samsung refrigerator error codes

A blinking code on your Samsung display is the fridge telling you exactly what hurts. This guide decodes every common Samsung refrigerator error code. You will learn what each one means and the real fix for each. You will also learn how to reset a Samsung refrigerator and what the SUD code means on a Samsung washer.

Samsung refrigerator error codes: the full list

Samsung codes look like 22E, 8E, or 39E. The letters tell you the part family. Codes ending in E point to sensors and components in the cooling system. Write down the exact code before you do anything. It is the most useful thing you can tell a tech.

How to read the code on your display

The code appears on the temperature display, usually where the fridge temperature normally shows. Some models show it after you press a button. On many models, press and hold the Energy Saver and Lighting buttons together for about 8 seconds. This enters diagnostic mode. The display will then show any stored codes. Button names vary by model, so check your manual if those two do not work.

Code	Meaning	What to do
1E	Freezer temperature sensor error	Check the sensor wiring. Replace the sensor if the code returns after reset.
4E	Freezer defrost sensor error	The defrost sensor has failed. Needs sensor replacement.
5E	Fridge defrost sensor error	Same as 4E, on the fridge side. Needs sensor replacement.
6E	Ambient temperature sensor error	Often appears after a power outage. Reset first. Replace the sensor if it persists.
8E	Ice maker sensor error	Check the ice maker wiring and sensor. Common on French door models.
21E	Freezer fan error	The freezer evaporator fan has failed or iced up. Defrost fully, then replace the fan if needed.
22E	Fridge fan error	The fridge evaporator fan has failed. Fridge warms while freezer stays cold.
23E	Condenser fan error	The fan by the compressor has failed. Clean it. Replace if it will not spin.
24E	Freezer defrost error	The defrost system is not clearing ice. Check the heater and thermostat.
25E	Fridge defrost error	Same as 24E, on the fridge side.
26E	Ice maker function error	The ice maker mechanism has failed. Often needs a full ice maker replacement.
39E	Ice maker function error	Similar to 26E. Ice maker is jammed or frozen. Defrost the ice maker box.
40E	Ice maker fan or sensor error	The fan that cools the ice maker compartment has failed. Defrost, then replace if it returns.
41C	Family Hub disconnect	The smart display lost its connection. Reboot the fridge and check WiFi.
83E, 85E, 86E	PBA inverter voltage or current fault	Often triggered by a power outage or surge. Reset the fridge. Call a tech if it returns.

The codes techs see most

22E is the big one. The fridge evaporator fan stops moving cold air upstairs. The symptom matches our freezer cold fridge warm guide. The freezer keeps freezing while the fridge warms. Ice on the fan is a common cause. A full 24 hour defrost sometimes clears it. If the code comes back, the fan motor is dead and needs replacement.

Ice maker codes: 8E, 26E, 39E, and 40E. Samsung French door models from 2015 to 2022 are famous for ice maker freeze ups. Warm air leaks into the ice maker box, condenses, and builds an ice dam. The sensors then report errors. A manual defrost of the ice maker compartment buys time. If the codes keep returning, the ice maker assembly usually needs replacement. Our Samsung refrigerator page covers this failure in full.

83E, 85E, and 86E follow power problems. These codes relate to voltage and current at the inverter board. They often appear after an outage or surge. A simple power reset clears them in many cases. If the code returns on clean power, the inverter board or compressor circuit needs professional testing. Do not keep resetting it.

Sensor codes (1E, 4E, 5E, 6E) are straightforward. A thermistor has failed or its wiring came loose. Sensors are cheap parts. The labor is finding and reaching them. A tech replaces the failed sensor and verifies the reading.

How to reset a Samsung refrigerator

Resetting clears temporary faults and lets you see which codes come back. A code that returns after a reset is a real fault. A code that stays gone was a glitch.

The power reset. Unplug the fridge from the wall. Wait five full minutes. Plug it back in. Wait for the display to come back and check for codes. This clears most temporary errors, including the voltage codes that follow power outages.

The button reset. On many models, pressing and holding the Power Freeze and Power Cool buttons together resets the control. Hold them for a few seconds. Button names vary. Check your manual for your model.

The diagnostic test mode. Hold the Energy Saver and Lighting buttons together for about 8 seconds. The fridge runs a forced test cycle and shows stored codes on the display. This is a diagnostic tool, not a fix. Write down what it shows.

A reset is not a repair. If 22E returns, the fan is still dead. If 39E returns, the ice maker is still jammed. Repeated resets while food warms just wastes time. Note the code, note what you tried, and call a tech with both facts ready.

What does SUD mean on a Samsung washer

SUD is a washer code, not a fridge code. It appears on Samsung washing machines and means the machine detected too many suds. This usually comes from using too much detergent or using regular detergent in a high efficiency machine.

The washer will pause and try to clear the foam on its own. Let it finish. Then run an empty rinse and spin cycle to flush the drum. Switch to HE detergent and use less of it. Most HE loads need only one to two tablespoons. Oversudsing can also trigger drain errors, since foam confuses the water level sensor.

Here are other common Samsung washer codes. 5E or nd means a drain problem. 4E or nF means a fill problem. dE means the door is not locked. UE means an unbalanced load. Our Samsung washer page covers washer specific repairs.

When an error code means call a tech

Some codes are DIY friendly. Others are not. Call a tech for any of these.

• Any fan code (21E, 22E, 23E) that returns after a full defrost.
• Any defrost code (24E, 25E) that returns after a reset.
• Voltage codes (83E, 85E, 86E) that persist on clean power.
• Any code paired with a warm fridge or warm freezer.
• Ice maker codes that keep returning after two manual defrosts.

Before the tech arrives, write down the exact code. Add your model number from the sticker inside the fridge and what you already tried. That is all a good tech needs to bring the right parts.

Samsung fridge showing a code that will not clear?

Error codes are useful, but only a hands on diagnosis finds the failed part for sure. Our techs work on Samsung fridges daily and stock the common sensors, fans, and ice maker parts. Call [TODO: phone number] to book. [TODO: business name] offers same day and next day Samsung refrigerator repair. We serve Milwaukee, Sacramento, and Grand Rapids. Tell us the code on your display when you call. We will tell you what it means before we roll a truck.