Showroom / demo mode (lights on, not cooling)
A mode for shops: the display and interior light work so the appliance can be shown, but the cooling is switched off. If it is left on at home, the fridge looks alive and stays warm.
What to do when it lights up
Switch it off the way your manual says: Bosch runs the appliance self-test, which ends in normal operation; LG presses Express Freezing three times while holding the Refrigerator button after opening the door; Liebherr says to contact customer service.
What it does not mean
It does not mean the fridge is broken: a warm fridge with a working light and display is the classic sign of this mode. It is also not the same as switching one compartment off.
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.
- What it looks like
- “DEMO” in the display (Liebherr), “OFF” on the panel (LG), or no sign at all except that the light and display work but nothing gets cold (Bosch).
- Names used
- Showroom mode (Bosch); DEMO (Liebherr display); Display Mode, for store use only (LG); OFF shown on the panel (LG)
Where makers differ
Samsung has a separate “Cooling off” setting (freeze and power-freeze buttons held 3 seconds) that stops cooling in both compartments while the power stays on — the same symptom from a different setting.
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No public standard defines this panel symbol, so its meaning is taken from the manuals of 4 different maker groups (Bosch, Liebherr, LG, Samsung), each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Bosch: Bosch — Installation instructions and instructions for use, fridge-freezer KFN96.. (8001167016 A, PDF) — Troubleshooting: “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.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Liebherr: Liebherr — User guide, built-in combined fridge-freezer HCB 1060 (7086622-03, 2021-04-09, PDF hosted by a Liebherr parts store) — “Whenever ‘DEMO’ appears on the display, the appliance is running in demonstration mode. Contact the customer service department.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- LG: LG — Owner’s manual, bottom-freezer refrigerator, P/No MFL62184515 (PDF) — “Display Mode (For Store Use Only) … disables all cooling in the refrigerator and freezer sections … OFF will display on the control panel. To deactivate: Press the EXPRESS FREEZING button 3 times in the state of pressing the Refrigerator button after the door opens.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Samsung: Samsung — Owner’s manual and installation, side-by-side refrigerator RS263 / RS265 / RS267 / RS269 (DA99-01278A rev 0.4, 2007, PDF hosted by Encompass) — “COOLING OFF — Cooling off stops cooling in both the freezer and refrigerator compartments but does not shut off electrical power to the refrigerator.” Checked 2026-09-27.
Written in our own words; quotations are the regulation’s or the makers’ wording.