LG Washing Machine Error Codes
LG front-load and top-load washers use direct-drive motors and self-diagnostic codes on the display or ThinQ app. Most faults relate to drain performance, load balance, or the door lock before spin.
General troubleshooting
Try these checks before opening a specific error code page—they resolve many LG washing machine faults without parts.
- 1Unplug the washer for 15 minutes to reset the inverter board, then run a Spin Only cycle with an empty drum
- 2Clean the pump filter behind the lower front panel and confirm the drain hose has a high loop without kinks
- 3Level the washer with a bubble level on top—adjust front legs until stable, then tighten lock nuts
- 4Use HE detergent only and run Tub Clean monthly on models like WM4000HWA and WM3900HWA
- 5Verify both hot and cold supply valves are fully open and inlet screens are not clogged with sediment
Common symptoms
Owners often search for a code after noticing one of these issues on their LG washing machine:
- Water left in the tub after the cycle finishes (often OE or dE)
- Washer stops before high-speed spin with UE on the display
- Drum won't turn and LE appears even on light loads
- Long fill times or IE when both supply valves are open
- Excess vibration or banging during spin after years of use
All LG washing machine error codes
| Code | What it means | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| AE | Auto shutoff from leak detectionAE indicates an Auto Error shutoff related to leak or overflow protection on certain LG models. The machine stopped incoming water and locked out further operation until the leak path is identified and dried. | View fix → |
| CE | Communication error between boardsCE is a Communication Error between the main control board and the sub-PCB or display module. Cycles may freeze mid-program or the panel may flash CE without responding to buttons. | View fix → |
| CL | Child Lock active—not a mechanical faultCL is Child Lock, not a failure code. LG disables cycle selection and temperature buttons so children cannot start or change a wash. The display may flash CL when any locked button is pressed. | View fix → |
| DE | Door lock fault—control did not receive locked confirmation before fillLG washing machine dE (also shown as dE1 or dE2 on some displays) means the door lock circuit did not confirm a secure lock before the cycle proceeded to fill or spin. The main PCB energizes the door lock motor; a switch in the latch assembly must report locked status. If clothing jams the gasket, if the strike is misaligned, or if the lock motor or switch fails, dE appears within seconds of start. This is the LG washer door code—not LG dishwasher display variants. WM3400CW and WM4000HWA front loaders share the same latch family; related OE on LG refers to dishwasher drain, not washer dE. | View fix → |
| FE | Overfill or water entering unexpectedlyFE is a Fill Error tied to overfill detection. The pressure switch or water level sensor reports more water than expected—sometimes because an inlet valve stuck open, the pressure hose disconnected, or the drain failed and water accumulated between cycles. | View fix → |
| FF | Freeze detection or frozen fill linesFF indicates Freeze Fault detection. LG washers in garages or unheated spaces can trigger FF when inlet water or internal lines approach freezing—the machine locks out fill to prevent ice damage to valves and hoses. | View fix → |
| HE | Heater circuit not heating waterHE on select LG washers with internal heaters means the element did not bring wash water to the target temperature within the programmed time. Models without a heater may show HE for a related heating or thermistor fault—check your manual. | View fix → |
| IE | No water detected during fillIE is an Inlet Error. The inlet valves opened but the water level sensor never registered a rise within the fill timeout—so the board assumes no water entered the tub. | View fix → |
| LE | Locked motor—rotor position sensor did not confirm drum rotationLG washing machine LE indicates a Locked Motor fault—the inverter drive energizes the stator but the rotor position sensor (RPS/hall sensor) does not confirm expected drum movement within the detection window. This is unrelated to Samsung LE (leak). On WM4000HWA and WM3900HWA direct-drive platforms, LE commonly traces to a failed hall sensor 6501KW2002A ($12–35), foreign object jamming the drum, or a seized bearing—not the main PCB as a first guess. The sensor mounts on the stator at the rear; resistance typically reads 5–15 kΩ at room temperature depending on pin pair. | View fix → |
| NE | Wi-Fi or SmartThinQ network faultnE is a Network Error on LG smart washers with Wi-Fi. The onboard Wi-Fi module failed to connect or lost pairing with the SmartThinQ app—it typically does not prevent manual washing but blocks remote start and notifications. | View fix → |
| OE | Water won't drain from the tubOE is LG's Outlet Error. The drain pump ran but water remained in the tub after the allowed drain window—about 5–7 minutes on most front-loaders, or up to 13 minutes on some top-load models. The washer stops before spin to avoid leaving a full tub. | View fix → |
| PE | Water level sensor faultPE indicates a Pressure Error—the water level sensor is not sending a valid signal to the main board. The washer may refuse to fill, drain, or advance cycles because it cannot determine how much water is in the tub. | View fix → |
| PF | Power interrupted mid-cyclePF is a Power Failure code—not a component fault. The control board lost AC power during a cycle from a tripped breaker, brief outage, or someone unplugging the unit. LG stores enough state to offer resume on some models. | View fix → |
| SE | Motor speed sensor mismatchSE is a Sensor Error on the motor circuit. The hall sensor reported drum speed that did not match what the inverter board commanded—often appearing after repeated LE events or following a power surge. | View fix → |
| TE | Thermistor reading out of rangetE is a Thermistor Error. The NTC sensor that reports wash water temperature sent a resistance value outside the expected range—open circuit, short, or a reading that never changes during heated cycles. | View fix → |
| U5 | Door lock cannot release after cycleu5 reports Unable to Unlock—the door lock motor energized to release but the latch never reported an open position within the timeout. Water may still be in the tub, which is why LG blocks the door until the fault clears or you drain manually. | View fix → |
| UE | Load unbalanced before high-speed spinUE is an Unbalanced Error. Before reaching full spin speed, LG washers measure drum movement; if weight is piled on one side, the machine pauses and displays UE rather than shake violently. Single heavy items like bath mats are a frequent trigger. | View fix → |
17 codes documented with causes, fixes, and affected models.