Samsung Washer CL Code: What It Means and How to Turn It Off
Updated · from manufacturer documentation
CL on a Samsung washer means Child Lock is switched on — it isn't a fault and nothing is broken. Child Lock locks the control panel so the cycle you picked can't be changed, and CL flashes on the display whenever a button is pressed. Turn Child Lock off and the machine responds normally again.
Why You're Seeing CL
| Cause | Likelihood | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Child Lock is active | Practically always | CL flashes when a button is pressed; the Child Lock icon — a smiling lock or a baby, depending on the model — is lit |
| Child Lock was left on from an earlier cycle | Common | Restarting the washer doesn't clear it: Child Lock survives a power cycle |
| Child Lock switched on by accident | Occasional | It's two buttons held together, so it can be triggered without noticing |
| You're a technician in Board Input Test Mode | Rare | CL there is a test readout meaning the door is closed — see the note below |
How to Turn Child Lock Off
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Hold the two Child Lock buttons together
On the models Samsung documents this for, hold Temp and Rinse at the same time for 3 seconds. The Child Lock indicator goes out and the panel starts responding again.
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If that pair does nothing, check your model's combination
Samsung states plainly that the buttons used to disable Child Lock — and the buttons that keep working while it's on — vary between models, and can also depend on whether a cycle is running. The two Child Lock buttons are marked on the panel itself; your model's manual names them exactly.
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Don't bother unplugging the washer
Restarting the machine will not disable Child Lock. It's stored deliberately, so a child can't defeat it by switching the washer off and back on.
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On models with a Temporary off setting, expect two presses
Hold both buttons once to make the icon flash, then hold both buttons again to switch it off.
What Else Child Lock Changes
On front-load Samsung washers, Child Lock also locks the door. On some top-load models that have no door lock, safety takes over instead: if the door is opened while Child Lock is on, an alarm sounds, the display shows CL and dE, and the washer begins draining automatically after 30 seconds until the water is at a safe level. That drain is a drowning precaution and can't be stopped part-way — so CL paired with dE isn't two faults, it's the lock and the open door being reported together.
While Child Lock is active, only the Power button works. That is the quickest way to tell Child Lock apart from a dead control panel: if Power still responds and CL flashes, the panel is fine.
One note for technicians: "CL" also appears in Samsung's service documentation with a completely different meaning. Inside Board Input Test Mode, the door-position readout shows OP when the door is open and CL when it is closed. That readout exists only inside the technician's self-test and has nothing to do with the CL seen during a normal wash.
Full list: all Samsung washer error codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CL on a Samsung washer an error?
No. Samsung is explicit that the CL sign does not mean the machine is broken — it's a display message showing that Child Lock is on, meant to protect children and the elderly.
How do I turn off CL on a Samsung washer?
Press and hold Temp and Rinse together for 3 seconds. If your model uses a different pair, the two Child Lock buttons are marked on the control panel — the combination varies between models.
Why won't unplugging the washer clear CL?
Because Child Lock is designed to survive it. Restarting the washer will not disable Child Lock; you have to press the button combination.
Why did my washer show CL and dE and start draining?
The door was opened while Child Lock was on. The washer sounds an alarm, shows both codes, and begins draining after 30 seconds so the tub can't hold an unsafe water level with the door open.
Why do only some buttons work when CL is showing?
That's the feature working. With Child Lock activated, only the Power button responds — every other button is locked so the running cycle can't be changed.
Based on Samsung's official Child Lock documentation for washing machines, plus the Samsung WF328AAW service documentation for the Board Input Test readout. Last updated: .