Samsung refrigerator or freezer doors will not close

If the refrigerator or freezer doors will not close, it will impact cooling performance and eventually create frost. This guide will walk you through inspecting the gasket, roller bars, and how you should store your food.
Man and child with refrigerator doors open, showing shelves filled with food and drinks
Man and child with refrigerator doors open, showing shelves filled with food and drinks

Samsung refrigerator or freezer doors will not close

Which type of door is not closing?
Hinged door on the refrigerator does not close
Middle or freezer pull out door on the refrigerator does not close
Showcase door does not close correctly
Flap between doors is stuck or loose
Realign the french door freezer door
Hinged door on the refrigerator does not close
Important
If the doors haven't closed correctly since the last time they were reattached or adjusted, they may have been reattached or adjusted incorrectly. Service is not required. Instead, review the instructions in the user manual for proper procedures.
1
Inspect the door seal.
Inspect the rubber seal around the door. Make sure it is not warped or damaged, preventing the door from closing. If the seal is damaged, visit the Support Center to request service.
Inspect the door seal.
Inspect the rubber seal around the door. Make sure it is not warped or damaged, preventing the door from closing. If the seal is damaged, visit the Support Center to request service.
2
Make sure the door is not blocked.

One of the simplest things to check is to make sure something (like food) isn't stopping the door from closing.

If frost is forming and blocking the door from closing, additional troubleshooting is available, however you do still need to make sure the doors are completely closing after the frost is cleared away. Otherwise, more frost will form. See our frost troubleshooting guide.

Make sure the door is not blocked.

One of the simplest things to check is to make sure something (like food) isn't stopping the door from closing.

If frost is forming and blocking the door from closing, additional troubleshooting is available, however you do still need to make sure the doors are completely closing after the frost is cleared away. Otherwise, more frost will form. See our frost troubleshooting guide.

3
Check the alignment of the shelves and drawers.
Shelves and drawers that are not correctly installed can prevent the door from closing completely. For instructions specific to your model, refer to your user manual
Check the alignment of the shelves and drawers.
Shelves and drawers that are not correctly installed can prevent the door from closing completely. For instructions specific to your model, refer to your user manual
4
Request service.
If the door continues to not close, visit our Support Center to request service.
Request service.
If the door continues to not close, visit our Support Center to request service.
Middle or freezer pull out door on the refrigerator does not close
1
Make sure the door is not blocked.

One of the simplest things to check is to make sure something (like food) isn't stopping the door from closing. In the case of pull-out sections of the refrigerator, you also want to pull the drawer all the way out and look behind it for anything that might be blocking it, as well.

If frost is forming and blocking the door from closing, additional troubleshooting is available. However, you do still need to make sure the doors are completely closing after the frost is cleared away, or more frost will form. See our frost troubleshooting guide.

Make sure the door is not blocked.

One of the simplest things to check is to make sure something (like food) isn't stopping the door from closing. In the case of pull-out sections of the refrigerator, you also want to pull the drawer all the way out and look behind it for anything that might be blocking it, as well.

If frost is forming and blocking the door from closing, additional troubleshooting is available. However, you do still need to make sure the doors are completely closing after the frost is cleared away, or more frost will form. See our frost troubleshooting guide.

2
Inspect the door seal.

Inspect the rubber seal around the door. Make sure it is not warped or damaged, preventing the door from closing. If the seal is damaged, visit the Support Center to request service.

Note: The remaining steps only apply to French Door freezers. If the pull-out drawer that is not closing is not a French Door freezer, but it still will not close after performing Steps 1 and 2, visit our Support Center to request service.

Inspect the door seal.

Inspect the rubber seal around the door. Make sure it is not warped or damaged, preventing the door from closing. If the seal is damaged, visit the Support Center to request service.

Note: The remaining steps only apply to French Door freezers. If the pull-out drawer that is not closing is not a French Door freezer, but it still will not close after performing Steps 1 and 2, visit our Support Center to request service.

3
Open the freezer door and remove the drawer and storage bin.
Make sure to remove both the drawer and the storage bin. They are the big white plastic bins inside the freezer.
Open the freezer door and remove the drawer and storage bin.
Make sure to remove both the drawer and the storage bin. They are the big white plastic bins inside the freezer.
4
Locate the Auto Close Springs at the back of the left and right guide rails.

Now that the storage bin is out of the way, you should be able to easily see the inside tracks, near the back. At this point, these mechanisms should be all the way towards the front, with the springs at their full length and not compacted.

If they are not in the correct position, carefully slide them to the front one at a time until they lock into place.

Inside track mechanisms slid into place

Note: The next four steps cover how to put the index bar back in place. If it's already in place, skip to step 9.

Locate the Auto Close Springs at the back of the left and right guide rails.

Now that the storage bin is out of the way, you should be able to easily see the inside tracks, near the back. At this point, these mechanisms should be all the way towards the front, with the springs at their full length and not compacted.

If they are not in the correct position, carefully slide them to the front one at a time until they lock into place.

Inside track mechanisms slid into place

Note: The next four steps cover how to put the index bar back in place. If it's already in place, skip to step 9.

5
Check to see if the index roller bar is in place.

The index roller bar is a piece of metal that spans from one side of the freezer to the other between two gears, also called index rollers. It sits in the freezer behind the drawer and storage bin. It anchors and stabilizes the index rollers on the track that the freezer drawer slides on.

Check to see if this bar is still in place and rolling correctly. This is what it should look like when it's in place:

Index roller bar in place

Check to see if the index roller bar is in place.

The index roller bar is a piece of metal that spans from one side of the freezer to the other between two gears, also called index rollers. It sits in the freezer behind the drawer and storage bin. It anchors and stabilizes the index rollers on the track that the freezer drawer slides on.

Check to see if this bar is still in place and rolling correctly. This is what it should look like when it's in place:

Index roller bar in place

6
Find the clip.

If the index roller bar has been dislodged and fallen out of place, first locate the small plastic clip that holds the bar in place, which will most likely be lying on the bottom of the freezer compartment. Even if the clip has fallen out of place, it is very rare for it to actually break, so make sure to find it.

Index roller bar clip

Find the clip.

If the index roller bar has been dislodged and fallen out of place, first locate the small plastic clip that holds the bar in place, which will most likely be lying on the bottom of the freezer compartment. Even if the clip has fallen out of place, it is very rare for it to actually break, so make sure to find it.

Index roller bar clip

7
Insert the metal rod into the gears on each side, with the hole on the right side.

The bar is not symmetrical since it has a hole near one end and not the other. The end with the hole in it should go into the gear on the right, and the other end of the metal rod (without the hole) goes into the gear on the left.

Clip held near hole in index roller bar

Insert the metal rod into the gears on each side, with the hole on the right side.

The bar is not symmetrical since it has a hole near one end and not the other. The end with the hole in it should go into the gear on the right, and the other end of the metal rod (without the hole) goes into the gear on the left.

Clip held near hole in index roller bar

8
Put the clip in the hole in the bar.

This clip prevents the bar from sliding back and forth and falling out. After inserting the clip, tug on the bar slightly to ensure that it is securely in place.

Clip inserted in index roller bar

Put the clip in the hole in the bar.

This clip prevents the bar from sliding back and forth and falling out. After inserting the clip, tug on the bar slightly to ensure that it is securely in place.

Clip inserted in index roller bar

9
Put the storage bin and drawer back in the freezer.
If you still have food in these, be gentle when putting them back into place.
Put the storage bin and drawer back in the freezer.
If you still have food in these, be gentle when putting them back into place.
10
Slowly slide the door in until it is 6 to 8 inches open, and then close it firmly, without slamming.
Use only enough force to ensure the index rollers shift back into place.
Slowly slide the door in until it is 6 to 8 inches open, and then close it firmly, without slamming.
Use only enough force to ensure the index rollers shift back into place.
11
Request service.
If the door continues to not close, visit our Support Center to request service.
Request service.
If the door continues to not close, visit our Support Center to request service.
Showcase door does not close correctly
1
Inspect the latch on the outer door.

The latch should not be bent or twisted. It should be fairly centered and straight up and down.

The outer door was designed to have a little wiggle room of about 1 millimeter. This becomes more noticeable when the fridge is cold, as opposed to when it's warm (like a display model in a store).

Inspect the latch on the outer door.

The latch should not be bent or twisted. It should be fairly centered and straight up and down.

The outer door was designed to have a little wiggle room of about 1 millimeter. This becomes more noticeable when the fridge is cold, as opposed to when it's warm (like a display model in a store).

2
Check the latch tab on the inner door.
Make sure it is not loose or broken.
Check the latch tab on the inner door.
Make sure it is not loose or broken.
3
Check the door seals.
They should not be damaged, warped, or dirty.
Check the door seals.
They should not be damaged, warped, or dirty.
4
Request service.
If the issue continues, visit our Support Center to request service.
Request service.
If the issue continues, visit our Support Center to request service.
Flap between doors is stuck or loose
1
Inspect the hinges.

Fridge hinge close up

Check if the hinges on the doors and the fridge flap are loose or have too much give.

Inspect the hinges.

Fridge hinge close up

Check if the hinges on the doors and the fridge flap are loose or have too much give.

2
Try pressing down on the top of the flap.

pressing down flap

If the flap is not moving into place, press down on the tab located on the top to ensure it's not jammed. There should be some give, and the flap will spring back. Then, the flap should move itself when the door opens and closes.

Try pressing down on the top of the flap.

pressing down flap

If the flap is not moving into place, press down on the tab located on the top to ensure it's not jammed. There should be some give, and the flap will spring back. Then, the flap should move itself when the door opens and closes.

3
Request service.
If there is little to no tension from the flap, or it still does not perform correctly, visit our Support Center to request service.
Request service.
If there is little to no tension from the flap, or it still does not perform correctly, visit our Support Center to request service.
Realign the french door freezer door
Important

Before performing the steps below, see the Pull Out Door section and confirm that nothing is blocking the door from closing.

The steps below only need to be performed if the door is no longer aligned on the rails, or the index roller bar has come out.

1
Open the freezer door and remove the drawer and storage bin.

Make sure to remove both the drawer:

Freezer drawer being removed

And the storage bin:

Freezer storage bin being removed 

Open the freezer door and remove the drawer and storage bin.

Make sure to remove both the drawer:

Freezer drawer being removed

And the storage bin:

Freezer storage bin being removed 

2
Locate the Auto Close Springs at the back of the left and right guide rails.

Now that the storage bin is out of the way, you should be able to easily see the inside tracks, near the back. At this point, these mechanisms should be all the way towards the front, with the springs at their full length and not compacted.

If they are not in the correct position, carefully slide them to the front one at a time until they lock into place.

Inside track mechanisms slid into place

Locate the Auto Close Springs at the back of the left and right guide rails.

Now that the storage bin is out of the way, you should be able to easily see the inside tracks, near the back. At this point, these mechanisms should be all the way towards the front, with the springs at their full length and not compacted.

If they are not in the correct position, carefully slide them to the front one at a time until they lock into place.

Inside track mechanisms slid into place

3
Check to see if the index roller bar is in place.

The index roller bar is a piece of metal that spans from one side of the freezer to the other between two gears, also called index rollers. It sits in the freezer behind the drawer and storage bin. It anchors and stabilizes the index rollers on the track that the freezer drawer slides on.

Important: The next three steps cover how to put this back in place if it has fallen out. If it's already in place, you can skip to step 7.


This is what it should look like when it's in place:

Index roller bar in place

This is what it might look like if it's fallen out (or it may have fallen among the food in the basket):

Index roller bar fallen out 

Check to see if the index roller bar is in place.

The index roller bar is a piece of metal that spans from one side of the freezer to the other between two gears, also called index rollers. It sits in the freezer behind the drawer and storage bin. It anchors and stabilizes the index rollers on the track that the freezer drawer slides on.

Important: The next three steps cover how to put this back in place if it has fallen out. If it's already in place, you can skip to step 7.


This is what it should look like when it's in place:

Index roller bar in place

This is what it might look like if it's fallen out (or it may have fallen among the food in the basket):

Index roller bar fallen out 

4
Find the clip.

If the index roller bar has been dislodged and fallen out of place, first locate the small plastic clip that holds the bar in place, which will most likely be lying on the bottom of the freezer compartment.

Index roller bar clip

Important: The clip is necessary to keep the bar in place. Even if the clip was dislodged and fell out of place, it is very rare for it to actually break.

Find the clip.

If the index roller bar has been dislodged and fallen out of place, first locate the small plastic clip that holds the bar in place, which will most likely be lying on the bottom of the freezer compartment.

Index roller bar clip

Important: The clip is necessary to keep the bar in place. Even if the clip was dislodged and fell out of place, it is very rare for it to actually break.

5
Insert the metal rod into the gears on each side, with the hole on the right side.

The bar is not symmetrical since it has a hole near one end and not the other. The end with the hole in it should go into the gear on the right.

End of roller index bar with hole in it going to the right

And the other end of the metal rod (without the hole) goes into the gear on the left.

End of index roller bar without hole going into gear on the left

Insert the metal rod into the gears on each side, with the hole on the right side.

The bar is not symmetrical since it has a hole near one end and not the other. The end with the hole in it should go into the gear on the right.

End of roller index bar with hole in it going to the right

And the other end of the metal rod (without the hole) goes into the gear on the left.

End of index roller bar without hole going into gear on the left

6
Put the clip in the hole in the bar.

This clip prevents the bar from sliding back and forth and falling out.

Clip held near hole in index roller bar

After inserting the clip, tug on the bar slightly to ensure that it is securely in place.

Clip inserted in index roller bar

Put the clip in the hole in the bar.

This clip prevents the bar from sliding back and forth and falling out.

Clip held near hole in index roller bar

After inserting the clip, tug on the bar slightly to ensure that it is securely in place.

Clip inserted in index roller bar

7
Put the storage bin and drawer back in the freezer.
If you still have food in these, be gentle when putting them back into place.
Put the storage bin and drawer back in the freezer.
If you still have food in these, be gentle when putting them back into place.
8
Slowly slide the door in until it is 6 to 8 inches open, and then close it firmly, without slamming.

Important: Use only enough force to ensure the index rollers shift back into place.

Freezer door open 

Slowly slide the door in until it is 6 to 8 inches open, and then close it firmly, without slamming.

Important: Use only enough force to ensure the index rollers shift back into place.

Freezer door open 

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