How to Reset a Refrigerator: Every Brand Reset Method
Quick Answer
To reset most refrigerators, unplug from the wall for 5 minutes then plug back in. For Samsung, hold the Power Freeze and Power Cool buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds. For LG, hold the Refrigerator and Ice Plus buttons for 5 seconds.
When a fridge starts acting up or throwing a code, a reset is usually the first thing to try. The reason you unplug for 5 full minutes (not 30 seconds) is the compressor needs that time to equalize refrigerant pressure before it can safely restart. Skip that wait and you risk the compressor kicking on against pressure it can't overcome. After any reset, give it 24 hours before you declare it fixed or broken.
GenericRefrigerator80% DIY Success
How to Reset Your Generic Refrigerator
Resetting a refrigerator sounds simple but there's honestly more to it than yanking the plug. Different brands have totally different button combos, the compressor needs a specific wait time or it won't restart right, and the ice maker has its own separate reset most people don't know about. I've shown up to plenty of service calls where the homeowner already tried unplugging it but only waited 10 seconds, which basically does nothing for the compressor.
Common Causes
- Control board locked up after a power surge or brownout and is now showing a fault code that won't clear on its own, even though the underlying hardware is actually fine.
- The ice maker stopped cycling completely and the bail arm is down but the motor isn't running, usually because the ice maker's internal thermostat got confused after a temperature fluctuation.
- Temperature readings look wrong on the display even though the fridge compartment is actually cold inside, which points to a sensor glitch rather than a real cooling failure.
- You just replaced a part (inlet valve, defrost heater, fan motor) and need to clear stored fault codes before the board will let the new component operate normally.
- After a long power outage the compressor protection timer triggered and now the fridge won't cool even though power is restored and everything else seems to be working fine.
- The control panel got stuck in demo mode or showroom mode accidentally, which happens way more often than you'd think on Samsung and LG models that got bumped during a move.
Symptoms You May Notice
- Fridge is running (you can hear it humming) but the display shows dashes, a flashing error code, or just won't respond to any button press no matter what you try.
- Temperature inside is warmer than it should be even though the compressor sounds like it's trying to run and the fans are spinning.
- Ice maker is just doing absolutely nothing. No cycling, no dropping ice, bail arm is down, but the bucket's been empty for two days straight.
- The display shows the correct set temperature but the actual food inside is way warmer, or the display keeps flashing the set point like it's caught in some kind of loop.
- After a power outage the fridge came back on but the cooling is inconsistent or the compressor is short-cycling every few minutes and then cutting off.
Tools Required for Diagnosis
Phillips #2 screwdriver (for removing ice maker module cover on most brands)Flathead screwdriver (for prying off control panel covers on older models)Multimeter (for testing 120V at outlet and checking compressor start relay continuity)Flashlight or phone light (for seeing behind the unit and into ice maker compartment)Pen or toothpick (for pressing recessed test button on Samsung ice makers)
Diagnostic Checklist
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I actually need to leave my refrigerator unplugged to reset it?
Five minutes minimum, and I mean that literally. A lot of people try 30 seconds and wonder why nothing changed. The control board itself clears fast, but that's not what you're waiting for. You're waiting for the refrigerant pressure in the system to equalize so the compressor can restart without fighting high head pressure on the discharge side. If it tries to start too soon it'll struggle, kick out on its thermal overload, and you're right back where you started. After a power outage where the power flickered a lot before going out, I'd honestly go 10-15 minutes just to be safe.
My Samsung fridge display works and the lights are on but it's not cooling at all. What's going on?
That's almost certainly demo mode, also called showroom mode or 'OF OF' mode. The display and lighting work fine but the compressor is disabled on purpose. It's meant for display floors so stores don't have to run the cooling system 24/7. It gets triggered accidentally more than you'd think, usually from someone leaning on the panel or kids pressing buttons. To exit it, hold the Energy Saver and Power Freeze buttons together for about 5 seconds until you hear a chime. If your model has different buttons, check the label on the inside of the door frame, Samsung usually prints the demo mode reset right there.
The reset cleared my error code but now the same code came back the next day. Does that mean the board is bad?
Not necessarily the board, but it definitely means something real is wrong and a reset isn't going to fix it. The board is just logging what the sensors are telling it. If the code keeps coming back, that component or sensor is genuinely failing. Most common repeat codes are defrost sensor failures (the sensor reads open circuit), evaporator fan motors that are starting to seize up (you might hear them getting louder or scraping before they quit completely), or door gaskets that are letting warm humid air in and causing frost buildup that triggers defrost errors over and over. You need to diagnose the actual cause, not keep clearing the code.
Will resetting my fridge mess up my temperature settings?
Yeah, probably. After a full power reset most fridges go back to factory defaults, which is typically around 37 degrees for the fridge and 0 degrees for the freezer. Those are actually solid target temps so if that's where you had them you're fine. Just check the display after it's been running for a couple hours and adjust if needed. Some Samsung models retain settings through a soft button reset but lose them on a full power cycle. Either way it's a 10-second fix, don't stress it.
My fridge came back on after a power outage but the compressor just clicks and won't start. Is it dead?
Probably not dead, just tripped. The compressor has a start relay that helps it get up to speed, and a thermal overload protector that cuts power if it overheats. After power outages with multiple flickers, both of these can trip. Unplug, wait 15 minutes this time, try again. If it still just clicks without running, pull that start relay off the side of the compressor (two wire connectors, usually a small plastic block). Shake it. If it rattles like there's a marble loose inside, the relay is bad. New one runs about 10 to 20 bucks online and takes 10 minutes to swap out, it's honestly one of the easiest fridge repairs there is.
Is there any situation where I shouldn't reset the refrigerator?
If your fridge has been warm for more than 4 hours, deal with the food safety question before you worry about the reset. Anything perishable that's been above 40 degrees for 4 hours needs to go. The reset isn't going to speed up cooling, so check what you're working with first. Also, and this should go without saying, if there's any kind of gas smell in the kitchen don't mess with appliances at all. Fridges don't use gas but a nearby gas line could be the issue, and chasing a fridge reset while there's a gas leak happening is absolutely the wrong move. Ventilate and call the gas company first.
Models Known to Experience HOW-RESET Errors
This repair applies to most Generic refrigerators with this error code. Common model numbers include:
Samsung RF28R7351SR, Samsung RF23M8570SG, LG LRMVS3006S, LG LRFXS2503S, Whirlpool WRS325SDHZ, GE GFE26JYMFS, GE Profile PFE28KBLTS, Maytag MFI2570FEZ
MS
Last verified for technical accuracy on March 17, 2026