Washer Not Spinning? Causes From Unbalanced Loads to Lid Locks

Quick answer

Soaking-wet clothes at the end of a cycle usually have a simple cause: an unbalanced load (often one bulky item or a tangled sheet), a low-spin or no-spin setting, water that never drained, or a lid or door that didn’t lock. Spread the load out evenly and run a Drain & Spin cycle first. If an empty washer still won’t spin on the brand’s spin test, LG and Samsung say it needs service.

Match the symptom to the likely cause

Find the row that matches what you see.

What you see	Likely cause	Start at
Banging or shaking, then wet clothes; an unbalanced code (UE, Ub) or a flashing Spin light	Unbalanced load	Step 2
You washed one rug, one comforter, or a very small load	Load can’t balance	Step 2
Delicate, Hand Wash, Low Spin, or No Spin was selected	Setting	Step 1
The power went out during the cycle	Spin never reached full speed	Step 1
Water is still standing in the tub	Drain problem	Step 3
Lid lock light flashing, or a door code (dE, dS, dL)	Lid or door not locking	Step 4
Washer rocks or walks across the floor	Not level	Step 5
Lots of suds, or a suds code (Sud, SUd, Sd)	Too much or non-HE detergent	Step 6
Water pumps out, but the empty tub never turns	Worn or failed part	Step 8

Codes vary by model. Your owner's manual lists the codes for your washer. Source: Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Maytag, and GE support pages listed in the sources

Before you start: it may still be working

GE washers can pause for up to 3 minutes between steps, and pumping out can take another 3 minutes before the spin starts. Don’t turn the dial forward during a pause, or you can skip the pump-out.

A washer that seems to be washing again may be fixing the load. Whirlpool and GE washers add water and move the clothes around when they sense an off-balance load. Samsung’s Ur code and the lowercase uE on LG top-loaders also just mean the washer is retrying.

1. Check the spin setting and the cycle

• Low Spin or No Spin. Lower spin speeds remove less water. Whirlpool front-loaders also remember settings per cycle, so a Heavy Duty load run once without spin will skip the spin next time too.
• Delicate and Hand Wash spin slowly on purpose, leaving more water in the load to keep fabrics from shrinking and wrinkling (Whirlpool).
• A GE top-loader’s OPTIONS knob. If it sits between options or points down, the washer may not spin. It should beep at each option; no beep means the knob needs service (GE).
• A power interruption. A washer that lost power during spin might not reach full speed (Whirlpool). GE suggests checking fuses, breakers, and the outlet by plugging in a small lamp.

To get the water out now, run a spin-only cycle: Drain & Spin on Whirlpool and GE. For LG, see step 8 or the Spin Only buttons in the LG OE code guide.

2. Rebalance the load

GE calls an out-of-balance load the typical cause of wet clothes in a top-loader, and every brand’s spin guide lists it. Whirlpool’s signs: loud noise during spin, heavy shaking, and wet clothes at the end.

To fix it now: pause or cancel the cycle and wait for the lid or door to unlock. Untangle the load, spread it evenly around the drum, and run Drain & Spin. GE says to do this even if you never heard banging.

To keep it from happening again:

• Don’t wash one heavy item by itself. Add two or three items to a single rug or pillow (Whirlpool, LG).
• Get the load size right. A too-small load may not spin on GE front-loaders. Whirlpool says to load loosely, no higher than the top row of holes in the basket; LG front-loaders work best about two-thirds full. Samsung counts 3 to 5 pounds as a small load and 6 to 16 as large (a pair of jeans is about a pound).
• Use the bulky or bedding cycle for comforters, blankets, and heavy coats, not Normal (Whirlpool). LG and Samsung say a lower spin speed can help with big items.
• Load evenly. GE suggests placing dry items loosely around the outside of the basket and filling toward the center.
• Skip items the maker warns against: floor mats and pillows (Samsung); bath mats, carpets, electric blankets, rubber mats, and waterproof clothes (LG).

3. Water still in the tub? Fix the drain first

A washer tries to drain before it spins, Samsung explains, so if it can’t drain, it never reaches the spin step. Work through washer not draining first, or LG Washer OE Code if your LG shows OE.

Siphoning can cause spin trouble even when the tub looks empty. GE says its hose should go no more than 6 inches into the standpipe and fit loosely. If the hose end or standpipe is too low, water siphons out, which GE links to more out-of-balance loads.

4. Make sure the lid or door locks

The lid or door switch lets the washer run only when it’s securely closed (Whirlpool), and none of GE’s top-loaders will spin with the lid up.

• Whirlpool top-loaders: a flashing Lid Lock light means the lock didn’t move into place, the lock motor can’t get power, or something keeps the lid from closing. Look for clothing or packaging between the lock and the striker (the part on the lid that fits into the lock), and wipe away detergent or lint with a soft, damp cloth. Some models need Start held for up to 3 seconds.
• GE space-saving top-loaders show dE or E2 when the lid was opened. Close the lid and press Start/Pause within about 30 seconds, or the washer shuts off.
• Front-loaders: small items caught in the rubber door seal can keep the door from closing, so close it firmly (Whirlpool). A lock that clicks on, off, and on again at the start is a normal self-test. GE front-loaders also won’t spin if the detergent drawer isn’t fully closed.
• Samsung door codes such as dS, dE, or dL mean the door isn’t detected as locked. On some Samsung models, dC means an unbalanced load instead, so check your manual.

If the latch is clean but won’t lock, or it’s damaged, Samsung says to request service. Don’t tape, prop, or bypass a lid switch.

5. Level the washer

A washer that isn’t level can unbalance the load and stop it from spinning correctly, Whirlpool says. Check side to side and front to back.

• Rock it by pressing on diagonal corners; all four feet should sit firmly. If one corner wobbles, Samsung says to shorten the other legs first and keep the legs as short as you can.
• Adjust the feet. On Samsung washers, turning a leg clockwise raises that corner. Loosen a front-loader’s locking nuts first and tighten them after.
• Look inside a top-loader. LG suggests checking the plastic guard around the drum. If more shows on one side, raise the side the tub leans toward.
• Test it. LG suggests Rinse & Spin with about 6 pounds of laundry, and non-skid pads if the floor is slippery.

6. Cut back on detergent

Non-HE detergent, or too much detergent, makes extra suds that can cut the spin speed and leave very wet loads (Whirlpool).

• Use HE detergent and measure it for the load size and soil level. LG and Whirlpool both say to use less if your water is soft.
• Suds codes: Whirlpool front-loaders show Sud or Sd and add extra rinses. Samsung’s SUd codes mean the washer paused to let suds settle, a detergent issue, not a fault.
• “No splash” chlorine bleach contains a thickener that Whirlpool says can cause excess suds.

After a heavy suds problem, LG and Whirlpool suggest a tub-cleaning cycle. The washer mildew guide lists each brand’s cleaning cycle.

7. Try a reset if your model has one

Use only your own brand’s reset, and check the manual first.

• GE Hydrowave top-loaders (select 2011 to 2015 models) that fill but won’t agitate or spin may need a motor reset. Unplug the washer for 1 minute, plug it back in, then lift and lower the lid 6 times within 12 seconds, at least 2 inches each time. If it stops again after a couple of loads, GE recommends service.
• Samsung Calibration Mode: with the drum empty, press and hold Temp. and Delay End for 3 seconds until Cb appears, then press Start/Pause. The tub turns back and forth for 1 to 3 minutes. This can get the spin working again, especially after a drain problem is fixed. If your manual doesn’t mention it, your model doesn’t have it.

8. Test with an empty washer

• LG top-loaders: run Rinse & Spin with nothing inside (about 20 minutes). If the unbalanced code still shows, LG says the washer needs repair.
• LG spin test: start Rinse & Spin, let it fill, pause, and turn the washer off. Turn it back on and pick a high spin speed to run a spin only. If the drum won’t spin, LG says service is needed.
• Samsung: if the tub doesn’t turn during Calibration Mode, request service.
• GE: if water pumps out and you’re sure the motor runs but the tub doesn’t spin, service is required.

Parts that can cause it (for a technician)

• Motor. A washer that never spins may have a motor problem that needs service, Samsung says. Its motor codes include 3E, 3C, and E3.
• Clutch. Samsung lists clutch errors (PC, PE). Whirlpool’s parts store says a worn drive clutch on some Whirlpool top-loaders can cause spin problems.
• Drive belt. On some Whirlpool top-loaders, a worn or broken belt between the motor and clutch pulleys can cause spin problems (Whirlpool parts store).
• Motor coupling. On Whirlpool direct-drive washers, a failed coupler typically lets the washer fill and drain but not agitate or spin (same source).

Diagnosing and replacing these parts is a technician’s job, and this site doesn’t cover those repairs.

Brand notes: codes and spin tests

Brand	Unbalanced load	Lid or door	Spin test or reset
Samsung	Ub, U6, UE, 1 Ub, 1U6 (Ur means it is retrying; dC on some models)	dS, d5, dE, dL, LO, FL and others	Calibration Mode (Cb); service if the tub doesn’t turn
LG	Lowercase uE while rebalancing; UE or Ub when it needs help	Not listed on these pages; check the manual	Rinse & Spin with an empty drum; repair if the code returns
Whirlpool and Maytag	Washer self-corrects, then shows an error if it can’t	Lid Lock light flashing	Drain & Spin
GE	Flashing Spin light or bALAnCINg (2015 and newer top-loaders)	dE or E2 (space-saving top-loaders)	Drain & Spin; Hydrowave motor reset (select 2011 to 2015 models)

Codes vary by model and year. Maytag's top-load Not Spinning page gives the same checks as Whirlpool's. Source: Manufacturer support pages listed in the sources

When to call for service

To keep it spinning, load loosely and evenly, mixing heavy and light items (Whirlpool), and measure HE detergent.

Clothes spin out fine but the dryer won’t warm up? See dryer not heating. More laundry guides are in Washers and Dryers. Read the safety disclaimer before any repair.