If your Whirlpool refrigerator control panel isn’t working – it’s possible that one of the lock functions has been activated accidentally.
While these locks are an important safety feature, especially with small children running around, they can cause undue stress when activated unintentionally.
If you’re trying to change a setting such as the temperature or type of ice being dispensed, and the panel is either non-responsive, chimes, or you see ‘CONTROL LOCKED’ on the display screen – it’s likely that the control lock described below is active.
When on, this lock can prevent changes to:
- Fridge and freezer temperature settings
- Water dispenser settings
- Ice-maker settings
Whirlpool Refrigerator Control Lock/Child Lock
The vast majority of Whirlpool models only have one combined Control, Dispenser, and Child Lock; if it’s on, the display screen will read ‘CONTROL LOCKED’ when you try to press buttons or change any settings.
As a result, you’ll be unable to update any temperature settings, dispense water or ice, or change from crushed to cubed ice – until the Control Lock is disabled.
How to Turn On Control Lock
To turn the Control Lock on, simply press and hold the ‘TO LOCK’ button for 3-5 seconds until the display screen confirms the lock has been turned on.
How to Turn Off Control Lock
To turn the Control Lock off, simply press and hold the ‘TO LOCK’ button for 3-5 seconds until the display screen confirms the lock has been turned off.
If your control panel is unresponsive, you can reset it by turning the refrigerator off at the mains power for 5 minutes before turning it back on and trying again.
If these options don’t work, you can check your user manual.
Other Reasons Your Whirlpool Control Panel Isn’t Working
If you’ve run through the list, and none of the locks are active – but your control panel still isn’t responding, you’ll need to complete further troubleshooting to find the source of the problem.
As with mobile phones, the easiest fix for many bugs is a ‘hard reset’ which is completed by powering your refrigerator off at the mains power for 30 minutes – before turning it back on.
If this doesn’t work, it indicates there’s likely an electrical fault, either with the control panel itself or with the wiring. Unless you’re confident with electrical DIY, I’d advise contacting a professional at this point.
