Washing Machine Child Lock Won’t Turn Off? 9 Easy Fixes (Complete Guide)

If your washing machine child lock won’t turn off, you’re dealing with one of the most common. and most frustrating .laundry room problems. One moment your machine is working perfectly, and the next, the entire control panel is frozen, a little padlock symbol is staring at you, and nothing you press makes any difference. The good news? In most cases, this is a fixable problem you can solve at home in just a few minutes without calling an engineer. This guide covers everything: why it happens, how to fix it brand by brand, and what to do when standard methods simply aren’t working

What Does the Child Lock Actually Do?

The child lock is a built-in safety feature found on almost every modern washing machine. When activated, it disables the control panel so that no buttons can be pressed .preventing children from accidentally changing settings, stopping a cycle, or starting the machine unsafely.

When the child lock is active, you’ll typically see one of the following on the display:

• A padlock icon (🔒)
• The letters “CL” (Child Lock)
• A key symbol

While the machine may still run an active cycle with the lock on, you won’t be able to start a new programme, adjust settings mid-wash, or cancel a running cycle. Everything is essentially frozen until the lock is deactivated.

The problem is that while the child lock is a useful safety tool, a washing machine child lock that won’t turn off can make your machine completely unusable. and that’s when it stops being a feature and starts being a fault

Why Did the Child Lock Turn On by Itself?

Understanding the cause helps you fix it faster and stop it happening again.

Accidental activation is by far the most common reason. Most machines use a two-button combination to toggle the child lock, and those combinations are often easy to hit accidentally. especially if someone leans against the machine, presses buttons in the wrong order, or a child actually manages to activate the very feature designed to keep them out.

Power interruptions are another cause. If the electricity cuts out mid-cycle and then comes back, some washing machines automatically reactivate the child lock as a precaution. This is especially common on Bosch, Siemens, and LG models.

Software glitches can also cause the washing machine child lock to stay on even after you’ve entered the correct unlock combination. In this situation, the machine isn’t reading your button input correctly. and no amount of pressing the right buttons will clear it until the underlying software issue is addressed.

Finally, sticky or damaged buttons can prevent the deactivation signal from registering. If detergent residue or moisture has built up around a button, it may be physically obstructed without you realising it

How to Turn Off the Child Lock: Universal Steps First

Before going into brand-specific methods, try these general steps that work across the majority of washing machine models.

Step 1: Check Your User Manual

This is genuinely the fastest route to the answer. The child lock deactivation method varies not just by brand, but by model within the same brand. If you don’t have the manual, search online for “[your model number] child lock deactivate” and go straight to the manufacturer’s support page.

Step 2: Hold the Start/Pause Button

On many machines. particularly Bosch and Siemens models. pressing and holding the Start/Pause button for 3 to 5 seconds will deactivate the child lock. You should hear a beep and the padlock symbol or CL indicator will disappear.

Step 3: Try the Two-Button Combination

If Start/Pause alone doesn’t work, the unlock method is usually a simultaneous press-and-hold of two specific buttons for 3 seconds. Common combinations include:

• Temperature + Spin buttons together
• Prewash + Easy Iron buttons together
• RPM + Finished In buttons together
• Silent button held alone
• Soft Plus button held alone

Count a full three seconds before releasing. people often let go too early and assume the combination isn’t working.

Step 4: Make Sure the Machine Is in the Right State

Some machines won’t let you deactivate the washing machine child lock while a cycle is actively running or while water is in the drum. Let the cycle finish fully, wait for the door to unlock, then try the deactivation combination again

Power Reset: The Fix That Works When Nothing Else Does

If button combinations are getting you nowhere, a power reset is often the most effective solution. especially when the issue is caused by a software glitch rather than a hardware fault.

Here’s how to do it properly:

1. Press the power button to turn the machine off
2. Unplug the machine completely from the wall socket
3. Wait a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes. don’t rush this step. The machine’s electronics need time to fully discharge and clear any temporary memory errors
4. Plug the machine back in and power it on
5. Try the child lock deactivation method again before selecting any programme

This reset clears the control board’s short-term memory and often resolves cases where the washing machine child lock won’t turn off despite the correct button combination being entered. Many appliance repair engineers recommend this as the very first step before anything more involved

Brand-Specific Child Lock Solutions

Even if your washing machine child lock won’t turn off, using the correct button combination for your specific model can usually solve the problem.

Bosch Washing Machine Child Lock Won’t Turn Off

Bosch has three documented methods depending on the model:

Method 1: Press and hold the Start/Pause button for 3–5 seconds until you hear a beep and the key symbol disappears.

Method 2: Press and hold the RPM and Finished In buttons simultaneously for approximately 3 seconds. An audible beep confirms deactivation.

Method 3 (touchscreen models): There should be an illuminated square button with a key symbol and “3 sec” printed underneath. Hold this for 3 seconds. the button will darken and a beep will sound.

For the Bosch WAJ28008GB specifically .a model that frequently appears in customer queries. pressing and holding the Spin and Finish In buttons together for up to 10 seconds has been confirmed to work in cases where the standard 3-second hold fails.

Siemens Washing Machine Child Lock Won’t Turn Off

Siemens uses virtually identical methods to Bosch (both are part of the BSH Group):

• Hold Start/Pause for 3–5 seconds
• Hold RPM + Finished In simultaneously for 3 seconds
• On touchscreen models, hold the dedicated key/lock button for 3 seconds

An important note for Siemens: the child lock remains active even after the machine is switched off. If you’ve turned the machine off and back on again and the lock is still showing, this is normal behaviour. you need to deactivate it while the machine is on before selecting a new programme.

Samsung Washing Machine Child Lock Won’t Turn Off

On most Samsung washing machines, the child lock button is a dedicated button with a padlock icon. Simply press and hold it for 3 seconds. On some models the combination is Temp + Soil Level held together for 3 seconds.

For newer Samsung smart models with Wi-Fi connectivity: check the Samsung SmartThings app. If the lock was activated through the app, it may need to be deactivated there rather than on the machine itself.

LG Washing Machine Child Lock Won’t Turn Off

LG models typically require holding the Child Lock button (often marked with a padlock) for 3 seconds. On certain models, the combination is Rinse + Spin held simultaneously.

LG’s newer ThinQ-connected machines can have the child lock toggled remotely through the LG ThinQ app. If your washing machine child lock won’t turn off on an LG smart model, check the app first. there may be a remote lock active that overrides physical button input.

Whirlpool and Maytag Washing Machine Child Lock Won’t Turn Off

Whirlpool machines use the label “Control Lock” rather than “Child Lock” but it functions identically. Press and hold the Control Lock button for 3 seconds. On older models without a dedicated button, look for “Control Lock” printed in small text beneath one of the existing buttons. hold that button.

One important Whirlpool-specific issue: some older models can enter a diagnostic mode that mimics the appearance of a child lock. If the Control Lock method doesn’t work, check whether the machine is showing any diagnostic codes and consult the manual for how to exit diagnostic mode.

Electrolux Washing Machine Child Lock Won’t Turn Off

Electrolux has several control panel variations, each with a slightly different method:

• Control Panel 1: Hold the Silent button alone until the padlock appears or disappears
• Control Panel 2: Hold the Soft Plus button alone
• Control Panel 3: Press Prewash + Easy Iron simultaneously
• Control Panel 4: Hold Temperature + Spin together for 5 seconds
• Control Panel 5 (older models): Hold Prewash + Easy Iron for 5 seconds

If in doubt, Electrolux’s own guidance recommends: disconnect from the power supply for 5–10 minutes before trying again. which aligns with the power reset method described earlier.

Beko Washing Machine Child Lock Won’t Turn Off

On Beko machines, locate the lock symbol on the control panel. Press and hold the designated button(s). either a single button or a combination depending on the model. for 3 seconds until the lock symbol appears or disappears on the display. Check the control panel for any buttons marked with a padlock or line symbol to identify the correct button

When the Lock Symbol Is Gone but the Panel Still Won’t Respond

This is a different problem. The washing machine child lock display indicator has cleared, but buttons still aren’t doing anything. This points to a separate issue:

Door latch fault: If the door isn’t fully closed and latched, many machines will disable the control panel as a safety precaution. Open and firmly close the door, then try again.

Demo or showroom mode: Some machines have a display mode that keeps the screen active but prevents operation. Check your manual to see if this applies to your model.

Active error code: If there’s a fault code on the display alongside or instead of the lock symbol, the machine may be locked out due to an underlying error. not the child lock itself. Note the code and look it up in the manual

Is It a Hardware Fault? Signs You Need a Technician

If you’ve worked through every step above and the washing machine child lock still won’t turn off, there are two hardware-level causes to consider:

Faulty control board: The control board is the machine’s central processor. When it malfunctions, it can behave as if the child lock is permanently active regardless of button input. This typically requires professional diagnosis. but it’s worth noting that a control board fault will usually come with other symptoms, such as error codes, mid-cycle stops, or lights behaving erratically.

Stuck or failed button: If the specific button used to deactivate the child lock is physically damaged or stuck down internally, pressing it won’t register. A repair technician can test individual button inputs and replace a faulty membrane or button assembly. which is usually considerably cheaper than replacing the full control board.

If your machine is still under manufacturer warranty, contact the brand directly before arranging third-party repairs

How to Prevent the Child Lock from Getting Stuck Again

A few simple habits go a long way:

Clean the control panel regularly. Wipe it down with a dry microfiber cloth detergent residue and moisture around buttons are a leading cause of sticky inputs that misread commands.

Write down the unlock combination somewhere easy to find. Inside a nearby cupboard door works well. If you use the child lock intentionally, forgetting how to turn it off is surprisingly common.

Don’t place heavy items on top of the machine. Vibration during the spin cycle can cause items to shift and press buttons accidentally. which is how many accidental child lock activations happen

Final Thoughts

A washing machine child lock that won’t turn off is genuinely disruptive, but in the overwhelming majority of cases it’s a problem you can solve in minutes at home. Start with your model’s specific button combination, count the full hold time before releasing, and if that fails, move straight to the power reset. unplug for 10 minutes and try again