If your washer has been throwing a code, refusing to spin, or stopping halfway through a cycle, diagnostic mode can help you see what the machine has stored in memory. The exact button sequence depends heavily on the brand and model, but the goal is the same: enter a built-in test routine that checks filling, draining, spinning, and other core functions.
This guide applies broadly to Whirlpool-family washers, including Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, and KitchenAid, plus many Samsung, GE, and LG front-load and top-load models.
Does this affect you?
Washer diagnostic mode, sometimes called service mode, test mode, or quick test, is mostly meant for technicians. It can still be useful at home because it may reveal a stored fault code before you start guessing. The key thing to know is that the sequence is not universal. A combo that works on one Maytag or LG washer may do nothing on another model from the same brand.
Before you start
Take a few minutes to prepare so the test is useful and the washer is safe to be around.
- Remove all laundry, detergent pods, loose items, and anything sitting on top of the machine. A diagnostic routine may fill, agitate, drain, or spin without warning.
- Find the model number first. It is usually inside the door opening, under the lid, on the rear panel, or near the frame. If the general steps do not work, the model number is what you will use to find the exact service sequence.
- Keep your phone, paper, or a notes app ready. Some washers flash stored codes briefly before moving into the next stage.
- Do not panic if the wrong sequence does nothing. Most washers simply ignore an invalid button pattern or return to standby.
The steps below involve operating an appliance yourself. Before doing anything beyond front-panel controls, disconnect power; on water-connected appliances, shut the water valve as well. Only perform the actions described here, do not remove panels or force locked parts, and stop if the washer is under warranty or you are unsure.
Diagnostic routines can start moving parts by themselves. Stay close enough to observe the display, but keep hands, hair, sleeves, and tools away from the tub and door area while the machine is testing. On front-load washers, leave the door closed and do not try to defeat the lock.
Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, and KitchenAid
These brands often share Whirlpool-built platforms, so their quick diagnostic behavior is similar on many electronic-control models.
- Plug the washer in, wake the display, and make sure no cycle is already running.
- Choose any cycle on the dial or control panel.
- Press Start two times within roughly five seconds. On many models this starts the Quick Diagnostic Test and the washer begins stepping through fill, wash, drain, and spin checks.
- Watch the display as soon as the test begins because stored faults may appear only briefly.
- Let the test finish, press Pause/Cancel, or disconnect power to exit.
- If nothing happens, search the exact model number with “quick diagnostic test” or “service diagnostic mode” rather than trying random button patterns.
Samsung, GE, and LG
These brands vary more by control layout and model year, so the safest approach is to treat general combinations as starting points and confirm against the model information.
- Samsung washers commonly enter self-diagnosis from standby by holding two option buttons together for about three seconds, often the temperature and spin-speed buttons. The exact pair may differ between front-load and top-load controls.
- GE and LG models change significantly between dial controls, touch panels, and model generations. Look for a folded tech sheet, quick-reference label, or troubleshooting sticker near the lid, door frame, or control area.
- If you cannot find a sticker, search the model number plus “diagnostic mode” or “self test.” Manufacturer support pages and model manuals are more reliable than generic button lists.
When a code appears, copy it exactly and search it together with the washer model number. A specific code is much more useful than a broad symptom like “won’t spin” or “won’t drain.”
If you cannot enter diagnostic mode, that does not prove the washer is broken. It usually means the sequence does not match your exact model. Switch to symptom-based troubleshooting instead of repeatedly experimenting with service combinations.
Some service modes also allow individual component tests, such as the drain pump or motor. Those tests are only helpful if you know how to interpret them. For intermittent faults, a technician with the model-specific service manual can often get to the cause faster.
Sources
- Whirlpool – Washer Quick Diagnostic Test Mode (2025)
- Samsung Support – Washing Machine Self-Diagnosis (2024)
- GE Appliances – Accessing Washer Diagnostic Mode (2025)