LG Refrigerator Error Codes: Check Demo Mode Before You Call Anyone

Before you treat an LG refrigerator as broken, rule out demo mode. LG describes it plainly: the setting "disables all cooling in the refrigerator and freezer sections to conserve energy while on display in a retail store."

A refrigerator with lights on, a working display and no cooling at all is the exact symptom of a unit still in showroom mode. It costs nothing to check, and LG files it under codes that "do not indicate a refrigerator fault."

Here is how to clear it, then every refrigerator code LG actually publishes a meaning for.

Turning demo mode off

LG gives two methods because it varies by model:

1. Open the door on the refrigerator side.
2. Hold down the FRIDGE button and at the same time press Express FRZ three times.
3. On some models instead, hold FRIDGE and Express FRZ together for 3 seconds.

LG notes you "will hear a sound to indicate that the setting has been deactivated." That tone is your confirmation. If nothing sounds, try the other method.

Worth knowing: the buttons are the ones LG names here, not the ones a lot of third party guides list. If an instruction tells you to hold Refrigerator and Ice Plus, that is not what LG's current page says.

Making the refrigerator show its code

If you suspect a code but the panel is showing temperatures, LG gives a way to force it: "press the Freezer Temperature and Express Frz buttons at the same time for at least 3 seconds."

On the prefix, LG's only published guidance is that "The most common errors may be preceded by the letters: E, r or Er," and that "Depending on the model, it may appear differently." So Er CF and CF are the same code.

The two ambient warnings people mistake for faults

These are not failures, they are the refrigerator telling you about the room it is standing in. Relevant for anyone with a second fridge in a garage.

• Lo is "a warning that the ambient temperature has dropped below -10 degrees Celsius," which is about 14F. LG adds "the product will not function optimally in an environment with such low temperatures."
• HI is "a warning that the ambient temperature has risen above +50 degrees Celsius," which is about 122F.

An unheated garage in a cold snap, or a hot enclosed utility space, can produce these without anything being wrong with the appliance.

Every LG refrigerator code with a published meaning

Code	What LG says it means
CF	"a fault with the cooling fan," the condenser fan.
CO	"a communication error between the main board and the display."
C1	"a communication error between the dispenser and the display."
FF	"a fault with the freezer fan."
rF	"a fault with the refrigerator fan."
FS	"a fault with the freezer temperature sensor. This will cause a reduction in the appliance's performance."
rS	"a fault in the temperature detection system on the refrigerator side (R1, upper part)."
r2	"an anomaly in the temperature detection on the refrigerator side (R2, lower part)."
dS	"a fault in the defrost temperature sensor."
rT	"a fault in the ambient temperature sensor."
FU	A cycle error. See the section below, it has real numbers.
dH, also FdH or dHF	The defrost sensor temperature "has not increased by more than 5 degrees Celsius within 80 minutes of the start of defrosting." LG adds the evaporator "may be blocked by ice formed due to the moisture in the air."
IF	"a malfunction in the ice maker fan."
IS	"a fault in the ice maker temperature sensor."
It	"a fault with the ice maker motor."
gF	"a malfunction in the appliance's water flow sensor. It could be caused by a closed water tap, a kinked hose or incorrect water pressure."
tt	"a water tank fault. The water tank is missing or not inserted correctly, or the detection sensor is malfunctioning."
SS	"an issue in the detection of the water tank temperature."
CH	"High Side of Cycle Leak." A refrigerant leak on the high pressure side, which LG attributes to a faulty valve, appearing "when the temperature and compressor sensors show abnormal values."
CL	"Lower Side of Cycle Leak." The same, on the lower side.

LG places all of the above under a single instruction: "For the following error codes, please request service."

The two codes with real self service steps

Despite that blanket note, LG does give usable steps for two of them.

FU is the one with numbers. LG defines it as a freezer compartment fault where "After 10 minutes of starting the appliance, the temperature in the freezer has not dropped below 3.5 degrees Celsius, or during operation the temperature has risen above 3.5 degrees Celsius."

Its steps: unplug the refrigerator, "Wait 60 seconds and then turn it on again, connecting it to a direct outlet, without power strips or multiple sockets." Then check the freezer is set to -18 degrees Celsius, which is 0F, and work through how often the doors are opened, whether food is blocking the vents, and whether the doors close properly. LG's gasket test is to "use a piece of paper": shut it in the door and see whether it pulls out freely.

The direct outlet detail is worth not skipping. LG specifically says no power strips or multiple sockets, which is a common setup for a garage or basement second fridge.

gF gets the same 60 second power cycle, then "Wait until the appliance has completely restarted: this may take up to 5 minutes." After that, make sure the water tap is fully open and check the water pressure. Since LG names a closed tap and a kinked hose as causes, this is often a plumbing fix rather than a sensor replacement.

The defrost family, and LG's 12 hour instruction

For the dH group of codes, LG offers a temporary measure that is more drastic than a reset and worth understanding before you try it.

LG says the refrigerator "may operate normally once the ice on the cooling plate is removed, but the error may return over time." To clear that ice: "remove all food from your refrigerator and place dry towels on the floor in front of the doors. Then, unplug the power cord from the wall outlet and leave the doors open for at least 12 hours."

That is a full manual defrost. The towels are not optional, because the melt has to go somewhere. LG is also clear it is temporary and that "frequent errors can decrease cooling performance and affect food quality," so a dH that keeps coming back is a repair rather than a routine.

On older analog display models LG adds possible causes for the same fault: the defrosting resistor and temperature fuse may be broken, heating relays may be malfunctioning, or the drain may be clogged.

The generic Er reset, and LG's own safety line

LG publishes a second page covering a long list of Er prefixed codes: Er CO, Er Od, Er Sd, Er CI, Er IF, Er CF, Er IU, Er dH, Er d1, Er d2, Er d, Er H1, Er H2, Er FS, Er rS, Er F1, Er F2, Er US, Er LS, Er E1, Er E2, Er r, Er dS, Er IS, Er Id, Er gS and Er gF.

Being straight about it: that page lists those codes but does not say what most of them individually mean. The meanings in our table above are the ones LG publishes elsewhere. For codes like Od, Sd, IU, Id and gS we found no published meaning on LG's pages at all, so we are not inventing one.

What that page does give is the reset and the reason: the refrigerator shows these "when it detects an issue with its internal system, such as a faulty component, control circuit, or disconnected wire." The procedure is to unplug it, "Wait about 5 minutes," plug it back in and check whether the code cleared.

Note that this is a different duration from the 60 seconds LG gives for FU and gF. If one does not work, the other is worth trying.

LG also publishes a blunt warning on that page that is worth repeating in full: "Do not disassemble the refrigerator or replace internal parts yourself. Doing so may cause fire, electric shock, serious injury, or death." And if a code persists, "stop using the refrigerator and contact LG Support for service."

Frequently asked questions

My LG refrigerator is not cooling but the lights work. What is wrong?

Check demo mode first. LG says that setting "disables all cooling in the refrigerator and freezer sections." To exit, open the refrigerator door, hold the FRIDGE button and press Express FRZ three times, or on some models hold FRIDGE and Express FRZ together for 3 seconds. You should hear a tone.

How do I reset an LG refrigerator?

LG publishes two durations. For the Er family it says to unplug, wait about 5 minutes and plug back in. For the FU and gF codes it says to unplug, wait 60 seconds, and reconnect to a direct outlet rather than a power strip.

What does CH or CL mean on an LG refrigerator?

Both are refrigerant leaks. CH is a leak on the high pressure side, CL on the lower side, and LG attributes both to a faulty valve. They appear when the temperature and compressor sensors show abnormal values, and LG lists both among the codes that need service.

What does dH mean?

The defrost sensor temperature did not increase by more than 5 degrees Celsius within 80 minutes of defrosting starting, and LG says the evaporator may be blocked by ice. Its temporary measure is to empty the refrigerator, lay dry towels down, unplug it and leave the doors open for at least 12 hours.

Why does my LG refrigerator show Lo or HI?

Neither is a fault. Lo warns that the room temperature has dropped below -10 degrees Celsius, about 14F, and HI that it has risen above +50 degrees Celsius, about 122F. Both mean the refrigerator is outside the conditions it is designed to work in, which is common for a garage unit.

What does gF mean?

A water flow sensor problem, which LG attributes to a closed water tap, a kinked hose or incorrect water pressure. Power cycle for 60 seconds, allow up to 5 minutes for a full restart, then check the tap is fully open and check your water pressure.

Sources: LG's digital and analog refrigerator error codes page and its guide to the Er refrigerator error codes. LG notes its guides are "created for all models," so your manual is the final word for your unit.

Related guides: LG washer error codes, LG dryer error codes, LG dishwasher error codes, Whirlpool refrigerator codes, and refrigerator leaking water.