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How to Reset a Samsung Washer (Including Calibration)

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Use the instructions for the exact model when you reset a Samsung washer. Samsung’s US support page gives a short power cycle for certain unlisted codes and for 4C. Its calibration instructions are separate and come from Samsung Singapore. The pages used here do not give one universal factory reset.

First identify what the display says

Write down the exact code before turning the washer off. Samsung’s page gives different actions for different messages. A general power cycle is not a substitute for a named code procedure, and calibration is not a general fix for every failure.

For codes not listed on Samsung’s US page, Samsung says to turn the washer off for two to three minutes, turn it back on and restart the cycle. The page also says to unplug the washer or switch off its circuit breaker for one minute for 4C. These steps are model and code guidance from Samsung; do not open an electrical panel or touch wiring. If the code returns, use the model manual or contact service.

The Samsung page says CL can be cleared by turning the washer off and on or disabling Child Lock. CL is a control-lock indication in the listed cases, not a factory reset. Use the button sequence shown on the actual control panel or in the manual. For common spin symptoms, see the washer not-spinning hub. If the code relates to drainage, the washer not-draining guide helps you check the visible hose and load without opening the machine.

Reset and calibration are different

A power cycle clears or restarts a control state in the specific cases described by Samsung. Calibration recalibrates the washer’s weight detection, which affects how much water it uses per cycle. Samsung Singapore recommends calibration before the first wash after installing or moving the washer. Calibration is not a repair for a locked door, a clogged drain or a mechanical fault.

Samsung Singapore’s instructions are regional. The button combinations may vary by model and market. Check the model manual and the control labels before starting. The washer must be empty for the calibration procedure listed in the source.

Front-load calibration (Samsung Singapore instructions)

  1. Empty the washer and turn it on.
  2. Hold Temp. and Delay End (+) together for three seconds until Cb appears.
  3. Press Start/Pause. Samsung says the calibration takes about three minutes.
  4. Let the cycle finish before using the washer.

Top-load calibration (Samsung Singapore instructions)

  1. Empty the washer and turn it on.
  2. Hold Temp. and Delay End together for three seconds.
  3. Hold Start/Pause as Samsung’s regional instructions describe. The display enters calibration.
  4. Let the cycle finish. Samsung says this top-load calibration takes about one minute.

Do not assume those button combinations fit every Samsung washer sold in the United States. If the controls do not match, stop and use the manual for the model number. The Samsung washer not-spinning guide explains the separate Cb/C6 calibration indication and other brand-specific codes.

Do not interrupt a software download

Samsung uses dn for a download in progress. The source says it usually takes around 15 minutes. Leave the washer powered and wait for the update to finish. If dn remains for more than 30 minutes and there is no Wi-Fi issue, Samsung directs the owner to service. Do not unplug the washer or restart it during the download.

When a reset does not help

If the code returns immediately after Samsung’s listed action, write down the model and code and contact support. A repeating code may need a specific inspection, part or model-specific process. Do not keep repeating power cycles when the manufacturer says the machine needs service.

The current support pages do not describe a factory-reset sequence that erases all settings. Do not use a button combination found for a different model. If you need to clear a Wi-Fi connection, stored cycle or app pairing, use the manual for that exact model and the relevant SmartThings instructions.

What Samsung says a power cycle does

Samsung’s separate reset article is blunt: there is no true reset on its washers, and the closest thing is a power cycle. Unplug the washer or turn off its circuit breaker, wait about one to five minutes (Samsung says one to five minutes at most) for the electrical charge to clear, then power it back on. The power cycle clears all error codes from the washer’s memory. It does not fix whatever caused the code, so the code can come back.

That is why Samsung’s advice is to troubleshoot first and reset only when a reset is part of the troubleshooting steps. A reset is not a first reaction to trouble. If a code returns after a reset, Samsung says not to keep clearing it: each reset wipes the error history, which makes it harder for a technician to diagnose the problem. At that point, request service instead of cycling the power again.

Network reset on Wi-Fi models only

Samsung describes a second reset that applies only to washers with Wi-Fi. It erases the Wi-Fi and network information from the washer and does nothing for a mechanical or drain fault. On a Wi-Fi model, hold the Smart Control button until AP appears, which Samsung says takes about three seconds. Then hold the Temp button until OK appears, about seven seconds, after which the display returns to AP. Turn the washer off. The network information refreshes the next time you connect a device to it. If your washer has no Smart Control button, this does not apply; Samsung’s article does not list model numbers, so use the control labels on your own panel and the manual.

Which reset for which situation

Situation What Samsung’s pages support What not to expect
A code that is not listed on the US code page Turn off for two to three minutes, then restart the cycle A repair of the cause
4C Unplug or switch off the breaker for one minute A fix if it returns
Any code, general reset Power cycle of one to five minutes A permanent fix; it also erases the code history
CL on the display Turn the washer off and on, or disable Child Lock A factory reset
dn on the display Wait about 15 minutes; do not interrupt A reset
Wi-Fi or app pairing trouble Network reset on Wi-Fi models Any change to washing performance
First wash after installing or moving Calibration with an empty drum A repair for a locked door or clogged drain

If you are not sure which row you are in, write down the code and model number first. The reset that costs the least and loses the least information is a single power cycle for the code Samsung lists; anything beyond that belongs to Samsung support or a technician.

Frequently asked questions

Does Samsung publish a factory reset for every washer?

The Samsung pages used here do not give a universal factory-reset procedure. They list specific actions for certain codes and a separate calibration mode.

Should I turn off a washer displaying dn?

No. Samsung says dn indicates a software download that takes about 15 minutes. Do not interrupt it. If it lasts beyond 30 minutes without a Wi-Fi issue, contact service.

Does calibration reset the washer's settings?

Samsung Singapore describes calibration as recalibrating weight detection, which affects water per cycle. It is a separate mode, not the power-cycle step for a displayed code.

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