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GE washing machine error codes

7 codes that GE Appliances publishes for its washing machines, each with what it means, the likely cause, what you can safely check and when to call a technician. Tap your code:

Switch off and unplug before checking. Anything electrical, anything to do with gas, and any water leak at the mains: call a technician. Codes that need one are marked Technician.

Read this first

This page covers US (North American) models: GE Appliances washers sold in the United States and Canada. GE’s 2017 and newer washers with electronic controls have what GE calls a Consumer Help Indicator: messages on the display, or blinking lights on models without one, that point to something you can fix without a service call. The codes are short and in mixed case — dE, UE, FE — and several are also used by other makes for different things: a UE on a GE and a UE on an LG are not read from the same list. GE says messages vary by model, so check your owner’s manual: models differ. GE’s older Harmony washers show a sentence instead of a code (“A problem has been detected with this unit”); GE’s fix for those is to turn the washer off and on, or reset the control as its support page describes.

H2O SUPPLY IE Water is not coming in

On models without a display, the Wash and Rinse lights blink instead.

What it means
Water is not entering the washer. As soon as the message scrolls, the washer locks its controls for 4 minutes; unplugging it restarts the 4 minutes.
Likely cause
One or both house supply valves turned off — often after installation or after a holiday.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Turn on the hot and cold supply valves behind the washer.
  • Wait out the 4-minute lock, then start the cycle again.
When to call a technician
If the valves are open and water still does not come in, book a technician.

Source: GE Appliances, GE Appliances support — Washer: Consumer Help Indicator (2017 and newer electronic-control washers) Checked 2026-09-29.

CAnCELEd Cycle cancelled

What it means
The washer was paused for more than 24 hours, or stopped itself before the cycle ended because of certain errors. It locks its controls for 4 minutes.
Likely cause
A long pause, or an error the washer stopped for.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Wait the 4 minutes without unplugging (that restarts the timer), then start the cycle again.
When to call a technician
If it keeps cancelling cycles, book a technician.

Source: GE Appliances, GE Appliances support — Washer: Consumer Help Indicator (2017 and newer electronic-control washers) Checked 2026-09-29.

Lid Open the lid

Some models light a Lid Locked light instead.

What it means
Three cycles have been started without the lid being opened: the washer will not start another until it is.
Likely cause
Back-to-back cycles without opening the lid.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Open the lid, close it, and start a new cycle.
When to call a technician
If it still will not start, book a technician.

Source: GE Appliances, GE Appliances support — Washer: Consumer Help Indicator (2017 and newer electronic-control washers) Checked 2026-09-29.

dE Lid is open

What it means
The lid is open, so the washer has paused.
Likely cause
The lid was opened during the cycle.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Close the lid and press Start/Pause to carry on.
When to call a technician
No technician is needed if closing the lid clears it; if dE shows with the lid shut, book a technician.

Source: GE Appliances, GE Appliances support — Washer: Consumer Help Indicator (2017 and newer electronic-control washers) Checked 2026-09-29.

UE Load out of balance

On models without a display, the Spin light (or Spin and Rinse) blinks when the washer is correcting an unbalanced load.

What it means
The laundry is unevenly spread in the basket. The washer tries to correct it and finish; sometimes it cannot reach full spin, and the load comes out wetter than usual.
Likely cause
Laundry bunched on one side, or a washer that is not level.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Spread the laundry evenly in the basket.
  • Check the washer is level.
  • If the load came out too wet, run a Drain & Spin or Spin cycle.
When to call a technician
If an even load on a level washer keeps showing UE, book a technician.

Source: GE Appliances, GE Appliances support — Washer: Consumer Help Indicator (2017 and newer electronic-control washers) Checked 2026-09-29.

FE Water at a critical level

What it means
Water in the washer has reached a critical level.
Likely cause
Not stated by GE.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Turn off the water supply and the power to the washer.
When to call a technician
Technician Call a technician: GE says to call service straight away for FE.

Source: GE Appliances, GE Appliances support — Washer: Consumer Help Indicator (2017 and newer electronic-control washers) Checked 2026-09-29.

A code that is not listed here

GE says messages vary by model: for a code that is not here, see your owner’s manual (GE offers them for download) or book a repair.

We list only codes the source below states. If your code is not here, it may belong to a model the source does not cover: your model’s manual is the authority.

Related pages

Source

Every code on this page comes from this page, published by GE Appliances and read on the date shown. Meanings are written in our own words; nothing is taken from other makes, other models or third-party code sites.