When and how to reset any Samsung refrigerator, including the on-screen control panel

Is your Samsung fridge reading "88 88" on the display? If you see an error code or are moving or cleaning your fridge, you may need to perform a hard reset. This wikiHow article will teach you everything you need to know about resetting your Samsung refrigerator, including how to perform a factory reset of Family Hub.

Things You Should Know

  • The easiest way to reset your refrigerator is to unplug it, wait about five minutes, then plug it back in.
  • To factory reset the Family Hub, go to "Settings > About Family Hub > Factory Reset Data."
  • If neither of those methods works for you, you'll need to get in contact with Samsung to get a technician to help.
Section 1 of 3:

When should I reset?

  1. 1
    Samsung doesn't recommend resetting your refrigerator as a first troubleshooting step. You might see something weird on your display and automatically think to reset it. But don't! Resetting will delete the error code history, which means that a support technician won't be able to properly troubleshoot the issue if a reset doesn't fix it.[1]
    • Instead, request service so a Samsung technician can diagnose the error codes. The issue could be a simple fix, such as a water filter you need to replace.
    • The code displayed on your fridge door should help you diagnose the issue. After you fix the error code (like an old water filter), the code will disappear.
    • If your ice maker is the issue, defrosting it is super easy!
  2. 2
    Reset when you see the "88 88" error code. This code usually occurs after an outage, as it tends to indicate that the fridge didn't boot properly. Reset your refrigerator to reboot and fix the error.
    Advertisement
  3. 3
    Reset your refrigerator when you clean or move it. Samsung recommends this being one of the few times you reset your fridge, as it'll be in good working order at the time and not have any error codes that are important to keep.
  4. 4
    Don't reset your fridge if you see an "O FF" code (also seen as "OFF OFF" or "OF OF"). This code means that your refrigerator is in Demo mode (also known as Cooling Off Mode) and doesn't need a restart to fix. The steps for this vary depending on the kind of screen you have:
    • If you have Family Hub, go to Apps > Fridge Manager > Fridge Settings > Cooling Off > Deactivate.
    • Other models require pressing a certain button combination, such as pressing and holding the top two buttons on the left panel for 10 seconds. To find out how to turn off Demo or Cooling Off mode for your model, check your manual.[2]
  5. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

Reset a Samsung Refrigerator

  1. 1
    Unplug your fridge from the wall. You can also turn off the power at the circuit breaker if you can't get to the plug.
    • This is perhaps the easiest and best way to reset your Samsung fridge, so try this method first to resolve any troubleshooting issues.
    • This is also recommended for resolving an "88 88" error.
  2. 2
    Wait about 5 minutes. You want to make sure that any residual electric charge is gone before you continue to the next step.
  3. 3
    Plug it back in. If you turned off the power at the circuit breaker, you can flip the switch to turn the power back on.[3]
    • If you need to reset your Family Hub screen, flip the red switch that's located on the top of the inside of the right door.[4] Turn it off, wait 15 seconds, and turn it back on.
  4. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Reset Family Hub

  1. 1
    Navigate to Settings. If you want to sell or give away your refrigerator with Family Hub, you should perform a factory reset before you do so.
    • If you just need to reset the screen, flip the red switch that's located on the top of the inside of the right door.
  2. 2
    Select About Family Hub. The exact location of this in the menu varies depending on the year model for your fridge.
  3. 3
    Select Factory data reset and tap Reset. Since resetting this also deletes all your data, Samsung wants to make sure that you're aware of what you're trying to do. Select Reset again when prompted, then tap Delete all data to factory reset your Family Hub.
  4. Advertisement

About This Article

Darlene Antonelli, MA
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 4,651 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 3
Updated: January 11, 2023
Views: 4,651
Categories: Kitchen Appliances
Advertisement