How to Reset a Washing Machine: Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, GE, Maytag

To reset a washing machine, you cut its power, wait, and turn it back on. Most washers have no button labeled Reset; the universal reset is to unplug the washer, or switch off its breaker, for at least a minute, then restore power and start a new cycle. That clears a frozen control or a one-time glitch. It does not fix a failed part, and done over and over it can erase the clue a technician needs.

Safety first: if there is water on the floor near the outlet or the cord, switch off the breaker instead of reaching for the plug. Never tape, force or bypass a door lock or lid switch to get a washer running; those parts keep hands out of a spinning drum.

How to reset a washing machine: the universal method

1. Stop the cycle with Power or Cancel, if the washer still responds.
2. Cut the power. Unplug the washer, or switch off its breaker at the panel if the plug is hard to reach or the washer is hard-wired.
3. Wait. The brands below ask for anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes, so 5 minutes covers all of them.
4. Restore power, turn the washer on, choose a cycle and start it.
5. Watch the first minute. If the same code comes straight back, stop resetting; see below.

Before you reset anything, rule out two settings that make a washer look broken when it is not: Control Lock or Child Lock (a padlock light, or CL or LoC on the display), and a Delay Wash countdown. Whirlpool and Maytag both tell you to check Control Lock before you reset.

Is there a washing machine reset button?

Usually not. Every brand procedure below starts by cutting the power, not by pressing a Reset button. The differences are small: LG adds a button hold while the washer is unplugged, many Whirlpool and Maytag models have a factory default setting, and GE has a special motor reset for certain older top-loaders.

Reset steps by brand

These are the steps each brand publishes on its US support site. Button names vary by model, so check your manual too.

How to reset a Samsung washer

Samsung says to unplug the washer or turn off power at the breaker, wait for the electrical charge to clear (usually 1 to 5 minutes at most), then power it up again. Samsung's reset page adds two cautions worth following:

• A reset clears the error codes in the washer's memory, but it does not fix whatever caused the error.
• If a code comes back after a reset, do not keep clearing it. Resetting wipes the code history, which makes the problem harder for a technician to diagnose.

Samsung also lists a separate network reset for Wi-Fi models: hold Smart Control until AP shows, then hold Temp until OK shows, then turn the washer off. That refreshes the Wi-Fi settings only. For the codes themselves, see Samsung washer error codes.

How to reset an LG washer

LG's help library gives this reset for a washer whose buttons stop responding:

1. Turn the washer off.
2. Unplug it, or switch off the breaker.
3. While it has no power, press and hold Start/Pause for 5 seconds.
4. Plug it back in, or switch the breaker back on.
5. Turn the washer on and restart the cycle.

LG uses the same steps to clear PF, which means the power was interrupted during a cycle, as in an outage. If you see CL, it is not a fault: LG says it means Child Lock is on, and holding the Child Lock button for 3 seconds turns it off. If the buttons still do not respond after a reset, LG says the washer needs service. More in LG washer error codes.

How to reset a Whirlpool washer

Whirlpool says to unplug the washer for 5 minutes, then plug it back in. If the washer is hard-wired, turn off the breaker that powers it for 5 minutes, then turn it back on.

Whirlpool also says to make sure Control Lock is not on; with it set, the control will not operate at all, and you may see a light or padlock lit. Many Whirlpool washers also have a factory default setting that returns every setting to factory values and deletes saved profiles and preferences. The steps vary by model, so Whirlpool points you to the owner's manual.

How to reset a GE washer

GE says to shut off the breaker or fuse to the washer, or unplug it, for 2 minutes. On models with a timer knob, turn the knob around and back to any position other than final spin, then restore power. On electronic models, select and start the cycle again once the power is back.

GE documents one more reset, only for select top-loaders with the Hydrowave wash system built from 2011 through 2015, when the washer fills but will not agitate or spin:

1. Unplug the washer for 1 minute.
2. Plug it back in. Within 30 seconds, lift and lower the lid 6 times within 12 seconds, raising it at least 2 inches and closing it fully each time.
3. Run a small cycle with no clothes to confirm it fills and starts to agitate.

How to reset a Maytag washer

Maytag documents the same steps as Whirlpool: unplug the washer for 5 minutes, or switch off its breaker for 5 minutes if it is hard-wired, then restore power. Maytag also says to check Control Lock first, and many of its washers have a factory default setting covered in the owner's manual.

When a reset won't help

A reset clears the control's memory. It cannot unclog a pump filter, replace a worn door lock or fix a slipping belt. Stop resetting and look further when:

• The same code comes back. Look it up in your manual or in our Samsung and LG code guides. Codes vary by model, so confirm the meaning for yours.
• Nothing lights up at all. A reset will not help a washer with no power. Check the outlet, the breaker and any GFCI; our guide to a washer that won't turn on walks through it.
• It stopped with water in the tub. That is usually a drain problem; see washer not draining or spinning.
• The door stays locked. See washer door won't unlock, and never force it.
• It trips the breaker, hums without moving, or smells hot. Unplug it and call. Resetting a washer that keeps tripping its breaker is not a repair.

What usually fails

When a reset keeps "fixing" the same problem for a day or two, a part is usually on its way out:

• Door lock or lid switch. The washer will not start or spin, or shows a door code, because it never confirms the door or lid is locked.
• Drain pump. Drain codes that return after every reset, or a hum with no water moving.
• Water inlet valve. Fill codes, or a washer that waits and never fills; see washer not filling with water.
• Main control or user interface board. Dead or unresponsive buttons, a garbled display or random codes, especially after a storm. We test before replacing a board.

What it costs in Jacksonville

The diagnostic is $79, and it is waived when you approve the repair. Washer repairs start at $179 plus parts, and a typical washer repair on a standard brand runs $200 to $400 all in. Premium brands run higher, and tub bearings or transmissions can exceed $450. You get a written flat-rate estimate before any work begins, many repairs can be finished on the first visit, and every repair carries our 90-day parts-and-labor warranty. See our pricing, and for an older machine, our repair-or-replace guide.

Schedule washer repair or call (904) 561-4790 for same-day service across Jacksonville & the First Coast.