A washing machine that won’t respond to any buttons — showing “CL”, “LOC”, a small padlock symbol or simply ignoring everything you press — usually has the child lock switched on. Child lock is a safety feature designed to prevent small children from changing or cancelling a wash cycle, but it’s easy to activate accidentally. Here’s how to turn it off on every major brand sold in India.
What is child lock on a washing machine?
Child lock disables the control panel buttons so that a running cycle can’t be changed or stopped. When it’s on, pressing buttons does nothing — the machine continues its cycle (or stays paused) and ignores input. It doesn’t mean the machine is broken. On most machines, child lock is activated by pressing and holding two specific buttons for about 3 seconds; the same action turns it off. The display usually shows CL, LOC, a padlock icon, or the letters “Child Lock” when it’s active.
How to turn off child lock by brand
LG washing machines
On most LG front-loaders and top-loaders, child lock shows as CL on the display. To deactivate: press and hold the two buttons marked with the child-lock symbol — often the Child Lock labelled button, or a combination such as Rinse + Spin or Temp + Option, held simultaneously for about 3 seconds. The CL indicator will disappear and buttons will respond again. The exact button combination varies by model; if unsure, check the label on the control panel — LG prints the child lock buttons on the panel itself. For LG-specific error codes, see our LG error codes guide.
Samsung washing machines
Samsung shows child lock as CL on the display, sometimes alongside a padlock symbol. To turn it off: press and hold the buttons labelled Child Lock (on models that have a dedicated button) for 3 seconds, OR press and hold the Temp and Rinse buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds on models without a dedicated button. On some Samsung top-loaders, the combination is Smart Control + Eco Bubble. If one combination doesn’t work, try the other — Samsung’s button layout varies between the WW (front-load) and WA (top-load) ranges.
IFB washing machines
IFB front-loaders show child lock as a small padlock symbol on the display. To deactivate: press and hold the Spin Speed and Soil Level buttons (or the equivalent function buttons on your specific model) simultaneously for 3–5 seconds until the padlock disappears. On some models, a dedicated “Child Lock” button is present — hold it for 3 seconds. If you use the IFB SmartConnect app, child lock can also be toggled there. See our IFB error codes guide for other display codes.
Whirlpool washing machines
Whirlpool shows child lock as LOC or LC. To turn it off: press and hold the button labelled Control Lock for approximately 3 seconds. On models without a dedicated Control Lock button, press and hold the End of Cycle Signal button for 3 seconds. A beep and disappearing LOC indicator confirm it’s off. See our Whirlpool error codes guide for LOC and other codes.
Godrej washing machines
Godrej top-loaders typically activate child lock by pressing and holding the Start/Pause button for 3–5 seconds, and the same action deactivates it. On some models, the Wash and Rinse buttons held together achieve the same result. If the panel shows no indicator but all buttons are unresponsive, try the Start/Pause hold first.
Bosch and Siemens washing machines
Bosch and Siemens share the same platform. Child lock is usually shown as a key or padlock icon. To deactivate: turn the programme dial to the Off position, then back to any cycle. Alternatively, press and hold the Start button for 5 seconds. On some models, a specific combination such as Rinse Hold + Spin held for 3 seconds works. Check the label printed on your control panel — Bosch prints the child lock combination there.
Haier washing machines
Haier displays child lock as a padlock icon. To turn it off: press and hold the button marked with the padlock or “Child Lock” symbol for 3 seconds. On models without a dedicated button, pressing and holding Delay Start and Temperature simultaneously for 3 seconds usually works.
If none of the button combinations work
If you’ve tried the above and the panel is still unresponsive, try a power reset first: switch the machine off and unplug it (or switch off the socket) for 60 seconds, then restart. This clears most transient electronic states including a stuck child lock. If the panel remains unresponsive after a reset, it’s possible the control board has a separate issue rather than child lock — in that case, check for error codes on the display and see the relevant brand guide.
Quick reference table
| Brand | Display shows | How to turn off |
|---|---|---|
| LG | CL | Hold child-lock labelled buttons ~3 sec |
| Samsung | CL / padlock | Hold Child Lock button or Temp + Rinse ~3 sec |
| IFB | Padlock icon | Hold Spin Speed + Soil Level ~3–5 sec |
| Whirlpool | LOC / LC | Hold Control Lock button ~3 sec |
| Godrej | Panel unresponsive | Hold Start/Pause ~3–5 sec |
| Bosch / Siemens | Key / padlock icon | Dial to Off then back, or hold Start ~5 sec |
| Haier | Padlock icon | Hold Child Lock / padlock button ~3 sec |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my washing machine not responding to any buttons?
The most likely cause is child lock being active. Check the display for CL, LOC, or a padlock icon, and press and hold the child-lock button combination for your brand (see the table above) for 3 seconds. If no display is showing and the machine is completely unresponsive, try a power reset first.
How do I know if child lock is on?
Look for CL, LOC, or a padlock icon on the display. On models without a digital display, the machine will simply ignore button presses while continuing to run any active cycle.
My washing machine shows CL but the button combination doesn’t work — what do I do?
Try unplugging the machine for 60 seconds and restarting. If CL still shows and buttons don’t respond, try checking your exact model’s manual (usually findable by entering the model number online), as button combinations do vary between models even within the same brand.
The bottom line
Child lock is the most common reason a washing machine appears broken when it isn’t. A 3-second button hold is almost always all it takes to restore normal function. Check the display for the indicator, use the combination for your brand from the table above, and if that doesn’t work, power-reset the machine. The manual remains the final authority on the exact button combination for your specific model.