Washer Guide

Whirlpool Washer LoC Error — It's Usually the Control Lock

Before you worry: LoC (or LC) on a Whirlpool washer most often means Control Lock is switched on. It's the child-lock feature that freezes the buttons, and it's easy to turn off once you know which button does it.

If clearing the lock doesn't help, there's a smaller chance of a control-board fault, which we'll cover too.

Turn off Control Lock

  • Look for a button labelled Control Lock — often shared with End of Cycle Signal, Wrinkle Shield, or a padlock icon.
  • Press and hold that button for three seconds. The LoC indicator should clear and the panel will respond again.
  • On some models the control-lock button differs — check the panel legend or the model's quick-start guide for the padlock symbol.

If LoC won't clear

If holding the control-lock button does nothing, try a power reset: unplug the washer (or flip its breaker) for a minute, then restore power.

Should it return immediately after a reset with no buttons responding, the user-interface control board may be failing. That's the point to have it diagnosed rather than guessing at parts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the LoC error mean my Whirlpool washer is broken?+
Almost never. In the large majority of cases it's just the control lock being on. A genuine board fault is far less common and shows up when the lock won't release at all.