Common Bitmain Antminer error codes almost always fall into one of a handful of categories – and knowing which one you’re looking at is the difference between a five-minute fix and an unnecessary repair ticket. Per Bitmain’s own support documentation, the vast majority of Antminer faults break down into four types: the miner can’t be found on the network, it won’t power on, it’s producing zero hashrate, or it’s running at unexpectedly low hashrate. This guide walks through the specific error codes behind each, and how to actually fix them.
How to Find Your Error Code First
Before troubleshooting anything, check the miner’s kernel log – this is where every error is actually recorded, not just displayed as a vague symptom.
- Enter your miner’s IP address into a browser, then log in (default credentials are
root/root) - Navigate to the System Log or Kernel Log section
- If the miner is currently misbehaving, check the current log; if it’s running normally but you’re investigating a past issue, check the historical log
For advanced users, you can also pull the log via SSH:
ssh root@MINER_IP
cat /var/log/messages | grep -i "error\|fault\|chain\|hashboard"Once you have the actual error text, match it against the codes below.
ERROR_FAN_LOST
What it means: The control board can’t detect a speed feedback signal from one of the cooling fans.
Common causes: A loose fan cable, a jammed or failed fan motor, or a faulty fan interface on the control board itself.
How to fix it:
- Power off the miner, then firmly reconnect the fan cable, making sure the clip locks securely
- If the error persists, swap in a known-working fan to isolate whether it’s the fan or the control board
- If the same port still throws the error with a good fan installed, the control board’s fan interface is likely the actual fault, and replacement is the next step
This is one of the most common Antminer errors precisely because fan cables are handled frequently during shipping, maintenance, and cleaning — a loose connection is far more likely than actual motor failure.
Power Lost / Cannot Power On
What it means: The miner fails to start, or shuts off unexpectedly during operation.
Common causes: A loose power-control cable, a faulty PSU, or loose busbar screws inside the unit.
How to fix it:
- Reseat all power-control cables and confirm busbar screws are properly tightened
- Test with a different, known-working PSU to rule out a power supply fault
- If power delivery checks out but the issue persists, a firmware update can sometimes resolve power-sequencing bugs — see Bitmain’s official firmware update process for your model
ASIC Loss (Missing Hashboard Chips)
What it means: The hashboard reports that one or more ASIC chips aren’t responding or aren’t detected at all.
Common causes: A damaged chip, a bad connection between the chip and the board, or a hashboard-level hardware fault.
How to fix it: This one is genuinely harder to self-resolve than fan or power issues chip-level faults typically require either professional hashboard repair or manufacturer/reseller support. Note the exact miner model, serial number, and the full kernel log output before contacting support, since that information significantly speeds up diagnosis.
HW Errors (Hardware Errors)
What it means: An ASIC chip computed a hash result that failed the internal verification check — it did the work, consumed power and generated heat, but produced an invalid result.
Important context: A small number of HW errors is completely normal. Every ASIC chip has manufacturing variance, and occasional errors happen naturally, especially while the miner is warming up. What actually matters is the rate of HW errors, not their mere presence a high or climbing HW error rate points to overheating, chip degradation, or a failing connection, while a low, stable rate is nothing to worry about.
How to fix it (when the rate is genuinely elevated):
- Check ambient temperature and airflow around the miner – overheating is the most common real cause
- Confirm intake and exhaust aren’t obstructed or recirculating hot exhaust air back into the intake
- If temperatures check out and the rate remains high, the affected hashboard may need professional repair
Cannot Find IP / Miner Not on Network
What it means: You can’t locate the miner’s IP address to access its dashboard at all.
How to fix it:
- Use Bitmain’s official IP Reporter tool – hold the IP Report button on the miner’s control board while running the tool on your computer
- Check your router’s connected-devices or DHCP client list directly
- As a last resort, a network scanning tool (like Angry IP Scanner) can sweep your subnet to find the miner’s address
Zero or Low Hashrate
What it means: The miner is running but producing little or no actual mining output.
Common causes: Pool connection issues (the miner is hashing but not successfully submitting shares), one or more hashboards not initializing properly, or firmware/configuration errors.
How to fix it:
- Check your pool settings and confirm the miner is actually connected and submitting shares, not just running
- Restart the miner and watch the boot sequence in the kernel log for hashboard initialization errors
- If one specific hashboard consistently fails to initialize while others work fine, that board likely has a hardware fault
When to Stop Troubleshooting and Get Help
If you’ve worked through the steps above and the miner still won’t recover — especially for ASIC loss or persistent HW errors – repeated attempts to force a fix can compound the problem. At that point, the right move is contacting support with your model, serial number, and full kernel log output ready, rather than continuing to guess.
FAQ
What does ERROR_FAN_LOST mean on an Antminer?
It means the control board can’t detect a speed signal from a cooling fan, usually due to a loose cable connection or a failed fan motor.
Are HW errors on an Antminer something to worry about?
Not necessarily a small, stable number of HW errors is normal manufacturing variance. A high or steadily increasing rate is the real warning sign, usually pointing to overheating or a failing hashboard.
How do I check my Antminer’s error log?
Log into the miner’s web dashboard using its IP address (default credentials root/root) and navigate to the System Log or Kernel Log section, or pull it via SSH for more detail.
Can I fix ASIC chip errors myself?
Generally no chip-level hashboard faults typically require professional repair. Basic fixes like reseating cables and testing fans/PSUs are safe to attempt yourself; chip-level work usually isn’t.
For official Bitmain troubleshooting documentation, see Bitmain Support’s Troubleshooting category.