A reset means cutting power long enough for the control board to fully shut down, usually 1 to 5 minutes at the plug or breaker, then turning it back on. It clears glitches after a power blip, but if the same error code comes back, the reset has done its job and the code is pointing at a real problem.
What a reset actually does
Modern washers, dishwashers, fridges and mini-splits all run on a small computer. A voltage dip, a lightning strike nearby or a cycle interrupted at a bad moment can leave that board confused, with a stuck display, buttons that don't respond or an error code that doesn't match anything that's actually wrong.
Cutting the power lets the board shut down completely and start fresh. It doesn't repair a part. Samsung's washer support page is blunt about it: a power cycle clears the codes from memory, and only in rare cases does it fix the problem by itself.
Before you reset, write down the code
Take a photo of the display first. Samsung warns that a reset wipes the error code history, which makes the machine harder for a technician to diagnose.
Then look up the code. If it points to something you can fix, like a clogged filter, a kinked drain hose or a door that isn't latching, fix that before resetting. Samsung says to work through the troubleshooting steps first unless those steps include a reset.
How to power-cycle at the plug or breaker
This method works on nearly any appliance with a control board. The wait time matters. Pull the plug and push it straight back in and the board may never fully power down.
Cancel any running cycle if the controls respond. On a dishwasher, Whirlpool says to press Cancel/Drain and let the pump finish draining before you cut power.
Unplug the appliance. If the plug is behind the machine or the appliance is hardwired, switch off its breaker at the electrical panel instead. A mini-split is normally shut off at its breaker or disconnect switch.
Wait. Whirlpool says at least 1 minute for its dishwashers and washers; Samsung says about 1 to 5 minutes for its washers and dishwashers. Five minutes covers both.
Restore power, close the door or lid firmly, choose a cycle and start it. Give the machine a minute to run through its startup before you judge the result.
Appliance-specific notes
Most appliances respond to the same basic power cycle, but a few have quirks worth knowing about.
- Washers: if the door stays locked after a reset, Whirlpool says some models have a thermal lock that releases on its own after a short wait. Give it time rather than forcing the door.
- Dishwashers: Whirlpool notes that a dishwasher that seems to have no power may just have Control Lock switched on. Look for a lit padlock icon before you reset anything.
- Refrigerators: after a power cut, give the fridge time to get cold again before you judge it; Whirlpool allows up to 24 hours after a setting change. Samsung's ice maker guide has you unplug the fridge or switch off the breaker for 2 minutes, then run the ice maker test again.
- Mini-splits: inverter units deliberately wait about 3 minutes after power returns before the compressor starts, according to Fujitsu. Carrier lists a reset of about 20 minutes off at the breaker for its ductless systems.
- Wi-Fi models: Samsung washers and dishwashers have a separate network reset done with a button combination. It erases the Wi-Fi settings and has nothing to do with clearing a fault.
Control resets and factory resets
Some models have a reset built into the controls. Whirlpool and Maytag say some touchscreen washers have a Restore Factory option under the Info menu. Many ice makers have a test or reset button. On many Whirlpool washers, holding Start/Pause or Power/Cancel for 3 to 5 seconds cancels the cycle and drains the water.
These vary so much by model that the owner's manual is the only reliable guide. If you find instructions online for a button sequence, check that they match your exact model number before trying them, since a sequence meant for one model can enter a service or test mode on another.
When a reset isn't the answer
If the same code returns after one reset, stop resetting. Samsung's advice for its washers is not to clear the code again and to request service instead. Whirlpool says the same thing in its own words: resetting over and over without fixing the cause can turn a small problem into a bigger one.
Some problems were never electronic to begin with. An unbalanced load needs the clothes rearranged. A drain code on a dishwasher often comes from how the drain hose was installed, which Samsung says to fix first. A door that doesn't close fully will stop a dishwasher from starting no matter how many times you cut the power.
- Breaker trips again as soon as you turn it back on: leave it off and call for service. That's an electrical fault, not a glitch.
- Burning smell, scorch marks, or buzzing from the panel: leave the breaker off.
- Water on the floor near the appliance: switch off the breaker before touching the plug, and don't restore power until it's dry.
- Gas appliance and you smell gas: leave the house and call your gas company from outside. Don't flip switches or unplug anything.
If the appliance won't power on at all
Check the obvious first. Look for a tripped breaker or a blown fuse, and test the outlet with a lamp or phone charger. Repair Clinic advises against plugging a refrigerator into a GFCI outlet; if one is in the circuit, check whether it has tripped and press its reset button.
Samsung says a newly installed dishwasher that won't turn on most likely has an installation problem, and suggests having a professional review the install. If the outlet and breaker are fine and the appliance is still dead, a part inside it has probably failed. Diagnosing those means live electrical testing inside the machine, which is a technician's job.
When to call a professional
Call for service if an error code returns after one reset, if the breaker keeps tripping, or if the appliance stays dead with good power at the outlet. Give the technician the exact code and model number, and tell them how many times you've reset it.