Fanuc Starting System Software Please Wait [2024]

The message "Starting system software. Please wait" is a standard part of the Fanuc controller's boot process, but if it remains on the screen for several minutes without progressing, it indicates a critical system hang. This typically happens when the controller cannot load the core software from its internal memory or finish its initial self-checks. Common Causes for System Hangs

If the hardware is functional, you should see a dull-colored "BOOT SYSTEM" menu. fanuc starting system software please wait

The infamous "FANUC Starting System Software Please Wait" message! The message "Starting system software

  1. Press the EMERGENCY STOP button.
  2. Press the POWER OFF button on the operator panel (if equipped).
  3. Wait for the screen to go completely blank (about 10 seconds).
  4. Then turn off the main disconnect.

For the machine operator, the message is a lesson in patience and procedure. The cardinal rule is simple: never interrupt the boot cycle. Forcefully cycling power while the message is displayed is the most common cause of software corruption, as it can leave the flash memory in an inconsistent state. A skilled operator knows that this "Please Wait" is not an error, but an invitation to observe—listening for the characteristic clunk of the electromagnetic contactors and watching for the transition to the coordinate position display. In some older Fanuc models, the wait might be followed by a "NOT READY" alarm, which simply means the operator must press a cycle start or reset button. In modern controls, it fades silently into the main interface, its job complete. Press the EMERGENCY STOP button

B. Perform a Full Power Cycle

  1. Turn off the CNC power.
  2. Turn off the main breaker (disconnect) for the machine.
  3. Wait for 30 seconds to allow the capacitors in the power supply unit (PSU) to discharge.
  4. Turn the main breaker back on.
  5. Attempt to power on the control again.

Store the backup on three different media (network drive, USB, paper printout).

But inside the main processor (the CPU) of every FANUC controller—whether it’s a Series 30i Model A CNC or an R-30iB Robot controller—there is a moment of panic during a cold start. The hardware is live, but the "brain" is empty. It doesn't know how to talk to the servo motors, it doesn’t know how to read the teach pendant, and it has no idea how to interpret G-code or TP programs.