Recently we had a power outage and the display on our refrigerator went blank. The refrigerator is working but the screen/display panel is not. Our power went out for a few hours and now we can’t get the display panel working again. The fridge is cooling and so is the freezer. The only issue is that the display is not working and not showing the numbers. I have heard you can press a button on the display and it will reset it. What do I press to get the numbers to come back? I have a Samsung refrigerator.
Refrigerator Display Not Working
Usually after a power outage your refrigerator will reset itself. The fridge and freezer section should be working just fine after the power outage. The only issue is the digital display panel will not be lit. Some refrigerators may not begin cooling again and the reset needs to be done once power is restored. We have seen many people having all the food in the refrigerator and freezer going bad as the power was out for many many hours.
If after a power outage, your refrigerator is cooling or not cooling, you will usually need to reset the front display panel. This is to get the panel working again and also to get the refrigerator to begin cooling again if applicable. All the below methods and conditions for reset will vary depending on the make and model of your refrigerator.
We will show you which buttons to press to reset the display control panel on your refrigerator. Many of the examples below apply to Samsung refrigerators but also can apply to GE, LG, and many other refrigerator makes and models. If your fridge flashes E and 5 after a power outage, or is blinking a blue letter, you can use the methods below to reset your refrigerator.
Refrigerator display panel reset example
To reset your refrigerator display panel: (Different methods for different refrigerators)
Refrigerator Display Reset Method 1 – Hold down the “Energy Saving” and “Lighting” buttons at the same time for 10 seconds (or top left & right buttons). Your display panel should immediately return to normal.
Refrigerator Display Reset Method 2 – Press “Power Freeze” & “Power Cool” at the same time for 10 seconds and the display should reset and come back on.
Refrigerator Display Reset Method 3 – Hold the top left and top right soft touch buttons on the screen “power save” and “lighting” button and hold both buttons for about 8 seconds and it will reset.
Refrigerator Display Reset Method 4 – Press the “Freezer” and “Ref” buttons at the same time for 8 seconds and the reset should work.
Refrigerator Display Reset Method 5 – Press and hold the “power freeze” and “vacation” buttons for 8 to 10 seconds and the display will reset.
Refrigerator Display Reset Method 6 – Press and hold the “energy save” and “lighting” button for 10 seconds and the display will reset.
Refrigerator Display Reset Method 7 – Press and hold the “ice type” and “filter reset” button for 10 seconds and the display will come back on.
Refrigerator Display Reset Method 8 – Press and hold down “quick freeze” and “vacation” for 8 seconds and the display will reset.
These refrigerator display reset methods should reset the display panel on your refrigerator. If it does not, you may have a bad display board, bad main control board, or have a wiring harness issue.
- There are many types and models of refrigerators. The general way to troubleshoot a refrigerator that has a blank display panel, is to first try the reset methods above. If nothing resets the display, you will need to troubleshoot to find out what is causing the display to be blank.
- First try to see if the display panel may have a bad or loose connection with the wire harness. If you find it is connected properly and secure, you may have a bad display board. If you can determine that the display panel and display board are working properly, you need to trace the wire harnesses to find where the issue is coming from.
- If the wire harnesses are not damaged and secure, you may have a bad main control board. The main control board is located behind the refrigerator under a small rectangle shaped panel. Test all components and find which part is causing your no display issue. Below are some parts for all refrigerators including the display panel, display board, wire harnesses, and main control boards for all refrigerators.
Refrigerator display boards and main control boards parts
If your refrigerator is NOT COOLING, check the page here for how to troubleshoot a refrigerator not cooling.
If you have an issue you cannot fix yourself on your refrigerator, please leave your question below and we will be happy to assist you with your refrigerator display problem. Please supply us with the make and model number of your refrigerator when asking a technical question.
Written by Keith Schneerer
Certified Appliance Tech · Founder, RemoveAndReplace.com
Keith has spent 30+ years repairing machines, starting as a military mechanic and later maintaining food processing equipment before moving into appliance repair. He founded RemoveAndReplace.com to share field-tested repair advice.
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I have an LG refrigerator LFX28977SB/00, The cooling and freezer are working just as they should. However the ice maker and ice/water dispenser does not work. also the display is blank and the light on the dispenser stays on. I have tried all the reset suggestions but nothing works. Any help would be appreciated. thanks
Hello. I have a GE Profile side by side that quit with out any warning. Both mother board and temp control board replaced but still no life. What do you suggest for the next step? I do have lights inside, nothing else. My model # is PSS26LSRCSS
My frigidaire model fghc 2331 pffaa froze up the back of the freezer so we unplugged it defrosted it got new filters plugged it back in and now our display panel won’t come on…how do we fix it?
I have a GE Model #GFE28GSKBSS Serial #AH505507.
I cleaned the outside door by spraying it with 409 Cleaner. Right afterward, the control panel for the water dispenser/ice maker/temperature control/light etc. stopped working. No lights were on and nothing would dispense. There did appear to be liquid behind the front covering.
I tried drying it out with a hair dryer (with no heat on). That didn’t work.
I also took the control panel facing off and nothing seemed shorted out or burned or disconnected.
I unplugged the fridge multiple times after trying these things to attempt to reset and that didn’t work. After reading some tips, I held my fingers on multiple functions at the same time in an attempt to reset but that didn’t work. So, I’m not at a loss. I’m hoping you can provide instructions or information that I can use to try to fix it before calling a technician out.
Thank you!
Hello, My GE French Door Refrigerator new in 2012 Model GFSL6KKYELS has an issue with the front control panel. It has lights but does not respond to touches. Sometime it will respond and afterward temp setting automatically change themselves and the power cooler but keeps coming on and lowering the fridge temp to 29 or 30 eventhough it is set at 38. I have reset the power several times and still have same issues. I used the auto diagnostics by holding down the energy saver and alarm button for 8 seconds and get an N2 code at the freezer temp reading and an A8 code at the fridge temp reading. Please help. Thanks
I have a Whilpool Gold fridge mode #GC5SHEXNO05
For a couple of weeks the fridge has kept switching from Farenheit to Celsius. We noticed that the fridge and freezer have been too cold (frozen veggies, eggs in the back etc)
Now the fridge light and display turn off. Still cold/frozen, but no ice produced. No power outages that I know of, but I did have to reset the clock on my microwave? I have turned circuit breaker off for 10 min. And on. No change. I can push the on button and the light/controls do start (we can get water), but it turns off again eventually.
I’ve pushed various buttons for 8-10 seconds. I just tried turning on quick cool, and it’s staying on longer as I type. But it’s -6 and 34 degrees already. Then changes back to Celsius reading.
I had a refurbished circuit board put in in April (it wasn’t controling the fan any longer). I don’t want to purchase a new fridge. Is it related? Help appreciated!
Called 3 appliance repair people who are booked for a week +.
Dear All,
After a power cut off and back again, my fridge ( samsung AW3-14/AW4-4D), shows an error PC ER , I checked the wire harnes at the upper left corner , unplug and plug again after power off , and then power on again , same issue, tried to reset at first it gave me 41 ER , and after another reset now its showing 0C 0C , both temperatures shows zero value and the fridge still not working ., please help.me in this urgently . Many thanks in advance .