Maytag Washing Machine Door Will Not Unlock

If you have a Maytag clothes washer and the door will not unlock, it may be because of one of these common problems. It might be that the washer is still full of water, lint is jamming the components, a door interlock switch issue, or you could try to cancel the wash cycle and wait.

Maytag washer door will not unlockMaytag washer door won’t unlock

Washer door unlock fix: Cancel the wash cycle, wait for it to drain the water and the door should unlock, OR pull the green string near the detergent area, OR pull the lever on the bottom of the door switch, OR unplug the washer for 5 minutes to reset. These 4 things should unlock your washers door.

How to unlock Maytag washer door?

If there are no errors with the washer and no components are faulty, you can try and cancel the wash cycle, press and keep holding the CYCLE END or CANCEL button and wait a few minutes and the door should unlock on its own. This will work with all washers if you are able to cancel the wash cycle manually.

If the door still will not unlock, then the water level may be at too high of a level in the washers tub for the washer to unlock the door in a safe manner.

What if the washer is full of water?

If the washer is full of water and the door is locked, it would be better to drain the water out of the washers tub before unlocking the door. Draining the water from the tub will allow the door to unlock once it is empty of water.

The washing machine can be safely drained of water by moving the washer drain hose lower than the washer drum and let gravity do its job. Let the water flow into a drain or a bucket. If the washer is not full of water continue troubleshooting below.

There should be a safety lever (tear shaped tab) on the very bottom of the door lock that can be pulled until a clicking sound is heard to manually unlock the washer door. This safety lever can only be accessed from the inside of the washer.

How to take off the top washer panel?

  1. Remove power to the washer.
  2. Remove two screws on the two lower front corners of the washer.
  3. Pull down on the bottom of the front panel to remove it from the two plastic clips at the top of the front panel.
  4. Then lift upward on the top of the washer to remove the top panel and access the tear shaped tab that can be pulled to unlock the door.

If you remove the top washer panel, you can reach down into the washer and pull the tear shaped tab at the bottom of the door lock and it will unlock the door.

On some of the Maytag washing machine models, there is a green plastic rope/string located near the detergent area that if pulled, will unlock the door. You may have to remove part of the dispenser with the lid part that opens to see the green plastic string. Once you find the green string, pull it and the door will unlock.

How to reset override Maytag washer?

  1. Find the OFF button that is located to the right of the washers START/PAUSE button.
  2. Depress the OFF button in 20 to 30 seconds of starting the wash cycle and cancel the wash cycle.
  3. Let the washer drain by depressing the OFF button if water is still in the wash tub.
  4. The washer will now drain and the washer will have been reset.


How to Release a Stuck Washing Machine Door

If you are still cannot open your Maytag washer door on model numbers mvw7232hw, mvw6200kw, mah5500bww, or mah6700aww, you may have an obstruction or faulty part that is preventing the door from allowing it to open.

If you still have issues with your washer after reading the info above, leave a comment below and include your model number and someone will assist you.

15 thoughts on “Maytag Washing Machine Door Will Not Unlock”

  1. Appliance Repair Assistant

    Bianca,
    Washing Machine Model MVW7232HW Turned Off Mid Cycle:
    There might be an issue with the main control board of the washing machine.
    The washing machine might have shut off in the middle of the cycle, and the smart screen might not be functioning.
    The locking mechanism might not be releasing, which is preventing you from accessing your clothes.
    To get your clothes out, you can manually unlock the door by unplugging the washer and waiting a few minutes and it should unlock.
    -RR

  2. Bianca Ramirez

    Model: MVW7232HW
    My washer turned off in the middle of a cycle it’s full of water with clothes. There is no power from my smart screen and the locking mechanism won’t release. How can I get my clothes out?

  3. Appliance Repair Assistant

    Patricia,
    Your Maytag washer water turned off while washing:
    If this is happening where you’re getting error codes and there’s no water coming into the washer and now nothing responds on the control panel, try unplugging the washer for 30 minutes.
    Then, make sure water is getting to the washer.
    There may be something wrong with the water inlet valve or possibly the water may be turned off to the washer and it caused error codes.
    Try the reset with unplugging it and let us know what happens once you turn it back on.
    If we had the model number of your Maytag washer it would be a lot easier for us to troubleshoot this.
    -RR

  4. My water shut off while I was washing. There was an error code and the lock light was flashing and it continues to sound like it’s draining but there’s no water. I pushed the power off and the error went away. I can’t remember the code, it might have just been EO or E something. It’s still making the draining sound but again no water. The door lock button counted down two different times but did not open. Now nothing responds. There are no lights except the lock button flashes. I’ve tried resetting it several times. The draining and flashing door light continues. I tried leaving it draining (no water) but never stopped. It seems it happened because it lost water during the cycle. I do not know what cycle it was on when it happened.

  5. Appliance Repair Assistant

    Peggy,
    Can you tell us the model number of your Maytag washing machine?
    Also, your washing machine should not unlock until it has finished.
    This is for safety reasons so you do not open up the washer while it’s running and injure yourself.
    So is the washer not unlocking even after it’s finished or you’re just trying to open the washer while it’s still running?
    -RR

  6. My Maytag washer will not unlock until it is finished washing I have tried everything.
    I have no one to help me and I can not afford a service man.
    Had a service man out and he installed an inside water filter even though we had a whole house filter.
    The only way to wash a normal load with enough water is to use deep water wash and that cost too much I cant even sell the washer.

  7. Maytag front loading washing model # MAV9600EWW
    The wash cycle finished and drained but the door is still locked. The display does not say it is locked. I tried the release inside the machine but that did not work.

  8. Michelle Greer

    Washing Machine – Model # MVWB835DW
    Bought 1/16/2020
    Doing a small load all power of machine is off n lid is locked.
    Still does not come on after troubleshooting circuit breaker.

  9. The lid on my Maytag top-loader has locked. Model #W11101067A.
    When load should have been finished, the done light was not on and the lid was locked.
    Powering off for 15 mins did not help.

  10. Serial number CX1051696
    My washer is locked and can’t get it to open. It has LOC and flashing a lock and key, what can I do??

  11. My top load Maytag Bravos washing machine will not unlock. The water has drained and I have turned it off and still won’t open. Prior to the washing a piece came off of the lid lock. We replaced it, started washing and cycle completed, but now will not open.

  12. Not a good experience with our new Maytag top load, the door will not unlock and the machine continues for ever. Any help?

  13. Cynthia B. Spence

    Maytag washer, model: MVWC465HW. AFTER wash cycle over both the done and lid lock lights were lighted. Door would not open. cycle was finished and no water in washer. Please help. Thank you!

  14. My Maytag front loader is locked a s when I tried to push the tab inside to unlock it the tab broke off .. how can I get the door open ?
    It’s is unplugged and there is no water inside but there are some towels I need to get out

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