BIQU CryoGrip plate.

Handle prints carefully when removing them and you won't need to wash the plate often. And remember, you can always flip it over and use the other side.

What I use

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More guides

Scrubbler Nozzle Wiper for Bambu Lab P1S: Install Guide and Fix How to Tell If Filament Is Wet, and the Best Ways to Dry It How to Fix a Squeaking Bambu Lab Printer

Common questions

Why are my prints not sticking on my Bambu Lab printer?

With no error message, it's almost always missing supports or a contaminated build plate. Bambu Lab printers handle bed levelling and Z offset for you.

How do I clean a Bambu Lab build plate?

Wearing gloves, wash both sides with dish soap (not hand soap) and hot water using a clean microfibre cloth, rinse well, then dry with a second clean microfibre cloth. Optionally finish with high-percentage IPA.

Is IPA enough to clean a PEI plate?

Not on its own. Wiping with IPA spreads the oil from fingerprints around instead of removing it. Wash with dish soap first.

Should I change the Z offset to fix adhesion?

Only as a last resort. Too low and the nozzle can dig into and ruin your plate. First check the hotend isn't loose, dry your filament, and make sure the plate selected in the slicer matches the one on the printer.

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