How to Reset a Bosch Dishwasher (Every Method)

Quick Answer

To reset a Bosch dishwasher, press and hold the Start button for 3 to 5 seconds until the display clears. If the unit is unresponsive, turn off the circuit breaker for 60 seconds to perform a hard reset.

Most of the time when your Bosch throws a fit, it doesn't need a new part. It just needs a restart. I've shown up to jobs where somebody waited three days for a tech and all the machine needed was a 5-second button hold. Ignore a frozen panel too long and the control board can lock itself into a fault state that gets harder to clear. Start here before you do anything else.

BoschDishwasher

How to Reset Your Bosch Dishwasher

OK so here's the deal. There's no button on these machines that literally says 'Reset,' which trips up basically everyone the first time. The Start button does double duty. Hold it 3-5 seconds and it kicks off a cancel/drain sequence that unsticks whatever the control board got hung up on. Works on the 100, 300, 500, and 800 series going back to around 2008. Older machines have their own quirks but we'll cover those too.

Most Likely Causes

Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:

Temporary error code triggered by power fluctuation40%

Cycle interrupted by door opening or power outage24%

Error code that may clear with a reset before deeper diagnosis22%

Child lock or delay start accidentally activated14%

Symptoms You May Notice

The dishwasher just sits there with the door closed, Start button lit up, but nothing actually happens when you press it
An error code showed up on the display mid-cycle or right when you went to start a new one
Stuck halfway through a wash with water still sitting in the bottom, won't drain and won't continue
All the indicator lights blinking at once or cycling through some weird pattern you've never seen before
Panel feels completely dead, like none of the buttons are registering at all

Tools Required for Diagnosis

None required

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

Did the reset not work?

If the problem comes back after following these steps, a component has permanently failed and needs replacement. Check the specific error code your dishwasher is showing:

HUB Error →DIAG Error →

Frequently Asked Questions

Does resetting a Bosch dishwasher delete my settings?

No, and this is something people stress about way more than they should. A quick reset, the hold-Start-for-5-seconds kind, just cancels the current cycle and clears whatever error code was in active memory. Your delay start preferences, your cycle selections, all that stays put. A hard reset through the circuit breaker is the same deal on modern Bosch machines, it doesn't wipe user settings. The only thing that actually clears everything back to factory defaults is a full service-mode reset, and you'd have to know the specific tech sequence to even get there.

How long should I leave it unplugged to reset a Bosch?

60 seconds is the number. That's how long it takes for the control board capacitors to fully drain down. 30 seconds works most of the time, honestly, but if you're trying to clear a stubborn fault code, go the full minute. Also heads up: most Bosch dishwashers aren't plugged into an outlet. They're hardwired into a junction box under the machine, so 'unplugging it' isn't really an option. The circuit breaker is your method. If yours happens to be on a standard outlet, you can pull the plug instead, just still wait the full 60 seconds before plugging back in.

My Bosch won't reset. What now?

Start with the obvious: is the door fully latched? The door switch has to send the 'door closed' signal to the control board before it'll do anything at all. If the door's latching fine and it's still not responding to the Start hold or the breaker reset, you're probably looking at one of two things. Either the door latch assembly is failing and not actually registering as closed, or the control board itself has a hardware fault. Check for an active error code. Anything in the E01 through E09 range usually points toward board or sensor issues. At that point you're past reset territory and probably looking at a part swap.

Will a reset fix E24 or E15?

Technically it'll clear the display, sure. But here's the thing: it'll be back within one cycle. E24 is a drain error, usually a clogged filter or kinked drain hose. E15 means water got into the base pan and the flood sensor tripped. A reset clears the code but does absolutely nothing about the clogged filter or the water sitting in the bottom of the machine. For E24, pull the filter out and clean it, then check that the drain hose isn't kinked behind the machine. For E15 you've got to tilt the machine forward slightly to drain the base pan and then track down whatever leaked. Fix the actual problem first. Then reset.

Do all Bosch dishwashers reset the same way?

Pretty much yeah. Anything made from around 2008 onward uses the Start/Reset hold method. 100 series, 300, 500, 800, doesn't matter what series it is. Three to five seconds, drain pump runs, you're done. The hidden control models where all the buttons are on the top edge of the door work exactly the same way, you just have to open the door a crack to reach up to the controls. Pre-2008 machines are the weird ones that use the 3-button combo sequence instead. If you've got an older unit and the Start hold isn't doing anything, try the combo method in Step 3 above.

How do I know if child lock is on?

Most Bosch models show a small key icon or the letters 'CL' on the display when child lock is active. If you're pressing Start and absolutely nothing happens, no sounds, no lights changing, nothing, that's a classic child lock symptom. To turn it off, press and hold the button that has a key symbol or padlock icon for about 3-4 seconds until the icon disappears. On some models that button doubles as something else like Sanitize or Dry Plus. Bosch moved it around a lot across different series so if you can't find it, a quick search for your specific model number plus 'child lock' will get you there faster than guessing.

Related Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes

Code: HUBBosch Dishwasher Error Codes: Complete List Code: DIAGHow to Enter Bosch Dishwasher Diagnostic Mode

Same Fix on Other Brands

Miele dishwasherMiele Dishwasher Reset Guide Ge dishwasherGE Dishwasher Reset: All Methods

Same Fix Works on These Brands

Bosch shares the same hardware platform with these brands. The diagnosis and repair steps are identical.

Bosch dishwasherBosch E09: Heating Element Not Working Bosch dishwasherBosch E17 Error: Too Much Water Coming In Bosch dishwasherBosch E11 Error: Temperature Sensor (NTC) Fault Bosch dishwasherBosch Dishwasher Troubleshooting: 15 Problems, Fixed Bosch dishwasherBosch E92 Error: Control Board Communication Fix Bosch dishwasherBosch E92-40: Board Configuration Mismatch

Models Known to Experience RESET Errors

This repair applies to most Bosch dishwashers with this error code. Common model numbers include:

SHPM88Z75N, SHPM88Z55N, SHE3AR75UC, SHEM63W55N, SHPM65Z55N, SHE3AR72UC, SHDF78Z55N, SHEM78ZH5N, SHPM98Z75N, SHPK7ZL55N

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 14, 2026