Samsung Washer Error Codes: What They Mean and What to Do

Your Samsung washer has stopped and shows a code. Many codes point to something you can check yourself: a blocked filter, a kinked hose, a closed tap (faucet), an open door or a lopsided load. Others mean an internal fault, where the only safe step is a reset, then a technician.

This guide groups the codes by fault, using Samsung’s own support pages. Most checks need no tools. For other problems, see all our washing machine fixes.

Before you start: Unplug the washer at the mains (outlet/power) before you touch filters or hoses. Turn off the taps before you disconnect an inlet hose. After a hot wash, allow about an hour for the water to cool (Samsung India). Never force a locked door or remove the back panel or base.

Codes vary by model: find yours first

Samsung Australia says error codes “will vary depending on location and/or where the product had been purchased” (Samsung Australia). So one fault can have several codes: nd, 5E, SE, 5C, SC and 1 5C all mean a drain error. And one code can mean two things: dC is a door error on some models, an unbalanced load on others (Samsung). Samsung UK also warns that 5 and S can look alike, as can 3 and E (Samsung UK).

So find your model number. On front-loaders it is usually around the door frame or seal, otherwise on the back. On top-loaders it is usually on the back (Samsung Canada). Then check your code in your model’s manual on Samsung’s support site.

No display? Some models blink lights instead. Treat them as an error only if the washer also misbehaves, such as stopping mid-cycle (Samsung US).

Find your code

• Drain: nd, 5E, 5C
• Water supply: 4C, 4E, nF
• Door: dE, dC, LO
• Unbalanced load: UE, Ub, Ur
• Suds: Sd, SUd
• Overflow and leak: OE, OC, LE, LC
• Power and buttons: PF, UC, E2
• Internal faults: 3E, HE, tE, AE

Drain codes: nd, 5E, 5C

Code	What Samsung says it means
nd, 5E, SE, 5C, SC, 1 5C	Water is not draining at the correct speed, or at all (Samsung).
E2 (some UK models)	A drainage issue (Samsung UK). Samsung US lists E2 as a jammed button (Samsung US).

Samsung’s steps: turn the washer off and check it is level, then inspect the drain hose. Clean the pump filter (front-loaders only) and start a cycle. A badly installed drain hose is the most common cause, and “service is rarely required” (Samsung India).

• Wait: the buttons are disabled for 3 minutes after a 5E or 5C code appears (Samsung UK).
• Hose height: for a standpipe, at least 60 cm (24 in) above the floor. No more than 150 mm (6 in) of hose should sit inside the pipe (Samsung UK).

Our guide for a washing machine that won’t drain covers each step in detail.

Stop if: the code returns with the filter and hose clear, or the pump is silent. The pump is a technician’s job.

Water supply codes: 4C, 4E, nF

Code	What Samsung says it means
nF, 4C, 4E, 1 4C	Water is not entering the washer correctly (Samsung).
nF1, 4C2, 4E2, CE, 14C2	Hot/cold error: the cold supply is extremely hot because the hoses are swapped. No service needed (Samsung).
E1, 7E (some Australian models)	A water supply issue (Samsung Australia). Samsung US lists 7E as a SilverCare error (Samsung US).

• Taps: open them fully and leave them open while the washer runs (Samsung US).
• Hoses: check them for kinks and damage (Samsung Ireland). Connect hot to hot and cold to cold, usually blue to blue and red to red (Samsung).
• Pressure: Samsung UK gives 0.5 to 8 bar (about 7 to 116 psi), and at least 4 litres (about 1 US gallon) a minute from the tap (Samsung UK).
• Drawer: a blocked detergent drawer can also cause 4C (Samsung Ireland).

Clean the inlet mesh filter

Samsung India says to clean it at least twice a year. Turn off the tap and unscrew the hose from the back of the washer. Ease the filter out of the hose end with pliers and rinse it. Refit everything, turn the tap on and check for leaks. Then switch the washer off and on (Samsung India).

Still showing? Unplug the washer or switch off its breaker for 1 minute, then try a cycle (Samsung US). Stop if the code continues: Samsung says to request service (Samsung). A faulty inlet valve is a technician’s job.

Door codes: dE, dC, LO

Code	What Samsung says it means
dS, d5, FL, LO, L0, dE, dE1, dE2, dC, dC1, dL, 1 dC, 1dC4, 1dC1	The door is not detected as closed and locked. On some models, dC means an unbalanced load (Samsung).
ddC, dC3	The Add Door is not detected as closed and locked (Samsung).
SDC, 5DC	The detergent drawer is not fully closed. It clicks when it is (Samsung).

• Door: check the latch is secure, nothing is caught in the door, and it is properly closed (Samsung).
• Child Lock: with Child Lock on and water in the tub, a door code can appear. Close the door or turn off Child Lock within 30 seconds, or the washer drains the tub (Samsung).

Stop if: the door or latch is damaged, or the code won’t clear (Samsung). Replacing the door lock means working on wiring, so call a technician.

Unbalanced load codes: UE, Ub, Ur

Code	What Samsung says it means
Ub, U6, UE, 1 Ub, 1U6, E4	The load is unbalanced, so the cycle can’t finish (Samsung) (Samsung UK).
Ur	The washer is adding water and rebalancing before it retries the spin. Not a fault (Samsung US).

• Rearrange: untangle the laundry and spread it evenly, close the door and press Start (Samsung).
• Level: make sure the washer stands on a flat, stable surface (Samsung UK).
• Heavy items: a lone bath mat is unlikely to spin. Add 2 or 3 towels and spin again (Samsung UK).

Stop if: the code keeps returning with small, even loads on a level floor. Samsung Australia says to contact Samsung if it survives a power reset (Samsung Australia).

Suds codes: Sd, SUd

Code	What Samsung says it means
SUd, 5UD, Sd, 5d, SUdS, 5Ud5	Too many suds. The washer pauses for them to settle, then carries on. It’s caused by incorrect detergent use, and service isn’t needed (Samsung).

Use the correct amount of high-efficiency (HE) detergent (Samsung Australia). If the code won’t clear, run an Eco Drum Clean or an empty 90°C (194°F) cotton cycle with no detergent (Samsung UK). If you use a cleaning product, never mix bleach with vinegar or other cleaners: it releases toxic gas.

Overflow and leak codes: OE, OC, LE, LC

Code	What Samsung says it means
OE, 0E, OC, 0C, 1 OC, 1 0C	Too much water in the washer (Samsung). It could be a faulty sensor (Samsung Australia).
1E, LE, 1C, LC, LC1, 1 1C, 1 LC	Moisture where it doesn’t belong, or a sensor problem (Samsung).

• Overflow: too much detergent may be the cause. Switch off for 1 minute and back on: the pump should drain the machine (Samsung UK).
• Leak: look for a leak, even a small one, and check the rear hoses aren’t kinked. Don’t remove the screw on the back that holds the drain hose (Samsung).
• Suds test: run an empty cycle with no additives. Suds mean too much or non-HE detergent. Repeat until they stop (Samsung).

Stop if: water pools under the machine, the code returns, or water keeps coming in with the washer off. Turn off the taps and call a technician.

Power and button codes: PF, UC, E2

Code	What Samsung says it means
9C1, 9C2, PF, 2E, 9E1, 9E2, UC, 19C1, 19C2	Irregular power supply. PF also shows after a power cut, unplugging or a tripped breaker (Samsung).
E2, bE2, 6E2	A button is stuck or held down (Samsung).

For power codes, plug into a wall socket, not an extension lead (cord) (Samsung Australia), on its own circuit (Samsung US). For a stuck button, power off, then work each button back and forth (Samsung). If either code continues, request service.

Internal fault codes: call a technician

These codes mean a part inside the washer is reporting a problem (Samsung).

Code	What Samsung says it means
3E, 3C, E3, 1 3C	Motor (3E is a voltage error on some models)
bE, 6E	Motor speed sensor
HC, HE, HE1, Hr	Heater
tE, tE1, tC	Temperature sensor
AE, AC, AC6, AE6	Communication
8E, BE, 8C, BC	MEMS or vibration sensor
PC, PE, PC1, PE1	Clutch
IE, SF, 5F, Sr, 5r	System or system relay

Note: on some UK and Australian models, HC and HE mean a water temperature issue. Check the hose is on the cold supply first (Samsung UK).

Verdict: power off for 2 to 3 minutes, power back on and restart the cycle. If the code returns, request service (Samsung).

How to clear a Samsung error code

Fix the cause first: a reset won’t help while a hose is still kinked. Then follow Samsung’s steps:

• Samsung US: power off for 2 to 3 minutes, power back on, and restart the cycle (Samsung US).
• Samsung UK: switch off at the mains, wait 1 minute, switch back on and start a new programme (Samsung UK).

Some models drain first, and their buttons may not respond until they finish (Samsung Australia). If the code returns, stop and book a repair.

When to call a technician

Stop and call a technician if: a code returns after a reset and these checks; you see an internal fault code; water leaks from under the machine; it keeps filling while switched off; you smell burning; or the door or latch is damaged. Don’t open the back panel, base or control board, or tip the machine over. Some places legally require a licensed technician.

When you book, have the model number, serial number and exact code ready, and list the checks you’ve done.

Common questions

How do I reset my Samsung washer error code?

Fix the cause, then power off for 2 to 3 minutes and restart the cycle. Samsung UK says 1 minute off at the mains. If the code returns, book a repair.

What does nd mean on a Samsung washer?

nd is a drain error, in the same group as 5E, SE, 5C and SC: water isn’t draining properly. Check the drain hose and, on a front-loader, clean the pump filter.

Why does my Samsung washer say 4C?

Water isn’t getting in properly. Check the taps are fully open, the hoses aren’t kinked and the inlet filters are clean. 4C2 means the hot and cold hoses are swapped.

Sources

• Samsung washing machine information and error codes (Samsung Caribbean)
• Samsung washing machine information and error codes (Samsung US)
• What do the codes on my washing machine mean? (Samsung UK)
• How to resolve a 5E or 5C error code on a Samsung washing machine (Samsung UK)
• Samsung washing machine error codes (Samsung Australia)
• How to resolve 4C or 5C error codes on your Samsung washing machine (Samsung India)
• How to resolve a 4E or 4C error code on a washing machine (Samsung Ireland)
• Guide to finding the model and serial numbers of your Samsung washer or dryer (Samsung Canada)