If you’ve just bought a new Samsung refrigerator or revived it from storage, the first thing you want to know is how to turn it on. Likewise – if you’re going away for an extended period, you’ll want to turn it off to save energy.
In this article, I’ll cover exactly how to do this, as well as how to get your fridge back to life when it looks to be off or is unresponsive.
How to Turn On a Samsung Refrigerator
Make sure it’s connected to the mains power, then locate either the power button, ON OFF switch, or press and hold the top two left buttons for 8-10 seconds (until the refrigerator chimes).
How to Turn Off a Samsung Refrigerator
Locate either the power button, ON OFF switch, or press and hold the top two left buttons for 8-10 seconds (until the refrigerator chimes).
If this doesn’t work, you can do a reset instead by turning it off at the mains for 5-10 minutes.
How to Turn On a Samsung Refrigerator Ice Maker
Check that your Ice Maker OFF option is illuminated, then press and hold Ice Maker for 3-5 seconds to turn the ice maker on.
How to Turn Off a Samsung Refrigerator Ice Maker
Check that your Ice Maker OFF option is not illuminated, then press and hold Ice Maker for 3-5 seconds to turn the ice maker off.
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How to Turn On a Samsung Refrigerator Display
Open the fridge door with the display, and on the top right, you’ll find a grey cover which, once removed, houses a red switch. Simply press this the other way to turn the display back on.
How to Turn Off a Samsung Refrigerator Display
Open the fridge door with the display, and on the top right, you’ll find a grey cover which, once removed, houses a red switch. Simply press this the other way to turn the display off.
How to Turn On a Samsung Refrigerator After Defrosting
If you have completed a manual defrost, make sure it’s re-connected to the mains power, then locate either the power button, ON OFF switch, or press and hold the top two left buttons for 8-10 seconds (until the refrigerator chimes).
How to Turn On a Samsung Refrigerator After Cleaning
Make sure it’s re-connected to the mains power, then locate either the power button, ON OFF switch, or press and hold the top two left buttons for 8-10 seconds (until the refrigerator chimes).
The Display is on, but the Temperature is Stuck on 88 (or 88 88)
This usually means there’s been a power outage recently, and the refrigerator hasn’t powered back up correctly. It’s most common for French Door models.
How to fix
You can fix this by doing a hard reset – simply turn it off at the mains for 5-10 minutes, then turn it back on.
The Display is on but Unresponsive
If the display is on, but none of the buttons are working – it’s possible that your Control Lock or Child Lock has been turned on by mistake. If ‘SB’ is showing, refer to the ‘Sabbath Mode’ section below.
How to fix
If Your Control Panel is Inside the Door
If you need to amend your settings, simply press the Door Alarm button for 3-5 seconds until you hear a chime. If the lock times out before you’ve changed all the settings you need, simply press the button again to give yourself more time.
If this doesn’t work, you can check your user manual. If you’ve lost it, take a note of the model number and search for it here.
If Your Control Panel is Outside the Door
If your model has an Ice Maker Off button on the control panel – typically above the Water/Ice button, simply press and hold for 3-5 seconds or until the fridge chimes.
If this doesn’t work, you can check your user manual. If you’ve lost it, take a note of the model number and search for it here.
If You Have a Smart Fridge or Family Hub Model
If you have a smart fridge, you can connect it to the SmartThings App.
You can use the Samsung refrigerator diagnostic function to work out what the problem is.
Open the App > About Devices > Self Check > Start Now.
For more details, read our guide on how to unlock a Samsung refrigerator.
The Fridge is Cooling, but Sb/sb is on the Display (Sabbath Mode)
In Sabbath mode, the fridge will continue to cool, but you can’t change any settings.
How to fix
How to turn this off varies on the model, but it’s a combination of buttons that you should press and hold for 3-5 seconds; Door Alarm and Water/Ice OR Freezer and Door Alarm OR Power Freeze and Power Cool.
The Display is on, but the Fridge Isn’t Cooling
If your refrigerator has power but is showing OF OF, OFF, OFF OFF, or has cascading bars on the display – it’s actually in Demo Mode (the OFF means cooling functionality is deactivated).
If you have a family hub model – all compartments in the Fridge Manager will show as ‘OFF’.
How to fix
What buttons you need to press will depend on the make and model, but if you don’t have the owner’s manual, I’ve listed the most common options for each refrigerator type below.
For Left-Door Control Panels With 6 Buttons (Made Before 2015)
Press and hold the top two buttons on the left-hand side for 8-10 seconds (until you hear a chime).
For Left-Door Control Panels With 6 Buttons (Made After 2015)
Press and hold the top two buttons on the left-hand side, AND the top button on the right-hand side, for 8-10 seconds (until you hear a chime).
For Left-Door Control Panels With 4 Buttons
Press and hold the top two buttons on the left-hand side, AND the top button on the right-hand side, for 8-10 seconds (until you hear a chime).
For Family Hub Models
Click Apps > Fridge Manager > Fridge Settings > Cooling Off > Deactivate > Proceed.
For Models With a Panel on the Door Frame
Press and hold Power Freeze AND Freezer for 8-10 seconds (until you hear a chime). If this doesn’t work, try the same process but include the Fridge button too.
If you don’t have these options, try holding Ice Off AND Freezer instead, again for 8-10 seconds (until you hear a chime).
For Models With a Panel on Top of the Flex Compartment
Unlock the panel first by pressing and holding Control Lock for 3 seconds.
Then press and hold Ice Maker AND Auto Water Fill AND Door Alarm for 8-10 seconds (until you hear a chime).
For Models With a Panel Inside (On Right Wall – Made Before 2021)
Press and hold Freeze AND FlexZone for 6-8 seconds (until the display blinks), then press Door Alarm.
For Upright Convertible Models
Press and hold Temp AND Power Freeze AND Lock for 5-7 seconds (until you hear a chime).
For BESPOKE Models
Press and hold < AND > for 6 seconds, then press O.
For Kimchi 4-Door Models
Unlock the panel first by pressing and holding Lock for 3 seconds, then press and hold Ferment AND Preserve AND Lock for 5-7 seconds.
Read also: Samsung Refrigerator Not Cooling – Why & How to Fix
