Bosch fridge-freezer symbols
The 13 symbols that Bosch’s own fridge-freezer manuals explain, with Bosch’s name for each, what it does on a Bosch, the manual’s own words and the document it comes from. The drawing is ours; tap a symbol for its full page.
Bosch fridge-freezers show most modes as lit words or small pictures beside the temperature displays. On the KGN model checked here one mode button steps through Fresh, Eco and Holiday mode, a separate super button starts super cooling or super freezing for whichever compartment the °C button has selected, and the button lock and the alarm-off share a third button. Siemens and Neff are made by the same company (BSH) and their panels are often similar, but only Bosch manuals were read for this page.
Makes differ, check your fridge’s manual: the same drawing can mean different things on different brands, and only your model’s manual says exactly what a button does, what temperature it sets and when it switches itself off.
Super freeze / fast freeze (snowflakes)
Bosch calls it: Super freezing (superfreeze display)
Up to 2 kg of fresh food needs no super freezing; for a full load, switch it on a day ahead. You do not need to switch it off.
“Several hours before placing fresh food in the freezer compartment, switch on super freezing to prevent an unwanted temperature rise. … If the max. freezing capacity is to be used, super freezing must be switched on for 24 hours before the fresh produce is placed in the freezer compartment. Smaller quantities of food (up to 2 kg) can be frozen without super freezing.”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Super cool / fast cool (fridge)
Bosch calls it: Super cooling (supercool display)
About 6 hours, then back to your own setting. Bosch suggests it before a large shop goes in, or to chill drinks fast.
“Super cooling sets the refrigerator temperature to the coldest temperature setting for approx. 6 hours. Then the appliance automatically switches to the temperature set prior to super cooling mode.”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Holiday / vacation mode (sun, beach or suitcase)
Bosch calls it: Holiday mode (vacation mode display)
The fridge goes to +14 °C and the freezer stays as set. Pressing the mode button again until the display goes off ends it.
“The temperature of the refrigerator compartment is automatically switched to +14 °C. Do not store any food in the refrigerator compartment during this time.”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Eco mode on a fridge-freezer (leaf or ECO)
Bosch calls it: Eco mode (eco mode indicator)
It picks +8 °C for the fridge and −16 °C for the freezer for you, so do not expect your own settings to stay while it is on.
“Eco mode switches the appliance to energy-saving operation. … The appliance automatically sets the following temperatures: … Refrigerator section: +8°C … Freezer section: -16°C”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Door-open alarm (open door or bell)
Bosch calls it: Door alarm (ALARM in the display)
The word ALARM shows in the display of whichever compartment is open; closing that door stops it.
“The door alarm switches on and … ALARM … appears in the refrigerator compartment temperature display … or in the freezer compartment temperature display … if the door of the compartment is left open too long. Close the door of the compartment to switch off the door alarm.”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Temperature alarm (freezer too warm)
Bosch calls it: Temperature alarm (ALARM in the freezer display)
Press the lock/alarm off button to silence the beep. Bosch says not to refreeze food that has thawed, apart from cooked ready meals.
“The temperature alarm switches on if the freezer compartment is too warm and the frozen food is at risk of thawing. The alarm may switch on without any risk to the frozen food in the following instances: … when switching on the appliance for initial use. … when large quantities of fresh food are placed in the appliance. … The temperature display indicates for 5 seconds the warmest temperature which was reached in the freezer compartment.”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Chill compartment (0 °C drawer, BioFresh, cold storage)
Bosch calls it: Cold storage compartment
It can dip below 0 °C, so keep salad and vegetables out of it.
“The cold storage compartment has lower temperatures than the refrigerator compartment. Even temperatures below 0 °C may occur. Ideal for storing fish, meat and sausage. Not suitable for lettuce and vegetables and produce sensitive to cold.”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
No frost / auto defrost
Bosch calls it: NoFrost
Nothing to switch on: there is no defrost button to look for on a NoFrost Bosch.
“The fully automatic NoFrost system ensures that the freezer section remains free of ice. Defrosting is no longer required.”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Humidity control on the vegetable drawer
Bosch calls it: Air humidity control on the vegetable container
High humidity for vegetables or a small mixed load, low for fruit or a full drawer.
“Mainly vegetables as well as for a mixed or small load – high air humidity … Mainly fruit as well as for a large load – low air humidity”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Temperature zones and the “OK” indicator
Bosch calls it: Chill zones and the “OK” sticker
Food right in front of the air outlets can freeze, Bosch warns. If the OK sticker does not show OK, turn the fridge colder a step at a time; a newly switched-on fridge can take up to 12 hours to get there.
“The air circulation in the refrigerator compartment creates different chill zones: … The coldest zones are in front of the air outlet openings and in the chill compartment … Sticker OK (not all models) The sticker OK lets you check whether the refrigerator compartment achieves the safe temperature ranges of +4 °C or colder recommended for food. If the sticker does not indicate OK, gradually reduce the temperature.”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Showroom / demo mode (lights on, not cooling)
Bosch calls it: Showroom mode
Lights and display on but nothing cold is the tell-tale sign; the self-test in the manual ends showroom mode.
“Appliance is not cooling, display and lighting are lit. Showroom mode switched on. Start the appliance self-test … When the programme has ended, the appliance switches over to normal operation.”
Source: Bosch — Installation instructions and instructions for use, fridge-freezer KFN96.. (8001167016 A, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Two stars (**): a −12 °C compartment or section
Bosch calls it: 2 star compartment (door shelf)
On this Bosch the two stars mark a door shelf inside the freezer: fine for ice cream for a short time, not for long storage.
“Door shelf (2 star compartment) for short-term storage of food and ice cream”
Source: Bosch — Installation instructions and instructions for use, fridge-freezer KAN.. (8001040560 C, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Child lock or button lock (key or padlock)
Bosch calls it: Button lock
Hold the lock/alarm off button for 5 seconds, both to lock and to unlock.
“To switch the button lock on and off, press the lock/alarm off button for 5 seconds. … The control panel is now protected against unintentional operation.”
Source: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
Not in the Bosch manuals checked
The Bosch documents below do not show these symbols from this site, so they are left off this page: One star (*), Three stars (***), Four stars (one large star and three small), No stars, Sabbath mode, Ice maker off and Water filter change light. That does not mean no Bosch fridge has one, only that the manuals read here do not. If yours shows a symbol not listed, find it by its shape.
Other brands
Sources
A symbol is listed here only when one of these Bosch documents, from Bosch’s own website, shows it. Each was fetched and read on the date shown; the words in quotation marks are Bosch’s, everything else is ours.
- Bosch: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
- Bosch: Bosch — Installation instructions and instructions for use, fridge-freezer KAN.. (8001040560 C, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.
- Bosch: Bosch — Installation instructions and instructions for use, fridge-freezer KFN96.. (8001167016 A, PDF) Checked 2026-10-13.