GE · Microwave Minor
LOC — Control lock active
LOC means the control panel lock (child lock) is engaged. The microwave will not respond to cook commands until the lock is disabled. This is a feature, not a failure.
- Keep using it?
- Yes — fix when convenient
- DIY difficulty
- Easy
- Verified against
- geappliances.com ↗
How to fix it
- Press and hold CLEAR/OFF (or the dedicated 'Control Lock' pad on Profile models) for about 3 seconds.
- LOC should disappear from the display and a confirmation tone will sound.
- If LOC won't clear, unplug the microwave for 5 minutes and try again.
- If it still won't clear, suspect a stuck CLEAR/OFF key (see F7) and inspect the keypad.
Why it happens
Typical signs: 'LOC' or 'L' shown in display · Touching pads beeps but does nothing · Door operates normally, just no cook start
- Control lock turned on intentionally or accidentally Often triggered by holding CLEAR/OFF for 3 seconds.
- Kids / cleaning bumping the lock pad Easy to enable without noticing.
More GE microwave codes
Always unplug an appliance before servicing it. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for a qualified technician. Verified against manufacturer documentation: geappliances.com.