How to reset your Samsung dishwasher

Samsung dishwasher with a CE error code

When something goes wrong with your dishwasher, such as an error code or if it's not draining, you may think all that's needed is a good reset. A lot of the times, weird electronic glitches (such as those that might occur after a power outage) might be cleared with such a reset, but if this doesn't restart your dishwasher, then additional troubleshooting will be required. However, depending on what error you get or issue you have, it's not always a good idea to reset at the first sign of trouble. Read on for how to reset, when you should or shouldn't, and what to do if a reset doesn't help.

Reset your dishwasher

Resetting your dishwasher is easy. Unplug it (or turn off power at the circuit breaker), wait some time for the electrical charge to clear out of the dishwasher (usually 1 to 5 minutes at most), and then power it up again.

That's it. That's all it takes to reset.

Find troubleshooting for your issue instead of just resetting

Resetting your dishwasher will clear out all the error codes in memory. You might think "Great, now my dishwasher will start working again," but it's a little more complicated.

First of all, most error codes signify an issue with your dishwasher that you need to address. Performing a reset without doing the troubleshooting to address the issue will likely result in the code coming back soon, if not immediately. Here's a few examples of common dishwasher issues where a reset alone won't help, with links to guides for the full troubleshooting of that issue:

  • If the dishwasher doesn't start, it could be because the door is not completely closing, and a reset won't fix that.

  • If your dishwasher won't turn on at all, especially if it's recently installed, then it's likely to be an issue with the installation. In that case you should review the installation, preferably with a professional installer.

  • If you have a drain issue, often with error codes like 5C, 5E, OC or OE, then it's often something to do with the way the drain hose is installed, and again a reset won't fix it if you don't take care of the drain hose first.

  • You can also see our error code guide for a list of what troubleshooting to do for each code, or our blinking lights article for models without a digital display. If you have a different issue, try searching for it from our support page to find a guide specific to the issue you're having.

So when should you reset? After performing all the troubleshooting first. Some error codes will stay on the dishwasher even after you have done what it takes to fix them, so that's when resetting the dishwasher is the next logical step.

If a reset doesn't clear the code, and you tried all of the troubleshooting steps first, you'll have to request service. You can find a link to requesting service at the end of our troubleshooting guides.

Network reset

A network reset is a different type of reset. If you want to erase all Wi-Fi and network information from the dishwasher, follow these steps. This is only applicable to dishwashers with Wi-Fi capability.

  1. Hold Smart Control until AP displays (about 3 seconds).

  2. Hold Hi-Temp Wash until the dishwasher chimes (about 7 seconds).

  3. Turn off the dishwasher.

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