What's Broke home

Samsung Washer Won't Spin: Causes & Fixes

Samsung's SUd or 5UD code, shown on some displays as Sd, 5d, SUdS or 5Ud5, means the washer has sensed too much foam and is pausing the cycle for the suds to dissipate rather than reporting a mechanical fault, which is why the spin never starts.

About a Samsung washer won't spin

Samsung's unbalanced-load code covers more display variants than most owners expect: dc, Ub, U6, Ur, UE, 1 Ub and 1U6 all mean an unevenly loaded tub, and Samsung's own fix is to open the door, spread the laundry out, close the door and press Start again.

A near-identical-looking code family on a Samsung washer means something else entirely: dS, d5, FL, LO, L0, dE, dE1, dE2, dC, dC1, dL, 1 dC, 1dC4 and 1dC1 all mean the control cannot detect the door as closed and locked, checked by the latch, trapped laundry, and whether the door is properly shut.

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.
  • Water on or near the power cord, outlet, or wiring: Water from the tub, the pump filter, or a hose has reached the washer's power cord, its outlet, or wiring inside the machine. Do not touch the washer, its cord, or standing water around it.
  • 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.
  • The tub or drum can still be spinning: A washer tub spins at very high speed and coasts after the cycle stops. Wait until the tub has completely stopped and the lid or door lock has released before reaching inside; never force a locked lid or door open.
  • Heavy appliance: get a second person: A washer is heavy and awkward, and it can tip when it is pulled out or tilted. Do not move, tilt, or lift it by yourself; have a second person help you.
  • Water left in the tub can be scalding hot: A tub left full after a hot or sanitize cycle holds very hot water. Let it cool for about an hour, then drain the water out through the emergency drain hose into a flat container before you open the pump filter.
  • Hard and sharp objects collect in the pump filter: The drain pump filter and coin trap collect loose change, buttons, pins, and other hard items from pockets. Pull debris out carefully and wear gloves; anything broken or pointed in there can cut you.

Why your Samsung washer won't spin

  1. Unbalanced load: Samsung's washer will not spin at high speed: Samsung's own wording for an unbalanced Samsung washer covers three different symptoms under one cause: it will not spin at high speed, which shows up on different machines as spinning slowly, stopping mid-cycle, or throwing an error code. Difficulty 1/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  2. Standing water: the washer cannot reach the spin step because it has not drained: Samsung documents the spin cycle as conditional on draining first: the washer always tries to drain before it spins, and if it cannot, it never moves to the spin step at all, regardless of how the load is balanced. Difficulty 2/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  3. Motor/drive fault: tub does not turn even in Calibration Mode: Samsung's own page for a washer that will not spin at all splits the diagnosis into two very different repairs: it may need service for a motor problem, or the real blocker may be that it never reaches the spin step because it cannot drain first. Difficulty 4/5.
  4. Front load pump filter clogged, blocking the drain the spin depends on: Samsung states plainly that a pump filter only exists on its front load washers, so a top load Samsung washer that will not spin cannot be cleared by hunting for a filter that is not there. Difficulty 2/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  5. Worn top load suspension rods letting the tub move too much: iFixit's check for worn suspension rods on a Samsung top load washer is a bounce test on the open tub: press down hard on both sides of the tub with both hands and let go quickly, and rods that let the tub bounce like a basketball a few times need replacing. Difficulty 4/5. Part cost suspension rod set: moderate (estimate).
  6. Door/lid not detected as closed and locked (dC / door error group): A near-identical-looking code family on a Samsung washer means something else entirely: dS, d5, FL, LO, L0, dE, dE1, dE2, dC, dC1, dL, 1 dC, 1dC4 and 1dC1 all mean the control cannot detect the door as closed and locked, checked by the latch, trapped laundry, and whether the door is properly shut. Difficulty 1/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  7. Excess suds (SUd / 5UD) pausing the cycle before spin: Samsung's SUd or 5UD code, shown on some displays as Sd, 5d, SUdS or 5Ud5, means the washer has sensed too much foam and is pausing the cycle for the suds to dissipate rather than reporting a mechanical fault, which is why the spin never starts. Difficulty 1/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  8. Small load (under about 3-5 lb) collecting to one side: Samsung defines load size in numbers rather than leaving it to guesswork: a small load is 3 to 5 pounds, about a third full, and a large load is 6 to 16 pounds, about three-quarters full, on a Samsung washer. Difficulty 1/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  9. Washer not solid and firm at all four corners: Samsung's own levelling check is physical rather than a general nod to 'make sure it's level': the washer needs a solid, firm connection at all four corners, adjusted by turning the legs clockwise to raise a corner and counterclockwise to lower it. Difficulty 2/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  10. No Spin option chosen on purpose, or Spin Only never run to finish the job: Samsung documents its own No Spin option as the deliberate, non-faulty cause of a load that drains but never spins: it exists specifically for items that cannot tolerate any spinning at all, so choosing it on purpose explains soaking wet laundry with nothing broken. Difficulty 1/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  11. Wrong cycle chosen for the laundry in the load: Samsung ties cycle choice directly to spin failure rather than only wash quality: picking the wrong cycle for a given laundry load is named as a cause of errors, bad performance, or both. Difficulty 1/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  12. Control needs Calibration Mode run after a drain or balance issue is fixed: Samsung publishes a named Calibration Mode for a washer that will not spin: hold Temp. and Delay End together for 3 seconds until Cb appears, press Start/Pause, and the tub rotates back and forth for one to three minutes before the display reads En, End or 0. Difficulty 1/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  13. Control locked up and needs a 60-second power reset: Samsung's own reset for a washer that will not respond is short and specific: cut power at the plug or the breaker and wait sixty seconds before restoring it. Difficulty 1/5. Part cost no parts needed.
  14. Recalled top load model: the top can detach during a high-speed spin on bedding or bulky items: The U.S. CPSC recalled about 2.8 million Samsung top load washers after the washer top was found able to detach from the chassis during use. Samsung's own recall page describes the affected machines as manufactured between March 2011 and October 2016, while CPSC records them as sold from March 2011 to November 2016, so a late purchase date does not by itself rule a machine out: check the model and serial against Samsung's own lookup. Difficulty 1/5.

Find the cause for your washer

Step-by-step checks for a Samsung washer won't spin

Check which cycle, and whether No Spin or Spin Only is involved

About 10 minutes

  1. Look at which cycle actually ran: Samsung states the wrong cycle for the laundry can cause errors or bad performance.
  2. Check whether No Spin was selected; Samsung documents it as draining without spinning, for items that cannot tolerate any spin at all.
  3. If the load simply needs more water removed, select Spin Only (or press and hold the Spin button about 3 seconds on models without a dedicated position) rather than rewashing.

Check the door/lid lock status

About 10 minutes

  1. Check the door is fully shut, the latch is not obstructed, and nothing is trapped in the seal.
  2. If power was lost mid-cycle on a top loader, wait up to 5 minutes: Samsung documents that as the time the lock takes to release afterward.
  3. Do not force a door or lid that is still locked; the drum can still be moving even after the display looks idle.

Check load size and redistribute

About 15 minutes

  1. Weigh or estimate the load against Samsung's own bands: a small load is 3 to 5 pounds (about a third full), a large load is 6 to 16 pounds (about three-quarters full).
  2. If it is a single bulky item or a small load bunched to one side, add one or two similar items, or select a lower spin speed instead.
  3. Otherwise, open the washer and spread the load evenly by hand, untangling anything wound into a rope.
  4. Restart the cycle or select Spin Only and watch whether it now reaches full speed.

Check whether this is a recalled top load model

About 10 minutes

  1. Note whether the washer is a Samsung top loader made roughly between 2011 and 2016 that has recently shown excessive vibration, banging, or the top panel shifting or lifting during spin.
  2. If so, look up the model and 15-digit serial number (rear of the washer, or under the lid on some 2016 models) against Samsung's recall checker before continuing.
  3. If it matches, use only the delicate or waterproof cycle for bedding, water-resistant, or bulky items until it has had the recall repair, and contact Samsung for the free repair.
  4. If it does not match, or this is a front loader, continue with the checks below.

Check for excess suds

About 20 minutes

  1. Look for foam in the drum, or a SUd, 5UD, Sd, 5d, SUdS or 5Ud5 code on the display.
  2. Run a rinse and spin with no detergent to see if the code clears.
  3. Switch to a measured dose of HE detergent for the next wash.

Cut power for 60 seconds and retry

About 5 minutes

  1. Unplug the washer or switch off its circuit breaker.
  2. Wait 60 seconds, per Samsung's own instruction.
  3. Restore power and run a short cycle to see whether it now spins.

Read the exact code and its group

About 5 minutes

  1. Note the exact code on the display, including case where you can tell (dc vs dC).
  2. SUd/5UD/Sd/5d/SUdS/5Ud5 is the suds group. dc/Ub/U6/Ur/UE/1 Ub/1U6 is the unbalanced-load group. dS/d5/FL/LO/L0/dE/dE1/dE2/dC/dC1/dL/1 dC/1dC4/1dC1 is the door group.
  3. Samsung's own footnote warns that dc and dC mean different things on different models: an Unbalanced Load Error on some, a Door Error on others. Check the user manual for your model if unsure.

Run Samsung's Calibration Mode

About 10 minutes

  1. Only after drain, load, level, door and suds checks are done: simultaneously hold Temp. and Delay End for 3 seconds until Cb appears.
  2. Press Start/Pause and watch the tub: it should rotate back and forth for 1 to 3 minutes, then show En, End, or 0.
  3. If the tub does not turn during this test, stop and request service: Samsung treats that result as needing a technician.

Confirm the washer actually drained before blaming the spin

About 20 minutes

  1. Open the washer and look for standing water: Samsung's own washers will not move to the spin step at all until they have drained.
  2. Pull the machine out and check the drain hose is not kinked, and that it is inserted 6 to 8 inches into the standpipe, not more and not less.
  3. Water left in the tub after a hot cycle can be very hot; let it cool before reaching in.

Check the front load pump filter

About 25 minutes

  1. Confirm this is a front load washer first: Samsung states only front load models have a pump filter.
  2. Let the tub cool for about an hour if a hot or Sanitize cycle ran recently before opening the filter door.
  3. Open the filter door, drain into a flat container, and pull the filter to check for lint, debris, or a stiff turn.
  4. Clean it even if it looks fine: Samsung's own schedule is about once a month or every 40 washes.

Check the washer is solid at all four corners

About 20 minutes

  1. Rock the washer at each corner; Samsung's standard is a solid, firm connection at all four corners with no rock.
  2. Adjust the legs: turn a leg clockwise to raise that corner, counterclockwise to lower it.
  3. Recheck all four corners once adjusted.

Bounce test the tub for worn suspension rods (top load)

About 30 minutes

  1. With the top panel off (top load washers only) or through the open tub, use both hands to press down hard on the tub at the left and right sides.
  2. Let go quickly and watch the tub: rods that let it bounce like a basketball a few times need replacing.
  3. Measure the old rods' length before ordering a replacement set, since Samsung has used more than one length across its top load range.

How to fix a Samsung washer won't spin

Add items or drop the spin speed for a small load

About 10 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Compare the load against Samsung's own bands: a small load is 3 to 5 pounds, about a third full.
  2. Add one or two similar items so a single bulky piece has something to balance against.
  3. If that is not possible, select a lower spin speed for that load instead.

Clear the suds; no service needed for this code

About 30 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Run a rinse and spin with no detergent to clear the foam.
  2. Switch to a measured dose of HE detergent going forward.
  3. Samsung states this code alone does not mean the washer needs service.

Reseat the door and wait out the lock delay

About 10 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Check nothing is caught in the door seal and the latch is not obstructed, then close the door firmly.
  2. If power was lost mid-cycle on a top loader, wait up to 5 minutes for it to unlock; that delay is a documented safety feature.
  3. Do not force a door or lid: the drum can still be moving even once the cycle looks stopped.
  4. If the door still will not lock or unlock properly once closed correctly, that is service work on the lock assembly.

Reset the control with a 60-second power cut

About 5 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Unplug the washer or switch off its breaker.
  2. Wait 60 seconds, exactly as Samsung specifies.
  3. Restore power and try a short cycle.

Redistribute the load and restart

About 15 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Open the washer and spread the load evenly, untangling anything wound into a rope.
  2. Close up and select Spin Only, or restart the cycle.
  3. Repeat once more if it stops again with an unbalanced code; the tub can still be turning after the door unlocks, so keep hands clear until it fully stops.

Run Samsung's Calibration Mode

About 10 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Only after the drain, load, level, door and suds checks are done: hold Temp. and Delay End together for 3 seconds until Cb appears.
  2. Press Start/Pause and let it run its course: 1 to 3 minutes of the tub rotating back and forth, then En, End or 0.
  3. Run a normal cycle afterward to confirm the spin now works.

Use Spin Only rather than rewashing

About 10 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Confirm No Spin was not selected on purpose for a delicate load that cannot tolerate spinning.
  2. For everything else, select Spin Only, or on models without a dedicated position, press and hold the Spin button for about 3 seconds until a cycle time shows.
  3. Spin Only can be run again after another cycle has already finished, purely to remove more water.

Match the cycle to the laundry

About 15 minutes · Difficulty 1/5

  1. Check the cycle used against the load: Samsung names a mismatched cycle as a direct cause of errors and poor performance.
  2. Re-run the load on the cycle meant for that fabric type and soil level.
  3. Use Spin Only afterward if the clothes are still too wet.

Clean the front load pump filter

About 25 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Confirm this is a front load model; top loaders do not have this filter.
  2. Let the tub cool about an hour if a hot cycle ran recently.
  3. Open the filter door over a flat container, drain the residual water, and pull the filter to clear lint and debris.
  4. Reinstall, close the door, and put a reminder in the diary: about once a month or every 40 washes.

Clear the drain before troubleshooting the spin

About 25 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Unplug the washer, then pull it out to reach the drain hose along its whole run.
  2. Straighten any kink and confirm the hose sits 6 to 8 inches into the standpipe, no more and no less.
  3. Let any standing water cool before reaching into the tub; it can still be hot from the cycle.
  4. Run a short cycle and confirm it drains fully before expecting a spin.

Level the washer at all four corners

About 25 minutes · Difficulty 2/5

  1. Unplug the washer before adjusting it.
  2. Rock each corner and turn the legs clockwise to raise, counterclockwise to lower, until all four sit solid and firm.
  3. Get a second person to help if the washer needs to be tilted; it is heavy and can tip.
  4. Run a spin to confirm.

Replace worn top load suspension rods

About 90 minutes · Difficulty 4/5

  1. Unplug the washer and remove the top panel to reach the suspension rods at each corner.
  2. Measure the old rods' length before ordering, since Samsung has used more than one length across its top load range.
  3. Replace the rods as a set rather than one at a time, and get a second person to help support the tub.
  4. Reassemble, run the bounce test again, then confirm with a spin cycle.

When to call a technician about a Samsung washer won't spin

  • Follow Samsung's recall instructions and book the free repair
  • Book service when Calibration Mode itself will not turn the tub

Sources

  1. GE Appliance - Circuit Breaker Trips, GE Appliances (retrieved 2026-09-21)
  2. How to Troubleshoot a Samsung Washing Machine Not Spinning Out Clothes - DC Error Code, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-25)
  3. Washing Machine Not Draining - iFixit Troubleshooting, iFixit (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  4. LG Washer - How to Clean the Drain Pump Filter, LG Electronics USA (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  5. Voluntary Recall of Certain Top-Load Washers, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-25)
  6. Cycles, settings, and features on your Samsung washing machine, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-25)
  7. Samsung washing machine information and error codes, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-22)
  8. Samsung washing machine spins poorly, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-25)
  9. Samsung washing machine does not spin at all, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-25)
  10. Samsung washing machine will not drain, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  11. Samsung washer door is locked, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-25)
  12. Power issues with Samsung washing machine, Samsung Electronics America (retrieved 2026-09-25)
  13. GE Recalls Front-Load Washers Due to Fire and Shock Hazards, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  14. Samsung Recalls Top-Load Washing Machines, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (retrieved 2026-09-25)
  15. Cleaning the Pump Filter - Front Load Washer, Whirlpool Corporation (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  16. Moving a Front Load Washer, Whirlpool Corporation (retrieved 2026-09-20)
  17. Lid Locking on a Top Load High Efficiency Washer, Whirlpool Corporation (retrieved 2026-09-20)

Last updated September 29, 2026 · facts last verified September 25, 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