If the ice maker in your Kitchenaid refrigerator has stopped making ice altogether or as frequently, you might want to try resetting it to get it back up and running again.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the process of resetting your Kitchenaid ice maker and some troubleshooting tips for when resetting it doesn’t solve your problem.
Before Resetting, Try This First!
Before you reset your Kitchenaid ice maker, try these quick troubleshooting ideas first since a reset is recommended by Kitchenaid only as a last resort (and once a day, max!)
- If you’ve recently installed or relocated your fridge – give it 24 hours to settle in
- Check the freezer temperature is at or below -20°C / -4°F
- Follow the water line from the fridge to the mains connection – make sure it’s not leaking and there aren’t any kinks or other damage in the line
- Check the ice maker is turned on
Where is the Reset Button on My Kitchenaid Ice Maker?
The reset button is usually on the left-hand side of the ice maker but may be recessed and require a straightened paperclip to access.
When to Reset Your Kitchenaid Ice Maker
Resetting your Kitchenaid ice maker should only be a last resort – when there’s no ice being produced, and you’ve already tried other troubleshooting ideas.
You also don’t want to reset the ice maker more than once a day, as it can cause water to overflow, jammed ice, or even worst – permanently damage your ice maker and leave you with a hefty repair bill.
How to Reset a Kitchenaid Ice Maker
Check the ice maker is ON, then find and press the TEST or TEST/FILL button on the ice maker until it starts churning. The reset button is usually on the left-hand side but may be recessed and require a straightened paperclip to access.
How to Reset Kitchenaid Ice Maker With New Twist/Flex Tray
- Step 1 – Find the ON/OFF button on the left side of the ice maker, and make sure it’s ON
Note. If it’s off – turn it on and give the refrigerator 24 hours to start producing ice.
- Step 2 – Find, press and hold the TEST/FILL button until you hear movement in the ice maker
How to Reset Kitchenaid Ice Maker With Old Twist/Flex Tray
- Step 1 – Remove the ice bucket using the handles
- Step 2 – Find the ON/OFF button on the front of the ice maker, and make sure it’s ON
Note. If it’s off – turn it on and give the refrigerator 24 hours to start producing ice.
- Step 3 – Grab a towel and place it where the ice bucket should be
- Step 4 – Find and press the TEST button on the bottom left of the ice maker until you see the ice maker moving
If this hasn’t worked, you’ll need to reset the ice maker manually with the next steps.
- Step 5 – Hold the ice maker and shake it 2-3 times in an up/down motion – you should be firm but gentle
- Step 6 – Replace the ice bucket and turn the whole refrigerator off at the mains power for at least 30 seconds
- Step 7 – Turn the refrigerator back on
- Step 8 – Try steps 3 and 4 again
How to Reset Kitchenaid Ice Maker With Heater/Custom Cube
- Step 1 – Find the ON/OFF button on the front left of the ice maker, and make sure it’s ON
Note. If it’s off – turn it on and give the refrigerator 24 hours to start producing ice.
- Step 2 – Remove the ice bucket using the handles
- Step 3 – Grab a towel and place it where the ice bucket should be
- Step 4 – Find a thin piece of metal – a straightened paper clip is perfect!
- Step 5 – Locate the test button on the front left of the ice maker, it’s a small hole around ¼ inch in size – and use the paper clip to press it for 2-3 seconds
- Step 6 – Check that the ice maker has started moving
If this hasn’t worked, you’ll need to reset the ice maker manually with the next steps.
- Step 7 – Hold the ice maker and shake it 2-3 times in an up/down motion – you should be firm but gentle
- Step 8 – Replace the ice bucket and turn the whole refrigerator off at the mains power for at least 30 seconds
- Step 9 – Turn the refrigerator back on
- Step 10 – Try steps 5 and 6 again
How To Do A Hard Reset
The easiest way to reset your Kitchenaid refrigerator (and fix most problems) is through a hard reset. This is done by turning off the appliance at the mains power for 30 minutes, then turning it back on.
Tip: Remember to keep your refrigerator doors closed for the duration to keep your contents fresh! You should only do a hard reset once per day maximum, so if it hasn’t worked, don’t be tempted to try again.
Kitchenaid Ice Maker Reset Not Working
If you’ve tried to reset your Kitchenaid ice maker with the instructions above and completed a hard reset, but there’s still no ice, it could be for several reasons.
We’ll go into these below with suggestions on how to fix it or highlight where it may be better to call an appliance technician.
The refrigerator is New, or Just Been Turned on
Your Kitchenaid refrigerator will need some time to bring itself to life. If your refrigerator is new, it might just need a while longer to settle in.
How to fix
Your ice maker will need 24 hours to start generating ice. This will give it time to pull in the water and cool itself down enough to freeze the ice.
You want to throw away the first 3 batches/30 cubes as this will ensure the ice cubes are made from clean and filtered water.
The Refrigerator Doors Aren’t Closed Properly
If the doors to the refrigerator aren’t closed properly, the ice maker may not make or dispense ice.
How to fix
It might not be obvious that the doors aren’t shut right, so double-check these things:
- Make sure there’s nothing resting against the side walls of the refrigerator at the front that may be preventing the doors from closing
- Check the door seal is closing properly all the way around – you can do this just by running your finger along, or try trapping a bit of paper in the seal to make sure it’s fully closed
The Refrigerator is Overfilled
If your fridge or freezer compartments are filled to maximum capacity, this can restrict airflow within the appliance and have a few undesirable consequences.
It will be harder for the fridge to stay at the set temperature, and this can cause slow ice production.
How to fix
Make sure that there’s some space between items in your refrigerator and freezer, that it isn’t full to the brim, and that there’s no obvious ice or frost build-up.
This will not only help your ice maker produce more ice, but it will also lower your energy bills and improve the lifespan of your refrigerator.
The Refrigerator Isn’t Level
This may seem pedantic, but if your fridge isn’t leveled, it can cause all sorts of problems – including lack of or deformed ice.
How to fix
You’ll need to look out your spirit level and a screwdriver for this one, but it’s not too technical. Your fridge will have leveling feet at the front, potentially tucked behind a cover that must be unscrewed and removed.
There will be one foot on each side, which is adjusted using a flat-head screwdriver. It doesn’t matter which side you start with but turn clockwise to lower or anticlockwise to raise that corner of your fridge.
Check back in with your spirit level and adjust until the fridge is level side-to-side and front-to-back.
The Child Lock is on
The vast majority of KitchenAid models 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 fix
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 main’s power for 5 minutes before turning it back on and trying again.
Related >> How to Unlock KitchenAid Refrigerator
The Water Filter Has Expired and Needs to be Replaced
To identify whether the water filter is the main culprit for your problems, you can first remove it – and test whether the ice maker works without the filter in place.
If ice is made without the filter, then this is the problem – and you’ll need to replace the filter.
How to fix
If the water filter is faulty, you’ll need to source a new one and have it replaced. This is a task you’ll have to repeat every 6 months to keep your fridge from developing error codes.
It’s recommended that you use a genuine one – these can be purchased directly from Kitchenaid.
There are many types of filters available designed for different models. So before purchasing a new filter, check what’s currently installed or in your owner’s manual to make sure you get the right one.
Freezer Temperature is Set Too Low
If your freezer temperature is too low (or too high), it can affect the production of ice and cause problems with the functioning of your Kitchenaid ice maker.
How to fix
If the freezer temperature is set lower than -20°C / -4°F, you should change the settings.
It can take 2-3 hours for the new settings to take effect, or longer if you have an older model.
Once your fridge and freezer are reporting the new temperatures, you can test your water dispenser to see if this has fixed the problem.
Still Not Working?
If you’ve tried all the above and everything is in order, you may have a deeper, routed electrical or mechanical problem that needs expert assistance from an appliance technician.
If your refrigerator is still under warranty, then you can contact your retailer or Kitchenaid directly and arrange the repair through them.
FAQs
How do I manually reset my ice maker?
Turn the refrigerator off at the mains power for at least 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
Why is my Kitchenaid ice maker not making ice?
There are numerous reasons, from an expired filter to jammed ice or a leak in the water line. Run through our troubleshooting steps above to find out why and how to fix it.
How do you reset the freezer on a Kitchenaid refrigerator?
Turn the refrigerator off at the mains power for at least 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
