Frigidaire includes ice makers in most of their refrigerator models. They are a luxury, but just like any technology, they can have issues. If your Frigidaire ice maker is giving you problems, resetting it usually fixes the issue. We have done the research and have everything you'll need to know to reset and troubleshoot your ice maker.
Here's how to reset a Frigidaire built-in ice maker:
- Locate the "on/off" button
- Turn the ice maker off
- Turn icemaker back on
There are three different ice maker configurations in Frigidaire refrigerators. They differ in the mounting locations and power switch locations.
Frigidaire also makes stand-alone/countertop ice makers. Troubleshooting for these models will also be covered. There are some cases where just resetting will not fix your ice maker. Keep reading for other reasons why your ice maker may not be working and how to fix it.
How To Reset A Frigidaire Ice Maker
1. Locate the "on/off" button
Frigidaire ice makers come in a few different models. Your icemaker can be side-mounted or rear-mounted. The location of the "on/off" switch will be different depending on how it is mounted.
If your icemaker is side-mounted, there is a metal lever arm over the ice maker that acts as the "on/off" switch. On rear-mounted ice makers, there will be an "I/O" switch located on the side.
For newer models, there will probably be a control panel that can control the ice maker. This control panel is sometimes located on the front of the refrigerator. Otherwise, you will find it on the side of the door after opening.
Is there a reset button on a Frigidaire ice maker?
There is no designated reset button on Frigidaire ice makers. There is only a power button or switch, but it will perform the same function as a reset button. You will need to turn the ice maker on and off in order to reset it.
2. Turn the Ice maker off
If you have a side-mounted ice maker, there will most likely be an image on the front. That diagram shows you what metal arm positions are on and off. To turn your ice maker off, lift the metal arm into the off position.
For a rear-mounted ice maker, you can simply flip the switch. The off position is indicated by the "O" side of the switch. On rear-mounted models, there can also be an "on/off" button on the front. If you have a button, hold it down until the LED light turns red.
You may see on your ice maker that you have both a button or switch and a metal arm. If that is true for you, do not touch the metal arm. This acts as a signal for when the ice maker is full.
For refrigerators with control panels, you will need to find the ice maker button. Press and hold the ice maker's power button for three seconds until the LED light goes off.
3. Turn the ice maker on
After the icemaker is off, you want to keep it off for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, you can turn the ice maker back on. This is an example of a side-mounted ice maker that uses a wire arm:
If you have a wire arm, you will lower it to the on position. On switches, it will be the "I" side of the switch. For control panel buttons, press and hold it again to turn the ice maker back on.
How to reset a Frigidaire portable ice maker
The process of resetting your portable ice maker is pretty similar. You will first hit the power button to turn the ice machine off. Once the power is off, unplug the power cord from the outlet.
Wait a few minutes, and then you may plug the ice maker back in. Then, you can press the power button again turn the ice maker back on.
Once you turn the ice maker back on, you have successfully done a hard reset. That will fix a lot of ice maker issues in both built-in and stand-alone ice makers. If the hard reset does not get your ice maker working, you can do a few other things to troubleshoot.
Why did my Frigidaire ice maker stop working?
Before we dive into some troubleshooting tips, you should know why it's not working first. There are a few reasons your ice maker would stop working, and a reset would not fix it.
Malfuctioning Control Arm
One possible reason is that the metal control arm is malfunctioning. If there is any space left between the bin and the freezer wall, it will prevent the control arm from functioning properly. Or the arm may have gotten switched to the off position.
There are a few more ways to troubleshoot lever arm malfunctions. For more information, take a look at our article on if the ice maker lever should be up or down.
Water Valve Issue
Another reason is if there is an issue with your water valve. Your ice maker requires a certain water pressure to produce ice. If it is not receiving enough water, your ice maker will not work.
Water Filter Replacement
You may notice that small ice cubes or ice chips jam the ice maker, and it will stop working. This is a sign that the water filter needs to be replaced. Water filters should be replaced every six months.
How to replace the water filter
If your water filter needs to be replaced, you can do it easily at home. First, you will need to locate your water filter. Depending on the model, it can be in the top right corner of the fridge. Otherwise, it would be in the grille at the bottom of the fridge.
You should turn your ice maker off before removing the filter. To remove it, press the filter in, and then you can pull it straight out. The following video shows how to remove and replace your water filter:
Some models on frigidaire refrigerators use different filters. There is also a twist-off model that will have to unscrew counterclockwise to remove. When purchasing replacements, the packaging will indicate its installation method. It will either say "push to lock" like the filter above or "push and twist" like the filter shown below.
How do I force my Frigidaire ice maker cycle?
If you need to run your icemaker after troubleshooting, you can force an ice maker cycle. To do that, you will need to take off the front of the icemaker. It can be pried off by hand or carefully with a flat tool.
Next, you will need to lift the fingers inside the ice maker manually. Do not use a lot of force in this step. After you press up on the fingers, the ice maker should start. You will know it has started once the metal arm on the side starts lifting slowly.
This will send water into the icemaker to start the cycle, so do not do this if there is currently water or ice in the bin. The following video shows a demonstration of how to do this:
How do you test a Frigidaire ice maker?
Your Frigidaire refrigerator is able to go into a diagnostic mode. To enter diagnostic mode, hold both the up and down arrow buttons on the control panel simultaneously for ten seconds. To exit diagnostics, hold the "+" button for ten seconds.
Once in test mode, use the "+" and "-" buttons to scroll through the test menu. There are a lot of tests that diagnostics can run. The tests associated with the ice maker are 26, 45, and 68. The results will show "OP" for open or "SH" for short. "OP" indicates that it is functioning correctly and "SH" indicates a problem.
To wrap it up
There are a few reasons why your ice maker would not be making ice. First, make sure that your ice maker is on and the bin is completely in its place. Next, If you see small pieces of ice jamming the ice maker, check your water filter. For peak performance and ice quality, replace your filter about twice a year.
If it still does not make ice with a clean filter, you should try a hard reset. That is the most common fix for ice maker issues. If none of these solutions worked for you, running diagnostics will shed some light on the issue.
For more information on ice makers, check out our article on what temperature ice makers should be on.
