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How to Reset a Samsung Refrigerator: Power, Demo Mode, Filter

Published 2026-10-20 · Last reviewed 2026-10-20 · Checked against manufacturer sources

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Quick answer

For a Samsung refrigerator, a reset means unplugging it or switching off its breaker, waiting about 5 minutes, then restoring power; for the 88 88 code or a frozen panel, Samsung lists 60 seconds. Before you do it, photograph any error code, because the reset wipes the fault history. If the display reads OF OF, the fridge is in Cooling Off (demo) mode, which a power cut won't clear; it takes a button combination.

Safety first: Switch off the breaker rather than pulling the plug if the floor near the fridge is wet or the outlet sits behind the cabinet. Don't chip at a frozen ice maker or warm it with a hair dryer; request service instead.

Photograph the code, then decide if you need a reset

Samsung's own advice is to reset its refrigerators sparingly. Its US support pages say to cut the power only when a troubleshooting guide tells you to, or when you're moving or cleaning the fridge. The error code list goes further and tells owners not to unplug the fridge unless they've been directed to.

The reason is the stored fault history. A power cut erases the error codes and diagnostic data the fridge has saved, and a technician uses that record to work out what failed. Take a photo of the display, write down the full model number, and look the code up before you touch the plug.

Two displays are worth knowing straight away. OF OF, O FF, OFF OFF or scrolling temperature bars mean Cooling Off (demo) mode, which a power cut won't fix. 88 88 after a power outage means the controls didn't boot properly, and that's one of the few cases where Samsung says a reset may be the whole fix.

Cut the power for 60 seconds to 5 minutes

This is the standard reset for every Samsung model. Samsung gives two wait times depending on the page: about 5 minutes in its general reset article, so the electrical charge has time to drain, and 60 seconds in its guides for 88 88, the compressor power codes and an unresponsive panel. If you are not sure which applies, give it the longer wait.

  1. Keep the doors closed while the power is off so the cold air stays inside.

  2. Pull the plug from the wall. If the outlet is wedged behind the cabinet or the floor is wet, use the fridge's breaker instead.

  3. Wait at least 60 seconds, or about 5 minutes for a general reset.

  4. Plug the fridge back in or switch the breaker on, then leave the panel alone for a few minutes while it boots before you press anything.

Clear a locked panel or frozen Family Hub screen

A panel that ignores every button press is often just locked. Look for a lock icon beside Child Lock or Control Lock before you cut the power. On some models with the panel on the outside of the door, Samsung says to hold Ice Maker Off for about 3 seconds, until it chimes, to switch Child Lock on or off. Panels inside the fridge or on top of a door lock themselves after a minute of no activity; hold Door Alarm for about 3 seconds until the chime to unlock one.

Family Hub models have their own reset for the screen. Push open the small cover at the inside top of the right-hand door and you'll find the panel switch (Samsung describes it as red); switch it off and back on to restart the screen. If a low-voltage notice marked 85C shows on the screen, Samsung calls it harmless; press OK for 3 seconds to dismiss it.

A Family Hub factory reset is a bigger step that deletes your data and settings. Samsung's path is Settings, then About Family Hub, then Factory data reset, then RESET twice, then Delete all data. Save it for when Samsung support asks you to do it.

Turn off Cooling Off (demo) mode

Cooling Off is the showroom setting: the display and lights work, but cooling, ice making and the water dispenser are all switched off. If a new fridge arrives in this mode, or someone presses the wrong combination, the fridge won't get cold. Samsung says it doesn't need service. The button combination depends on your panel, and Samsung's US guide lists these:

Reset the water filter light after a new filter

Swapping the cartridge doesn't turn the filter light off by itself; you reset it from the panel. Samsung recommends a new filter about every 6 months. For the HAFCU1 filter, it says to run several gallons through the dispenser after installing it to clear out air and impurities, then reset the light.

Run the ice maker Test button

Samsung ice makers in the fresh food compartment and in side-by-side freezers have a Test button on the right-hand side of the ice maker. Holding it starts a test that resets the unit: the tray dumps its ice and the water valve refills it. Samsung's Canadian guide says the hold can take up to 10 seconds and the test lasts about 6 minutes, with a second chime at the end.

  1. Lift the ice bucket and pull it out slowly with both hands.

  2. Press and hold Test until you hear a chime. If the ice maker moves but you heard no chime, it has still reset.

  3. No chime and no movement: cut power at the plug or breaker for 2 minutes, then repeat the test.

  4. Slide the bucket back in until it clicks. If it won't seat, turn the helix (the spiral at the back of the bucket) 90 degrees and try again.

  5. Press Test only once. Samsung warns that repeated presses once the tray holds water or ice can overflow it or jam the ice.

Reset Wi-Fi on a SmartThings model

A network reset erases the fridge's saved Wi-Fi and network information. Use it when you change routers or SmartThings won't reconnect; it won't help with a cooling problem or an error code. On Wi-Fi models with a button panel, Samsung says to touch and hold LOCK for about 12 seconds until A and r show on the display. On a Family Hub, go to Settings, then Wi-Fi, pick the network and choose Disconnect or Forget.

During setup the fridge may show AP, short for access point. That's normal while SmartThings is pairing, and it clears once setup finishes or after a while if you abandon it.

Signs the fridge needs a technician

If 88 88 returns after a clean 60-second power cut, Samsung's next step is a service request. The same goes for 83E, 85E or 86E coming back on a steady supply, a panel that's still dead after a restart, or an ice maker that chimes several times during its test. Each extra reset wipes more of the history the technician needs, so stop at one.

Codes that point at fans, sensors or the defrost system won't clear for good with a power cut. Look them up and follow the steps for that code. Samsung links 85E to a brown-out and 86E to a surge, such as a thunderstorm, so if those keep coming back after bad weather, tell the technician; the house supply may be part of the story.

When to call a professional

Request service if the same code returns after one power cycle, if the panel stays unresponsive after a restart, or if the ice maker chimes several times during its test. Have the code, the full model number and a list of what you've already tried ready when you contact Samsung.

Parts involved

Error codes for this problem

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Manufacturer resources

The official pages we checked for this guide. Your owner's manual is still the final word for your exact model.