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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After a two hour power outage, my GE refrigerator front panel, light, water, ice are not lit up or working. Freezer is not staying at freezing temp and the refrigerator is cool but not cold. I have unplug for several minutes that didn’t reset it. Have tried numerous combinations of buttons on front, even though manual doesn’t tell me which one to use. Even turned off ice machine and back on. Any other suggestions without having to call a repairman. My serial number is GSHF3KGZBB
Daewoo model DRX31B3S display panel has 4 horizontal indicator light illuminated (so power is on the panel) and I cannot set anything, fridge freezer doesnt work, checked fan using 12dc battery charger and it works 290 ohms resistance on defrost heater, no internal lights either in the fridge or freezer are on.
No ice build up on evaporator.
Exact same thing happened to us after a cleaning, except it didn’t appear to have any moisture behind the panel but that’s the only thing that makes sense. Still not working 6 months later after several attempts to unplug, reset, etc.
James,
Whirlpool refrigerator model #gi5svaxvlo1/ sn#ko1911535 we left our refrigerator door ajar…
This might seem obvious, but have you unplugged the refrigerator for 5 minutes and plugged it back in?
Are any other lights illuminated on the front panel as of right now?
-RR
I have a whirlpool refrigerator model #gi5svaxvlo1/ sn#ko1911535. Unfortunately my wife and I went out of town for almost two days and we left our refrigerator door ajar. The door alarm light was the only light on on our control panel. I’ve tried resetting the control panel but this website isn’t showing results for whirlpool models. Do you have any suggestions on what and how to fix our blank display panel?
Hello.
My refregerator Samsung model RS51K57807S control panel showing code 5C AND the control panel always on , its not same before working for few seconds then it will go to energy saving mode.
NOTE: THE REFREGERATOR WORKING PROPERLY AND BY HOLDING POWER FREEZE AND POWER COOL WILL FIX THE ERROR 5C WHILE THE REFREGERATOR CONECTED TO THE ELECTRICITY.
Hi we have a hotpoint frost free fridge freezer FFa47x
The display panel on the front has been broken for years. No problem until a power outage and now won’t stop beeping since it came on. Please help.