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LG Washer CL Error: Causes & Fixes

CL is the one thing on LG's error-code list that is not a fault: LG states that CL is not an error code, but an indicator that the child lock feature is active, and that while it is active the control panel is disabled and settings cannot be adjusted. Nothing is broken.

What LG washer CL means

While CL is showing the machine will not accept a new wash at all: LG states that if child lock is enabled you will not be able to start your machine until the child lock feature is turned off.

CL sits apart from everything else on the display for a reason. LG describes an error code as an indicator of a failure or malfunction with the product, while CL is an indicator of a setting. If the display shows a two-character code that is not CL, it belongs in the error-code list rather than here.

CL is not a front-load-only quirk: LG's dedicated error code list for its top load washer line carries the same CL entry, defining Control Lock (Child Lock) as a function that locks the panel to prevent accidental operation, especially by children, so the code means the same thing across both product lines.

Some newer LG top load washers and the WM6998 do not use a button-hold at all: Control Lock is set from a Settings menu, and while it is enabled LG states no buttons except Power and Settings will work, one more live button than the front-load behaviour described above, and the screen shows a message that Control Lock is enabled rather than just the letters CL.

Before you work on your washer

  • Power: Unplug the washer or switch off its circuit breaker before removing panels or touching wiring.
  • Water: Turn off the water supply valve before disconnecting hoses or the inlet valve.
  • Heat: Water and the heating element can be hot right after a cycle; let the washer cool first.
  • Sharp debris: Wear gloves when reaching into the filter or sump; broken glass often collects there.
  • Stop: If you smell burning, see smoke or sparks, or find water near wiring, switch off the breaker and call a technician.
  • Mains wiring, the power cord, or the outlet is involved: Work on the washer's mains wiring, power cord, outlet, or house circuit is not a do-it-yourself repair. Do not open the cabinet to test or replace wiring, the drain pump's electrical connections, or the lid switch circuit.
  • Disconnect power before opening the washer: Unplug the washer or switch off its circuit breaker before removing the pump filter or access panel, before pulling the machine out, and before touching any wiring.

What causes LG CL

  1. Child lock is switched on, disabling every button but power: CL is the one thing on LG's error-code list that is not a fault: LG states that CL is not an error code, but an indicator that the child lock feature is active, and that while it is active the control panel is disabled and settings cannot be adjusted. Nothing is broken. Difficulty 1/5.
  2. The lock will not clear because this model uses a different button or combination: Which button to hold depends on the model, and this is where most attempts fail. LG lists: models with a lock symbol, hold Temp and Rinse together for 3 seconds; models with a button marked Child Lock, hold the Spin button for 3 seconds; models with the Steam function, hold the Steam button for 3 seconds. On a WashTower, hold the Spin button on the washer's own panel. Difficulty 1/5.
  3. Control panel fault: the buttons stay dead with the lock cleared and after a reset: Only after the lock is cleared and the reset has been tried does this become a repair: LG states that if the washer still does not start after trying the above, service will be required for a proper diagnosis. Difficulty 3/5.

Find the cause of CL on your washer

What is the panel doing right now?

Step-by-step checks for LG CL

Hold the lock button for three to five seconds with the power on

About 5 minutes

  1. Press POWER so the washer is on; the lock cannot be cleared with the machine off.
  2. Press and hold the lock button, or both buttons of the pair, for a full 3 to 5 seconds.
  3. Listen for the beep: LG uses one beep on the press and another to say the lock has changed state.
  4. Check the display: CL and the lock icon clear when it has worked.
  5. If nothing happens, try the next candidate button and hold it the full three seconds; a tap will not do it.

Find the button that carries the lock on your model

About 5 minutes

  1. Switch the washer on: with child lock enabled the lock icon lights up on the display.
  2. Look along the panel for a padlock icon or a button labelled Child Lock, Control Lock or CL.
  3. If no button carries the lock, check the three LG patterns: a lock symbol over Temp and Rinse, the Spin button on models with a Child Lock label, or the Steam button on models with Steam.
  4. The owner's manual for your model number settles it; LG says the exact steps vary by machine.

Reset the control with the Start/Pause hold while the power is off

About 10 minutes

  1. Power the washer off, then unplug it or switch off its circuit breaker.
  2. While the washer is still without power, press and hold Start/Pause for 5 seconds.
  3. Plug it back in or switch the breaker on, power the washer on and start a cycle.
  4. Watch whether the panel now responds to ordinary presses.

How to fix LG CL

Hold the child lock button until the washer beeps

About 5 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Power the washer on.
  2. Press and hold the button carrying the lock icon, or the labelled Child Lock button, for 3 to 5 seconds.
  3. Wait for the second beep and watch CL disappear from the display.
  4. Select a cycle to confirm the panel takes presses again.
  5. Do not bother unplugging it first: the lock survives a power cut and the end of a cycle.

Use the button combination your model actually uses

About 10 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. On models with a lock symbol printed between two buttons, hold Temp and Rinse together for 3 seconds.
  2. On models with a button marked Child Lock, hold the Spin button for 3 seconds.
  3. On models with a Steam function, hold the Steam button for 3 seconds.
  4. On a WashTower, use the Spin button on the washer's own panel rather than the dryer's.
  5. If none of those clears it, look up the child lock step for your model number in the owner's manual.

Use the Settings menu, not a button hold, on WM6998 and similar models

About 5 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Press the Settings button on the control panel.
  2. Use the arrow button to move to Control Lock, then press OK.
  3. Use the arrow button to select Disable, then press OK.
  4. Confirm the Control Lock message clears and the other buttons respond.

When to call a technician about LG CL

  • Book service when the panel stays dead with no lock on it

Sources

  1. GE Appliance - Circuit Breaker Trips, GE Appliances (retrieved 2026-09-21)
  2. [LG Front Load Washer] How to enable or disable CL(Child Lock), LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-24)
  3. [LG Top Load Washer] Error Code List, LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-27)
  4. [LG top load washing machine - Buttons] [Control lock] A message 'Control Lock is enabled' appears on the screen. I want to unlock buttons. (New models), LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-27)
  5. LG Washer & Dryer - How to Use the Child Lock Feature (CL Error Code), LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-24)
  6. LG Washer - Error Code List, LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-24)
  7. LG Washer - How to Clean the Drain Pump Filter, LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  8. LG Washer - How to Use Control Lock on the WM6998, LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-27)
  9. LG Washer - Troubleshooting Unresponsive Washer Buttons, LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-24)
  10. GE Recalls Front-Load Washers Due to Fire and Shock Hazards, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  11. Cleaning the Pump Filter - Front Load Washer, Whirlpool Corporation (retrieved 2026-09-20)

Last updated October 6, 2026 · facts last verified October 6, 2026 · How we source and verify

Guidance only; follow your appliance manual and local codes. If anything looks unsafe, stop and call a qualified technician. Safety disclaimer