Is your LG ice maker not dumping ice or filling with water? Learn how to run the secret test mode, reset the unit, and fix common inlet valve or sensor issues. Common ice maker problems are often caused by: temperature fluctuations in the ice maker compartment, faulty water inlet valve, broken ice maker/control board, or faulty ice maker fan (freezer compartment).
If you have a Maytag or Whirlpool refrigerator, see here.
How to Reset an LG Ice Maker (Quick Steps):
- Locate the Switch: Open the ice room door and find the Power Switch (on/off).
- Power Off: Flip the switch to OFF for 30 seconds.
- Run Test Mode: Flip the switch back to ON.
- Press Test Button: Locate the small hole or button on the bottom/side of the ice maker. Press and hold for 3 seconds.
- Wait for Cycle: The ice tray will rotate and dump. The error is now reset.
| Feature | Older LG Models | 2024–2026 ThinQ Models |
| Reset the Ice Maker | Physical On/Off Toggle (pictures below) | Press and hold the “Ice Plus” and “Freezer” buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds. The display will beep, and the ice maker will initiate a cycle. |
| Test Button | Small Hole (Paperclip)- see pictures below | Hidden button under the front panel |
| App Support | None | LG ThinQ (Smart Diagnosis) |
Jump to the bottom of this article for further details and pictures. In order to do a simple reset of the ice maker, unplug your refrigerator or turn the breaker OFF for at least 30 sec. This procedure will reset the ice maker, making it easier to troubleshoot.
LG Ice Maker Is Not Filling With Water
Water Filter Installation & Troubleshooting
If your ice maker isn’t filling or is leaking after a filter change, check these common issues:
- Installation Check: An improperly placed filter blocks water flow. Ensure you Push and Twist the filter firmly until it locks into the housing.
- Pressure Splashing: A new filter increases water flow. If water is splashing out of the tray and onto the floor, try turning your manual shut-off valve to a 45° angle to slightly reduce incoming pressure.
- Air in the Lines: Trapped air can cause “sputtering,” which splashes water and causes the bin to freeze shut. Flush the system by running the water dispenser for 2–3 minutes.
- Debris & Buildup: * Stuck Cubes: Check for lodged ice in the tray that causes overfilling.
- Filter Quality: Use name brand LG filters when possible. Off-brand filters sometimes have the wrong bypass valves. This can cause low pressure or a frozen fill tube.
Faulty Water Inlet Valve
If your water dispenser works but the ice maker is bone dry, the issue is likely a failed inlet valve. Most LG refrigerators utilize a dual-valve system that needs to be tested for continuity with a multi-meter.
- The Dual Valve Setup: * Primary Valve: Located at the back of the fridge (where the main water line connects).
- The Most Common Culprit: In many cases, the secondary door valve fails while the primary valve continues to supply the water dispenser. This is why you might have drinking water but no ice.
- How to Test: Use a multimeter to check each solenoid for continuity. If a valve shows no continuity (an open circuit), it is electrically dead and must be replaced. Click here for a Youtube video on how to test.
- Pro Tip: Always check the wiring harness at the door hinge first. Sometimes the valve is fine, but a broken wire in the hinge is preventing it from receiving power.
Water Hose Kinked
Behind your
ice Maker malfunctioned
If the ice maker failed to perform the diagnostic test and you are not able to run it, then most likely the ice maker motor has failed. You will need to replace the unit entirely.
Control board Malfunction
Every LG refrigerator has a control board. If the control board is not sending power to the ice maker, or one of the relays on the control board has failed, then the ice maker will not run.
Important: If all components mentioned above in the article are ok and the ice maker works ONLY when you press the RESET button (the ice maker should make a full turn and not make ice in automatic after that), then there is a possible problem with the main control board or ice level optical sensors on the ice maker itself.
Read: How to know if your refrigerator control board is bad
Make sure the control board fits the refrigerator model you have !!!
Ice Maker Fan & Temperature Issues
If your ice maker is getting water but won’t freeze it, the problem is likely an airflow issue. The ice maker compartment relies on a fan to stay cold enough for production.
- The Temperature Range: The ice maker compartment must stay at or below -12°C (10°F). If it’s warmer than this, the sensors will prevent the ice maker from cycling.
- The Ice Maker Fan: Located in the freezer compartment, this fan blows sub-zero air into the door’s ice room. If the fan fails or is blocked by frost, the ice maker won’t freeze.
- How to Test the Fan:
- Frost Buildup: If you don’t feel air, check the back panel of the freezer for heavy frost. You may need to manual defrost the unit if ice is physically jamming the fan blades.
This is a picture of the back panel in the freezer compartment with the evaporator and ice maker fans.
Ice maker fan part# ADJ72911303
Troubleshooting LG ThinQ & InstaView Ice Makers
For updated LG refrigerator models (including the newer ThinQ, InstaView, and Craft Ice series), the troubleshooting steps are different.
The Craft (Round) Ice Failure
LG’s high-end models now have a dedicated dual ice maker that produces spherical “Craft Ice” in the bottom freezer. This is slow-melting round ice.
- The Problem: These fridges often have grinding noises, which usually indicate the internal gears are jammed or the shape mold is stuck during the cycle.
- The Fix: Unlike the door ice maker, the Craft Ice unit often requires a Firmware Update via the LG ThinQ app. If the app shows no updates, check the “Ice Room” temperature—Craft Ice requires a consistent -4°F (-20°C) or colder to produce ice correctly.
The Smart Diagnosis (ThinQ App) Method
Newer LG fridges can communicate with your smartphone. Before you start taking your fridge apart, try this: How to Fix it:
- Open the LG ThinQ app on your phone.
- Go to the Smart Diagnosis section.
- Follow the prompts to hold the phone’s microphone near the “Smart Diagnosis” logo (usually on the top right hinge) while pressing a specific button sequence.
- The app will provide a specific fault code (like “Ice Maker Fan Error”) that might not appear on the fridge’s front display.
Dual Ice Maker Synch
Many newer models have two ice makers (one in the door, one in the drawer).
- The “One-Way” Logic: If the door ice maker is turned OFF, some newer models will also disable the bottom ice maker as a safety feature.
- The Fix: Ensure the “Ice On/Off” button on the main control panel is illuminated. If it is flashing, it means the fridge has detected a persistent error in one of the two units and has shut down both to prevent a flood.
Troubleshooting The Ice-Detecting Sensor
For an LG ice maker, the optical sensor (also known as the “Ice Level Sensor”) is what tells the machine to stop making ice when the bin is full. If these sensors are dirty or faulty, your ice maker will either stop completely or overflow the bin.
If the optical sensor is malfunctioning, your ice maker may not work in Automatic Mode.
The first thing you need to do is to visually check the ice-detecting optical sensors. They are located at the bottom of the ice maker, on each side.
- Remove Ice Bin from the compartment
- Close the left door
- Wait for 3 minutes
- Keep Freezer Door open
- Push Refrigerator button and Lock button at the same time
LG Ice Maker Optical Sensor Diagnostic Codes
To see these codes, you usually need to press the Refrigerator and Lock buttons (or Freezer and Ice Plus on some models) simultaneously for 5 seconds.
| Display Code | Meaning | Diagnosis / Required Action |
| ETY | Empty | The sensor detects an empty bin. This is the Normal reading. |
| FULL | Full | The sensor detects ice is at the max level. The ice maker will stay OFF. |
| – – | Sensor Fault | The control board cannot communicate with the optical sensors. |
| E IS | Sensor Error | The infrared beam is blocked or the sensor has failed electrically. |
Troubleshooting FULL Readings
If your display shows FULL but the ice bin is empty, follow these steps:
- Clean the Lenses: The sensors are located on the sides of the ice maker assembly. Use a cloth with warm water to wipe away any frost or dirt on the small plastic windows.
- Check the Wiring: On LG French Door models, the wiring harness in the door hinge can fray. If the sensor loses power, it defaults to a “Full” signal as a safety precaution.
- The “Blockage” Check: Ensure the ice maker’s teeth (the plastic rake that pushes ice out) isn’t stuck in the downward position. This will block the sensor.
LG Ice Maker Freezing Up: Causes and Fixes
If your ice maker is a solid block of ice or has frost covering the internal components, it won’t be able to fill and dump ice correctly. How to fix it:
- Adjust Your Temperature Settings: If the refrigerator compartment is set too low, it can cause the ice maker to over-freeze. Keep your fridge at 40°F (4°C). Raising the temperature a little bit can often prevent internal ice buildup.
- Check Water Pressure: If your water pressure is too high (above 120 PSI), it can cause the ice maker to overfill, forming ice on the outside of the tray. Ensure your shut-off valve is fully open and there are no kinks in the line.
- Clear the Ice Chute: Ice cubes can sometimes get stuck in the dispenser chute. If left alone, frost will build up around the stuck cube and eventually travel back up into the ice maker itself.
- Replace the
Water Filter : A clogged or old filter can cause inconsistent water pressure. LG recommends replacing your filter every 6 months to maintain the correct flow rate and prevent leaks.
Pro-Tip: If the entire compartment is frozen, the quickest fix is a manual defrost. Turn off the ice maker, remove the bin, and leave the door open for a few hours to let everything thaw out completely.
Detailed steps To Reset And test An LG Ice Maker
Run a Reset with on/off switch model
If your ice maker is not making ice, you’ll want to first run the test mode. To run the ice maker test mode, first of all, pull the handle to open the ice room and remove the ice bucket.
There are several styles of LG refrigerator ice makers. On the first model below, find the POWER button. Make sure it is turned ON. The TEST button is underneath.
Before pressing the TEST button, put a towel underneath to catch water or ice that may fall while testing.
Press and hold the Test button for about 3 seconds and the ice maker will begin to turn. The tray only holds about 4 or 5 oz of water. The towel should minimize any spillage.
Run a reset without on/off switch model
Another style of ice maker has no POWER switch and no tray. Even though there’s no tray you should still place a towel below the ice maker before running the tests. This reset can be used for the ice makers in bottom freezers. Keep reading…
On this type of ice maker, there is a tiny hole on the left side. This is a Test Button. Use a paperclip or piece of wire to press and hold the button for about 3 seconds until the arm starts to turn.
For the first 2 hours the refrigerator has been plugged in, the ice maker test can only be run once. If you wish to run the test mode a second time, unplug the unit for about 30 seconds to reset the ice maker.
This RESET procedure is also applied to the ice maker located in the bottom freezer.
Read: 3 ways how to reset a Samsung ice maker
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Hi,
I have an issue with ice maker and I tried to follow up as much as possible in the article the observation I made:
1. water is coming
2. the ice is produced but its stays in trails
3. test button works but only when its triggered manually
4. the fan is working once i fake close the door
I was not able to test the Optical Sensor with my front door panel (lg gmx844mckv model)
Can someone help me with another steps how to test the Optical Sensor? Or should I go with the change of the part?
You might be able to use your phone camera to check:
Open the freezer door and locate both sensor covers (usually one has a red LED — typically the receiver, the other is the transmitter).
Look into the sensor window with your phone’s camera (front-facing camera often works better).
Block the beam between the sensors with your hand — you should see the red LED go off or change behavior.
Remove your hand — the red LED should light up again.
If the LED never lights up, or doesn’t change when the beam is interrupted, the sensor may be faulty.
Also, try this test for confirmation of your issue:
Hold the test button for 3+ seconds.
Listen for movement or tray rotation.
If it dumps ice and refills, that’s further confirmation that the sensor or logic controlling the harvest cycle is likely at fault, not the tray motor or inlet valve.
my LG just stopped making ice, the tray is down no water in it. rt side is hanging down more. i turned it off and back on. no sound. the water is still working just not producing ice. I need help.
Hi Denise,
Is your filter installed properly? See the section of this article “If The Ice Maker Is Not Filling With Water”.
Also check your secondary water inlet valve, if equipped. See “The Water Inlet Valve Is Broken” section above.
Here is another article that has some extra information.
Hope this helps!
The metal arm on my LG ice maker isn’t functioning to automatically make ice. It will pop up to half way position and make ice only if I pull it up further, then it make 4 cubes and goes down all the way and even if you pull it up it won’t work until it pops up on its own to the half way mark. Any ideas?
Hey Trent, what is your model and approximate year? From what you said, it sounds like the switch may be acting up. Or it could be the actuator motor assembly. If it’s a sprocket and gear type, perhaps there are broken teeth which causes it to skip parts of the cycle.
Hi James. Our less than 2 years old LG bottom freezer has consistently dropper ice cubes inside the freezer box and on the kitchen floor since it was new. Is there any way to adjust the ice maker?
Hi Bruce,
This tends to be a problem with design on some LG and Samsung bottom-freezer fridges. At this time, I’m not aware of any way to keep this from happening. In fact, it happens on my own Samsung, but only occasionally, when the ice tray is full. It’s something I’ve been planning to look into eventually, but as it’s only a minor nuisance for me, I’ve pushed it to the back burner. 🙂
If you come across a remedy, please let us know here so others can benefit, as well. Thanks!
My ice maker does not operate. The test button on it does not make it work. I tried a new unit, same results. The ice dispenser motor does work. When I ‘trick’ the door switch with a magnet, I do not feel any air flow increase from the ice fan. The lights do go out when I do this operation. My only other thought is the main control board in the back. I did press the reset on it with no luck. Smart diagnostics showed no problems and no error code is indicated. Any help would be appreciated.
We have ice frozen in the ice maker trays. So it’s unable to make ice because the water isn’t going in the slots it’s spraying and splashing everywhere and freezing in the compartment. Please how do we get the frozen cubes out of the ice trays.
I have the same problem, water running down the outside of the fridge. Did you find a solution?
You may have calcium buildup word spraying the water into the tree compartment area also make sure your fridge is very level could be slightly forward or back which will have water possibly run over the sides and not produce your adequate ice
Read up on how to take the icemaker compartment out and clean out ice cube trays as best you can. Could use boiling water once that unit is out and unplugged or CLR and rinse it thoroughly there after. It’s not calcium buildup and not the level issue than the water line/ hose pressure from your residence can be turned down a little bit behind the fridge or under your floorboards so that’s not splattering water everywhere when in refill mode.
I replaced the ice maker and the waterline inlet valve assembly. I also changed the external water filter. The tray isn’t filling with water. What is the solution?
Pull your fridge out and shut off your water supply to the fridge. Then disconnect the connecter to your waterline to your fridge and have someone turn on that valve if you happen to have a valve behind the fridge you’ll know right away if you have appropriate pressure coming from your residence. If there is water pressure at the valve when you test it then reconnect waterline try unplugging your fridge for 30 seconds and plug it back in to reset your ice cube maker. Thirdly there are valves that turn on and off the valve to the ice maker behind the fridge, you can look at the LG website if you want to do it yourself to test or call a LG / refrigerator repair company. And you can also check the optical sensors that may be just dirty or need to be replaced and there’s a simple self testing of those as well.if covered with calcium spray, It will think that the ice bucket is full and water won’t be released to the water/ ice tray.
Tray when goes upside down it catches the upper shell and stops the tray from completing the cycle so is throat stretched out or is there away adjust it it doesn’t catch the upper shell
I have the same exact issue! Haven’t figured it out yet though…was thinking to file down the upper shell or the tray itself. YOu have any luck?
Not sure exactly what you’re watching when you do the reset /test button. The ice cube tray should flip over on certain models and then it will look looks it’s binding on the right side /give a twist so it looks like it’s jamming, but in actuality it has to twist the poly/ plastic tray to release the ice cubes. That is perfectly normal
This afternoon the ice in our ice maker started melting and tonight we noticed everything in our freezer is almost thawed. The refrigerator seems cool, but not cold. Any ideas of what is going wrong and suggestions for what we can try? Our fridge is 2 1/2 years old.
There is a known problem with the compressors on LG fridges. We had an issue last July of 2021. The replacement compressor is under warranty but not the labor to install it. We spent $600 but you may be able to find a tech who will do it for less.
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/appliances/lg-refrigerators-still-plagued-with-cooling-problems/
Don’t know but our LG fridge is doing the exact same thing so if you find out the problem I would appreciate it if you could let me know. Thanks.
I did turn down the temp on fridge and freezer and food seems to be more frozen now.
The metal arm that must go up to reset the ice maker sometimes has drops of frozen water on the end, therefore inhibiting the are from rising with a no ice.
We have a new big LG model that produces white powder in the ice. The fridge is about 3 months old. What’s going on? We spent over $3k on this. Thank you!
Hi
My ice maker tray turns to dump ice, makes a loud clicking noise like it’s trying to get back to the right side up position then gets stuck upside down. When I press reset or on/off it makes this same loud noise and gets stuck. Any suggestions/help would be great!
Have the same problem, was going to cut the corner where the trlay hits ?
Model LFX25961AL/01 ice tray not filling with water and sounds like an intermittent growling noise coming from the housing. Any ideas?
LG refrigerator ice maker not making ice always cross tray on it filling up five of the seven what could be the problem changed the pump the filter and new ice maker and still doing the same thing any help thank you
Had my LG Fridge for about 5 years now and its never reliably made ice. It seems to work and not work at totally random times … sometimes it’s fine for weeks, filling up the bucket over and over and then its cactus for months on end. Just stops dispensing ice. Ice is in the tray part ready to go – just never cycles the fingers to rotate and push the ice out. At 1am last night (or this morning if you prefer) I heard ice drop into the ice bucket … waited a few seconds – could hear the water line turn on to fill the tray back up again. Now this was after 6 months of ZERO ice production. It continued to work fine for about 6 more cycles of making ice today then it just magically stopped again with about 30 bits of ice collected in the bottom of the ice bucket … it’s not even 1/4 filled. The ice maker tray is sitting there, ice cubes frozen and ready to go, but it never cycles the fingers to rotate and push the ice out, nor does it heat up to begin to dislodge them. If I press and hold the button on the actual ice maker (there is only one button on it) the fingers will go round – then get forever stuck on the ice and not dislodge them until I pour some boiling water on them to help dislodge them.
For an expensive fridge – it’s disappointing that the icemaker has been a complete piece of garbage 🙁
My LG thinq makes ice but does not dispense the ice unless I press the reset button. What could be the problem? Any suggestions?
Mine is doing the same thing
Ice maker is making ice but is no noise and does not dispense any ice when I push to do so
when dispensing ice it sprays everywhere. Can it be fixed so the
ice drops straight into the glass an doesn’t go everywhere?
All of a sudden it takes 6+ hours to cycle through And drop ice into the bucket. It feels as though the ice is formed and solid however just doesn’t drop. The ice tray does fill up with water right after the 7 cubes drop. I went from a full compartment of ice to maybe 20 cubes a day.
Check the position of the ejector arm both right after it ejects ice and then after about 3-4 hours. We had a problem where the ice tray heater burnt out and the ejector arm would take a long time to eject ice frozen to the tray.
So my LG is filling the ice cube trays with just a little too much water. It makes for a large chunk of ice and makes a horrible clunking noise as it tries and fails to dislodge the cubes. How can i adjust this so it doesn’t fill up with too much water?
The issue on my LG Ice maker is that the fridge was level, but the icemaker was not and was leaning forwards a bit causing ice to not be level in the tray. The water then froze at too high towards the front part of the tray and caused the the rotating Ice Remover claws to not be able to rotate due to them getting caught on the frozen Ice cubes due to being elevated so much that the water in the trays was touching the claws and freezing the claws in place. I simply removed the existing ice using a small screwdriver and then leveled the ice maker by using a couple wedges. Reset it and all has been good.
I have an LG fridge model LMXS30776S / 03
I got an E 15 error code and originally I could open the ice maker door and the code would go away and the ice maker would operate when I pressed the test button, it would refill once and never dump the ice it made.
Fast forward to now and the code still pops up and it won’t reset unless I unplug the fridge. But now the ice maker won’t operate at all when I press the test button.
I saw at LG’s site that with that code it’s the fan or the sensor that isn’t working properly.
I used a magnet to simulate the door shutting and the fan blows air out of one of the vents, and one vent has nothing blowing out (maybe a return vent?) This test won’t work at all when the code is lit on the operating panel.
After reading the article, it seems like the ice maker or the control board is the problem but before I take the gamble and buy either, I wanted to see if anyone had any other thoughts before I proceed and replace one or the other.
If the ice maker fan is working and you can feel it, then the problem can be with the wiring located on the left top door hinge. I can not give you the exact procedure on how to check that. But you need to check wiring for continuity from the freezer where the fan is located to the inner wiring of the left door.
Thank you I will check it.