The most common cause of a Whirlpool washer door being locked and not being able to open is a faulty lid switch (including the striker). The door switch locks and unlocks your door depending on which stage your wash cycle is at. When it becomes defective, your washer door may not unlock when it's supposed to.
The first and simplest step is to unplug the washer. Leave it unplugged for about 60 seconds. This often resets the electronics and resolves the flashing lock light issue.
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.
So the first thing you'll want to do is just unplug the washer for 60 seconds and see if the latch will reset. It sounds like you may have already tried that. If that doesn't work, plug the washer back in and leave the washer plugged in for 20 minutes and it should unlock.
Access the lid lock switch by unplugging your washer from the wall and turning off the water. Press a magnet against the lid lock mechanism for a quick, easy way to bypass the lid lock. Cut the 1st and 3rd wire (or 1st and 4th wire if there are 4 wires) that attach to the lid lock to permanently bypass it.
Reach down into the right lower front of the washer, where you will find the door lock assembly. Pull the lock release tab on top of the door lock upwards to manually unlock and open the door. Reassemble the washer, plug it back in, and attempt to use it again to see if the door locks and unlocks normally.
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.
Power Off/On: Turning off the machine and unplugging it for a few minutes, then plugging it back in and restarting it, could reset the machine and unlock the door.
To reset the electronic controls on your washer, shut off the circuit breaker or fuse to the washer or unplug the washer for 2 minutes. For models that have a timer control knob, turn the knob around and back to any position other than final spin for the interrupted cycle. Then, restore power.
A start button on your washer's control panel not working despite the rest of the lights coming on is the most common Whirlpool washer issue you will encounter. Taking off the control panel to try and find the cause will let you see if the solution can be DIYed, or a professional needs to be called.
The door will not immediately unlock while the cycle runs due to a possible high water level in the washer, high water temperature, tumbling, or spinning. It may take up to five minutes for the washer to stop spinning and draining before the door will unlock. You will hear the door click when it unlocks.
Troubleshooting a Locked Whirlpool Washer
Press the "control lock" button for three seconds. The door should unlock. If the control lock button doesn't work, try the "end of cycle" button to reset the washer. If the above steps fail, completely reset the machine by unplugging it for an hour.
The most common reasons your Whirlpool washer won't start cycle are a malfunctioning electronic control board, jammed door lock assembly or a faulty user interface.
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.
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.
The most common cause is water left in the machine. Try running a spin/drain cycle. If this fails, the machine can be drained by placing the washing machine drain hose lower than the drum (into a bucket or tray). The door interlock has simply jammed.
If you have a stuck door lock, spray lubricant into the lock's keyhole. Doing so will loosen any debris or deposits sitting inside your stuck lock and prevent your key from turning. Insert the key and rotate it a few times to work in the lubricant, releasing the stuck part.