Electric and induction cooktops fail differently than gas ones — usually it’s a connection, a control-lock setting, or, for induction, a pan the cooktop doesn’t recognize.
What usually causes it
- Induction: cookware that isn’t induction-compatible (magnetic), so the cooktop won’t engage
- The control lock or child-lock setting is accidentally on
- A loose or worn connection under an electric coil or radiant element
- A cracked glass surface on a radiant or induction cooktop
What you can check yourself
- Induction: check that your pan is magnetic — a magnet should stick to the bottom
- Look for a locked control-panel icon and check your manual for how to unlock it on your model
- Electric coil elements: make sure it’s seated fully in its socket
- Look for visible cracks in the glass surface — a cracked cooktop shouldn’t be used
When to call
⚠️ For gas cooktops, any burner-lighting, gas-smell, or ignition issue is not a DIY check — call. For electric and induction: if the pan is compatible, the control isn’t locked, and a burner still won’t heat, that’s an internal electrical fault for a technician.