GE Dishwasher Blinking Lights or Beeping: What It Means

If your GE dishwasher beeps every 30 seconds or every minute, the door was most likely unlatched during a cycle. If the Start or Start/Reset light is blinking, the dishwasher has been reset and is turning itself off. For most other blinking lights, GE's fix is a two-step reset: press Start/Reset and wait 2 minutes, and if that does not work, turn the power off at the breaker for 30 seconds.

What GE says the most common signals mean

• Beeping every 30 seconds or every minute: the door was unlatched in the middle of a cycle. Close it firmly until it latches.
• Blinking Start or Start/Reset light: the dishwasher has been reset and is in the process of turning off. Let it finish.
• Other blinking lights or beeping: GE says these can come from a power surge, and the reset below usually clears them.

GE is clear that lights and sounds mean different things on different models, so check your owner's manual for anything not covered here. Source: GE Appliances support.

Quick reference

What you see or hear	What GE says it means	What to do
Beeping every 30 seconds to 1 minute	The door was unlatched during a cycle	Close the door firmly until it latches
Blinking Start or Start/Reset light	The dishwasher was reset and is turning off	Wait for it to finish shutting down
Other blinking lights or beeping	Can be caused by a power surge	Press Start/Reset and wait 2 minutes, then use the breaker reset below if needed

GE's reset steps

1. Press the Start/Reset pad and wait 2 minutes.
2. If the lights are still blinking, turn off power to the dishwasher at the house circuit breaker or fuse box for 30 seconds.
3. Restore power. The dishwasher should reset and work normally.

If it still will not start

A few other things commonly keep a GE dishwasher from starting:

• A control lock. Many GE models have a lock feature that ignores button presses. It is handy with small kids and confusing for everyone else. Your owner's manual shows how to turn it off, which is usually a press and hold on one pad.
• The door latch. If the dishwasher cannot confirm the door is latched, it will not start. Look for a bent latch or something blocking the door, like a utensil handle or a tall pan.
• Power. A tripped breaker, or a wall switch that controls both the dishwasher and the disposal, can look exactly like a dead control panel.

How to keep it from happening again

• Push the door closed until you feel it latch, rather than letting it swing shut on its own.
• Load so nothing sticks out past the racks. A handle or a tall pan that touches the door can stop it from latching.
• After a power outage or a flicker, expect to reset the dishwasher. Blinking lights right after the power comes back are usually the surge, not a broken part.

When the lights mean a real repair

If the blinking comes back after a full breaker reset, or the dishwasher starts and then stops partway through, the cause is usually a part: the door latch switch, a heating component, a water inlet problem, or the control board. Those need a technician to test with a meter. If your dishwasher runs but leaves dishes soaked, our guide on a dishwasher leaving dishes wet covers the heating and drying side.

Getting it fixed

If you are in Fairfield or anywhere in Solano County, California, we can connect you with a local technician who works on GE dishwashers. Our dishwasher repair page explains how the referral works.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my GE dishwasher keep beeping?

According to GE, beeping every 30 seconds to a minute means the door was unlatched during a cycle. Close and latch the door.

How do I reset my GE dishwasher?

Press Start/Reset and wait 2 minutes. If that does not work, turn the power off at the breaker for 30 seconds and turn it back on.

Why is the Start light blinking?

GE says a blinking Start or Start/Reset light means the dishwasher has been reset and is turning off.

Can a power surge cause blinking lights?

Yes. GE lists power surges as one cause of unexplained blinking or beeping, and a breaker reset usually clears it.

Related guides: Samsung dishwasher LC code, Bosch dishwasher E15 error, and Midea dishwasher error codes.