Things You Should Know Unplug the machine and wait a few minutes. Most doors will open once the power is off and the temperature cools off. Try knocking gently on the handle or pressing the pause/start button. Loop fishing line around the locked door and pull away from the door to manually unlock the locking mechanism.
Pull down on the ring to release the lock. If yours doesn't have a bottom access panel, remove the top by removing the screws in the back that hold the top in place. Slide the top back and off. With a flashlight you can see the plastic ring on the door lock. Just pull up that ring and the door unlocks.
Press the “Control Lock” button on your Whirlpool washer for three seconds. After three seconds, you should be able to open the door. If the door still doesn't open, press the “End of Cycle” button (if your washing machine has one) for five seconds.
To reset the washer control panel, it needs to be disconnected from the power source for one minute. If your washer is plugged into an outlet, simply unplug the unit for one minute and then plug the unit back in.
Water left in the machine is also a common cause of a locked washing machine door. Running a spin/drain cycle can often fix this issue, but if it fails, the machine may need to be drained manually. The door catch, handle, or some part of the door catch mechanism may be broken, preventing the door from opening.
If it still won't work, then unplug the washer and remove the screws coming in from the back of the top panel. The top panel will then pull straight back, up, and off. Now you can reach down to the bottom of the door latch where there is a 1" round plastic tab. Pull on this tab to manually unlock the door.
The most likely cause is an inoperative drain pump, or a clogged debris filter. If your washer has water inside the Drum, the door will not open to prevent a flood. If you are using to sanitize the cycle and the water is extremely hot, the door will not open to prevent injury. Straighten the drain hoses.
You should just need to press and hold the "Control Lock" button for 5 seconds to remove the control lock. If that doesn't work, unplug the washer for 5 minutes and plug it back in. The electronics get glitchy sometimes and won't reset. After reapplying power, try to hold the "Control Lock" button again for 5 seconds.
To remove a lock washer, use a wrench or a similar tool to remove the nut or threaded fastener that holds the lock washer in place. Next, use a flathead screwdriver to pry the lock washer loose. If you remove a split washer, place the screwdriver head under the washer or inside the split.
First, try keeping the machine turned off for five minutes, then try opening the door again. If this doesn't fix the issue, you can gently strike the door over the area where the lock is with the palm of your hand. This can sometimes activate and release the lock.
If the power is removed, the lock should open automatically because it is spring-loaded. If there is no power to your washer and the lid is locked, your washer has malfunctioned. You will need to service to find the fault and get it repaired.
Common reasons include a cycle in progress, a malfunction in the machine's sensor or control board, a power outage during operation, or even a simple issue like an unbalanced load triggering a safety lock.
Most front load washers have thermal door locks, so when the power is off, the thermal interlock will cool, thereby allowing the door to be opened. If not, some have a release cord hanging down, usually accessible through the filter cleaning access, this just has to be pulled, and it should release the door!
Step-by-Step Guide to Unlock Your Maytag Washer
Start by unplugging your washer from the power source. Wait for 60 seconds before plugging it back in. This simple reset can often clear any electronic glitches causing the door to stay locked.
Water Level: The door may remain locked if there is still water in the drum. The machine will typically drain the water before unlocking the door. If the water level is high, ensure the machine has completed its draining cycle.
There are three recommended methods of unblocking a washing machine drain yourself. These are to use baking soda and vinegar, a chemical drain cleaner, or do it manually. You can also potentially fix the issue by straightening out the washing machine drain hose if it has become twisted.
If the door or lid won't open at the end of the cycle, then the lock mechanism may be at fault. Most washers will have a manual release to unlock the mechanism and allow you to open the door or lid. The release is normally accessible from below the door lock, or on some models, from inside the soap dispenser housing.
Normally waiting for the cycle to end is all you need to do to unlock the door, or turn your washer on if it's off. If you get stuck, though, you can drain the water from front load washers using the emergency drain hose; once the water is gone, the door will unlock.
The first thing to try is pressing the “control lock” button for three seconds. After the three seconds have passed, the door should unlock allowing you to open it. If the control lock button doesn't work, next is to try the “end of cycle” button if your machine has that option.