How to Reset a Refrigerator (After a Power Outage or Glitch)
A refrigerator that's acting up — not cooling right, showing an error, stuck after a power outage, or unresponsive controls — often just needs a reset. Here are the safe ways to do it.
The Basic Power-Cycle Reset
Unplug the refrigerator (or switch off its breaker) for 5 minutes, then plug it back in. This clears most control-board glitches and is the first thing to try after a power surge or odd behavior. Give it a few hours to return to temperature afterward.
Reset the Control Panel
Many fridges have a control-panel reset — often holding two buttons together (such as "Energy Saver" + "Lighting", or "Power Cool" + "Power Freeze") for a few seconds until it beeps or the display resets. Check your model's manual for the exact combination. This clears a frozen display or a stuck setting.
Exit Demo / Showroom Mode
If the fridge has power and lights but isn't cooling, it may be in Demo/Cooling-Off mode (often shows "OF OF" or a demo icon). Exit it with the model-specific button combo — this is a common "not cooling" cause that a reset fixes.
Reset the Water Filter Light
After changing the water filter, reset the filter indicator by holding the "Filter" or "Reset" button for about 3 seconds until the light returns to normal.
Related Error Codes
FAQ
Unplug it (or cut the breaker) for 5 minutes, then restore power — this clears most glitches. For the control panel, hold the model-specific button combo to reset the display.
It may have a control glitch (power-cycle it for 5 minutes) or it entered demo/cooling-off mode during the outage — exit that mode using your model's button combination.
Sources
Documents this guide was checked against. How we verify.
Always unplug an appliance and shut off its water supply before servicing. This guide is informational and not a substitute for a qualified technician.