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LG washing machine error codes

15 codes that LG 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

LG washing machines show two-letter codes, often in mixed case: IE, OE, UE, dE, LE, FE. Every code below comes from LG UK’s own help library, which writes one article per code for front-loading machines. LG adds the same warning to each article: it was written for all models, so the content may differ from your product. Check your manual — models differ. Some codes are not faults at all: CL is the child lock and Cd is a washer-dryer cooling down after drying.

OE Water not draining

What it means
Water outlet error: the machine cannot pump the water out of the drum.
Likely cause
Most often a clogged drain-pump filter, or a kinked or clogged drain hose. In freezing weather, a frozen drain hose.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Lay a towel down first: a lot of water can come out. Open the small filter cover at the bottom left of the front (bottom right on some models).
  • Pull out the thin residual-water hose, take its cap off and let the water run into a bowl; close it and put it back when it stops.
  • Turn the large filter cap anti-clockwise to take the filter out, rinse off lint and objects under running water, refit it and close the cover.
  • Straighten the drain hose if it is kinked, and clear it if it is clogged.
  • If the machine may have frozen, see FF below: LG’s thawing steps also clear an OE caused by a frozen drain hose.
When to call a technician
If OE comes back with a clean filter and a clear hose, book an LG service technician.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — How to troubleshoot an OE error and clean a washing machine pump drain Checked 2026-09-28.

IE Not enough water coming in

What it means
Water inlet error: after 8 minutes there is still not enough water in the drum.
Likely cause
A closed tap or a water outage, an inlet hose that is squashed or kinked, a clogged filter at the hose end, or a hose or tap frozen in cold weather.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Check that the tap feeding the machine is open and that water is running elsewhere in the house.
  • Smooth out bends and kinks in the inlet hose; the machine can shift during spins and trap it.
  • Close the tap, undo the inlet hose at the machine and clean the small filter in its end with a toothbrush (rust, sand and grit).
  • In freezing weather, disconnect the hose and open the tap: if nothing flows, warm the tap with a towel soaked in hot water for 5 minutes, and warm the hose in water below 50 °C before refitting it.
When to call a technician
If water still does not come in, LG says the inlet valve (water supply solenoid) may have failed: book an LG service technician.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — [LG Front load washing machine] There is no water supply (IE) Checked 2026-09-28.

UE Load out of balance

What it means
Unbalance error: the laundry has bunched to one side and stays unbalanced even after the machine has tried to spread it, so it will not spin up to speed.
Likely cause
A single bulky item (duvet, pillow, coat), too much or too little laundry, or a machine that is not level.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Pause the machine, take the laundry out and put it back spread evenly.
  • Fill the drum to about two thirds: LG says that is where it works best. With a very small load, add one or two similar garments.
  • Wash duvets on the Duvet programme and down jackets on the sportswear programme or a Mid spin. Wash pillow and cushion covers, not pillows and cushions.
  • If the machine rocks when you push it, adjust its levelling feet with the spanner supplied with it.
When to call a technician
If UE keeps coming back with a normal, even load on a level machine, book an LG service technician.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — [LG Front load washing machine error code] UE (imbalance) error is displayed Checked 2026-09-28.

dE dE1 dE2 dE4 Door not closed or not sealing

What it means
Door error: the door is not fully closed and sealed, so the machine will not start or has stopped. LG’s list of common messages names dE1, dE2 and dE4 as door errors too.
Likely cause
Laundry pushing on the door or caught between the door and its rubber gasket, a door pressed shut at the top instead of the middle, or a damaged gasket, latch or door part.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Push the laundry deeper into the drum and make sure nothing is caught in the gasket.
  • Open the door and close it again by pressing firmly in the middle, near the handle.
When to call a technician
If the latch is bent or broken, or the gasket is torn, have a technician check it: LG says not to repair the gasket yourself.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — [LG Front load washing machine error code] dE appears on the display Checked 2026-09-28.

LE Motor locked

What it means
The drum cannot turn: the motor is stopped by an overload, by running cycles back to back, or by something stuck.
Likely cause
Too much laundry, continuous operation, or a coin or other object caught between the drum and the tub.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Unplug the machine, wait 5 minutes, plug it back in and try again: a temporary error clears this way.
  • Take some laundry out; use the Bedding programme for large duvets.
  • With the power off and the drum empty, look for coins or objects in the gap around the drum and pull out any you can see with pliers or tweezers.
When to call a technician
If LE still shows, unplug the machine and book an LG service technician.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — [LG front load washing machine error code] An LE error is displayed Checked 2026-09-28.

FE Too much water (overflow)

What it means
Overflow error: there is more water in the drum than the load needs.
Likely cause
Water not draining away through a clogged drain-pump filter, or too many suds from liquid or non-front-loader detergent. A machine frozen in winter can also show FE.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Clean the drain-pump filter as for OE above.
  • Use a detergent made for front-loading machines, in the recommended amount.
  • If the machine is frozen, thaw it (see FF below) before trying again.
When to call a technician
If FE comes back, book an LG service technician.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — Front load washer error codes explained: FE Checked 2026-09-28.

AE Water leak detected

What it means
Aqua error: the machine has detected water leaking inside it. Some models have a safety device that prevents flooding.
Likely cause
A leak inside the machine, a damaged inlet hose, or a faulty safety switch.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Look for leaks around the machine.
  • Check the inlet hose for a loose connection or cuts.
When to call a technician
Technician If you find nothing, phone LG customer service: they run a Smart Diagnosis on the machine first, and only then ask you to unplug it for 60 seconds and restart. If AE persists, book an LG service technician.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — [LG Washing Machine] Error code AE - Aqua Error Checked 2026-09-28.

FF Frozen

What it means
Freeze failure: water left in the drain hose, supply hose or tap has frozen in cold weather. A frozen drain hose can also show OE, and a frozen supply hose or tap IE.
Likely cause
Freezing temperatures where the machine is installed.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Take the laundry out and bail out any water left in the drum.
  • Pour in warm water at 50–60 °C, close the door and wait 1–2 hours; wrap the drain hose in a warm towel. Never use boiling water.
  • Switch on and drain the water; if it will not drain, wait longer and try again. Then run one Rinse to check.
  • To prevent it: when the machine will not be used in cold weather, drain the water out of the hoses.
When to call a technician
LG says a frozen machine thaws by itself once it gets warmer. If it still does not work after thawing, book an LG service technician.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — My washing machine is frozen and it’s not working (IE, OE) Checked 2026-09-28.

CL Child lock is on

What it means
Not a fault: the child lock is active, so the control panel ignores the buttons.
Likely cause
The child lock was switched on (it stays on after the programme ends).
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Press and hold the child-lock button, or the two buttons your manual names, for 3 seconds.
When to call a technician
No technician needed unless the panel stays locked after that.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — [LG Washing Machine] Error code CL - Child Lock Checked 2026-09-28.

Cd Cooling down after drying (washer-dryers)

What it means
Not a fault: after a drying programme the drum turns for 25 seconds and pauses for 4 minutes, over and over, to cool down.
Likely cause
A drying programme has just finished.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Press any button other than a programme button: Cd goes out and the door opens about 2 minutes later.
  • Or wait: Cd clears by itself 4 hours after drying ends.
When to call a technician
No technician needed: LG says Cd is not a failure or an error.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — [LG front load washing machine error codes] Cd is displayed after using the drying cycle Checked 2026-09-28.

tE Control error

What it means
LG UK’s list of common error messages names tE a control error. It gives no owner check.
Likely cause
Not stated in LG’s list.
What you can safely check

Nothing for the owner to check: this one is for a technician.

When to call a technician
Technician Book an LG service technician.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — LG washing machine common error messages Checked 2026-09-28.

PE Pressure (water-level) sensor error

What it means
LG UK’s list of common error messages names PE a pressure sensor error: the sensor that measures the water level. It gives no owner check.
Likely cause
The water-level sensor.
What you can safely check

Nothing for the owner to check: this one is for a technician.

When to call a technician
Technician Book an LG service technician.

Source: LG, LG UK Help library — LG washing machine common error messages Checked 2026-09-28.

A code that is not listed here

LG UK’s list of common error messages also names vS (vibration sensor error), PF (power failure) and dHE (drying error) but gives no explanation or owner check for them. For those, and for any code not on this page, check your model’s manual or contact LG’s service centre.

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 these pages, published by LG 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.