If you are wondering how to unlock a Samsung washer, you are in the right place. Samsung washers lock for many reasons. Typically, the washer door locks during wash cycles to prevent water from coming out. Most Samsung washers also have child locks to prevent children from opening the door when they shouldn’t; these are common on front-load Samsung washers.
Unfortunately, sometimes Samsung washer doors won’t unlock when a wash cycle is completed. When this happens to your Samsung washer there are a few ways to unlock it, so there’s no need to panic. We’re going to take you through everything you need to know about unlocking a Samsung washer to help you solve the problem.
What Causes Samsung Washers to Not Unlock?
Samsung washers can become stuck in the locked position. This can happen for many reasons but we’ll take you through some of the most common reasons below. These reasons include:
- Clogged drains
- The water is unable to drain from the pump (front-load washers)
- Child lock settings
- Broken hinges
- Broken locking system
- Hardware malfunctions
- Sticky buttons
- Wash cycles still running (some machines may take 5 minutes to unlock)
- Software malfunctions
- Water in the drum
After troubleshooting each of the potential issues, you can begin to unlock your Samsung washing machine.
Does Every Samsung Washer Lock?
Most Samsung washers have a locking mechanism on the door. Some older models might night or the locking mechanism might wear out over time. Top-load Samsung washers have simpler locking mechanisms because children can’t usually access the door on the top. On the other hand, front-load Samsung washers have more security because the door is on the face of the washing machine.
How Long Do Samsung Washers Last?
Samsung washers can last for between 10-12 years. While most appliances like washing machines should be replaced every 8-10 years, you can keep Samsung washers around for a long time because of their quality. Samsung washers also have parts that can be replaced, so you don’t always need to purchase a new machine. For example, the debris filter on front-load washers can be replaced if it fails.
How Do You Reset a Samsung Washer?
Resetting your Samsung washer can help with door locking problems. To reset your Samsung washer start by cutting its power from the circuit breaker. From there, unplug the Samsung washer and wait for a few minutes. Then, connect power through the circuit breaker and plug the Samsung washer back in. That’s all it takes to reset your Samsung washer machine (in most cases). There are also advanced ways to reset your Samsung washer that are more specific.
How to Unlock a Samsung Washer
There are many ways to unlock Samsung washers. When a Samsung washer is working as intended, the steps are simple. On the other hand, you might have to get around a child lock or wait for power to be restored to a Samsung washer before the door unlocks. We’ll take you through some simple steps to help you unlock a Samsung washing machine.
1. Turn on the Washing Machine
The first step is to turn on the washing machine. Samsung washer machines that aren’t turned on will have locked doors. Turning on the machine will unlock the door. For some Samsung washing machines, turning the machine on can take a few minutes. The control board needs time to activate properly, so there’s no need to panic if the door doesn’t unlock immediately.
If you’re turning on the Samsung washer after a power outage, it’s a good idea to check on the fuses to ensure they’re operational. Front-load Samsung washers that are turned off due to power loss can take additional time to unlock (up to 5 minutes). The features are designed to prevent flooding and prevent the machine from electrical damage.
2. Make Sure the Wash Cycle is Complete
Samsung Washing machines have specific cycles and the door won’t unlock if the cycle is not completed. First, check to see if water is still in the drum. If the water has not drained yet, the door won’t unlock. For some Samsung washers, this process can take about 5 minutes. When the door doesn’t unlock in 5 minutes, it’s time to start troubleshooting other issues.
You can also cancel the wash cycle if you need to. To cancel the wash cycle you can hold the “start” button. On some Samsung washers, there’s a pause button for this feature. The process for canceling the wash cycle is the same here, so you can just press and hold the “pause” button. We also recommend checking to see if the door lock light is on. When the light is on the washer door won’t unlock. Therefore, you have to wait for the light to turn off before the door opens.
3. Check on the Child Lock
Child lock features are common for many Samsung washers. The feature prevents children from opening the washers, which helps you avoid flooding and other problems. While the child lock feature works well, forgetting to turn it off will cause the door to remain locked. For these reasons, it’s important to check on the child lock before addressing other issues with the lock, latches, or locking motor. We have more on Samsung washer child locks below.
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Samsung Washer Child Lock
Samsung washers can come with child lock features. While child lock features are more common on front-load washers, most Samsung washers have them. Child locks can also prevent the door from opening, so knowing how to activate and deactivate the child lock mechanism is important.
How to Turn the Child Lock On
Turning on child lock varies depending on the Samsung washer you have. Samsung washers have a control panel with a handful of buttons that can turn on this locking feature. Most Samsung washers have arrows or lines that point you to the proper buttons to press. Because most Samsung washers use button combinations to activate child lock, using your owner’s manual can help you identify which buttons to press.
When the child lock is engaged, there will be a symbol on the washing machine. The symbol is either a baby or a small child; it depends on the type of washer you have and the symbol can be something other than a child or baby. For example, some Samsung washers have smiling lock designs to indicate child lock. Once you see these symbols, the child lock is activated.
How to Turn the Child Lock Off
Turning off the child lock is as easy as turning the child lock on. Locate the buttons you used to turn the child lock on; follow the lines that say “child lock” to the appropriate buttons. From there, click the buttons one time. After clicking the buttons the child lock icon will begin to flash. Then, press the buttons one more time. Doing this will turn the child lock feature off and the symbol will disappear.
Keep in mind that child lock systems can be more complicated on front-load washers because it’s easier for children to open the door. If you’re not near the washing machine and have young children, we recommend leaving the child lock feature on until you’re ready to use the washing machine.
Troubleshooting Samsung Washer Locking Problems
Samsung washers unlock with the click of a few buttons. Unfortunately, sometimes the locking mechanism can malfunction or break. When the door on a Samsung washer is locked and won’t unlock there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the problem.
Repairing the Door Lock and Latches
Samsung washers have a mechanism that locks the door. These washers also have door latches. When the door locking mechanism malfunctions it will prevent a Samsung washer from unlocking. The latches can also force the door to get stuck in place, which makes it difficult to unlock or open the door. If the locking mechanism breaks (mechanical or electrical) you can’t unlock or lock the washing machine door.
To solve this issue, you have to have the components replaced by a professional technician. You can also order the necessary parts from Samsung and attempt to perform the repair yourself. Door latches are easier to replace than the locking mechanism or locking motor because latches are simple hinges.
Drain the Emergency Hose
Front-load Samsung washers have a filter that’s located in the bottom left panel of the washing machine. Water that doesn’t drain from the filter or pump will cause the door to remain locked. In these situations, it’s important to drain the emergency hose before attempting to unlock the washer door. You might also have to clean the pump filter if debris is clogging it or preventing it from filtering the water.
To drain the emergency hose, follow the steps below:
- Press on the cover of the panel that covers the pump filter. The panel is located on the bottom left of the dishwasher.
- Look for the rubber drain hose and prepare to drain water into a container.
- Hold the rubber drain hose in one hand and remove the cap by twisting it with your other hand.
- Drain the water into the container; we recommend using something like an oil pan.
- Place the drain hose cap back onto the hose and secure the hose to the mounting brackets.
To make sure that your washer functions properly, attempt to unlock the door and run a regular wash cycle.
Power Problems
Another common problem that causes Samsung washers to lock is a power surge or loss of power. Samsung washers have a lot of technology, so a power problem can force the door to lock. In some cases, restoring power to the washer after power loss might not be enough to solve the problem. There are a few ways to solve power problems for Samsung washing machines.
To begin, reset the circuit breaker. Resetting the circuit breaker can assure that power is reaching the washing machine. If the door still won’t unlock and power is reaching the washing machine, it’s time to check on the fuses. Replacing the fuse can solve the problem and restore power to the washing machine. Make sure you use the right fuses and work with a technician if you’re not well-versed in electrical work.
No More Locked Doors
Samsung washers are advanced machines with advanced locking mechanisms. While these washers are high-end, the locking mechanism can break, and getting the door open isn’t always easy. The good news is that if you follow the solutions we’ve provided, you’ll have all the tools you need to unlock a Samsung washer.
Keep in mind that some problems are too complicated to fix by yourself. In those situations, we recommend reaching out to Samsung, checking your owner’s manual, or working with a professional technician. You can also perform routine checks on the locking mechanism, latches, and child lock features to troubleshoot your door lock problems.
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