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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My ice maker is not producing any ice. Test button tried but does not also work?
I would check power to the ice maker. if there is power, replace ice maker
This is a very good article and it helped me understand functioning of ice maker.
My LG refrigerator LFXC22596 was working fine but I got 1F E error code on display and it stopped dispensing water and ice. So I turned off the refrigerator for 10 hours and it cleared the code. After that water is being dispensed properly but ice is not being made although I checked the function of ice maker in refrigerator section on left door by pressing the test button. It works fine, dumps the tray by rotating and the tray is filled with fresh water. But it is not frozen into ice cubes.
The ice maker in the freezer section underneath is working fine. It is producing ice. If same fan gives cold air to both ice makers, then I assume the fan is working properly.
I closed right refrigerator door, put a magnet on top left and refrigerator light turned off. But no air started to come out of two ducts that go into ice maker in the door.
I have put ice cubes produced in refrigerator in the ice dispenser in the refrigerator door to see if they stay frozen or melt in few hours.
What is possible cause of that in your opinion ?
Ice maker fan in the freezer section serves only the upper ice maker. If that fan will fail to spin you will have temperature fluctuations and thus upper ice maker will not make ice
My LG fridge has started crushing ICE automatically (when no one is using it). The ice crusher comes on and run constantly until we hear it and go open and close the door several times. So the ice chute is filled up. If we don’t catch it quickly, the crushed ice freezes and clogs the chute. I’ve reset the maker several times. I’ve finally just turned off the ice maker…. Any ideas?
Crushed ice button too sensitive? Do you have a touchpad display like on phones or a physical button?
Have an LG FGUB2642LF8 french door fridge. It makes plenty of ice, the ice in the ice bin is soft, and will not come down the shoot into our cups. Do we need to replace the assembly?
If the ice in the bin is soft, that means there not enough cold to keep them solid.
You need to check:
1. Ice shut for leaks
2. Ice maker fan in the freezer compartment
I have a LG model LSXS26386, dispenses water, makes ice, but will not rotate to dispense cubes in bin. If you push the reset button you can hear and see the motor trying to turn. Replaced the motor unit and have the same problem. Any suggestions?
Why did you replace only motor, but not the whole assembly?
Sorry, replaced the whole assembly. Have the same problem. My unit has the hole to put a pin in to reset. It seems like the rotating teeth are not in the same location as they were when things were working properly. same thing with the replacement unit.
I’ve got an LGSXS26336S and was running just fine making the ice. The turning arm just isn’t dumping it into the container. I hit the reset and it moves, but it doesn’t make the full turn to dump the ice that’s made. When I shut the water off and thaw it out with a hair dryer it will make the full turn.
HI!
I have an LG lfx28978st french door refidgerator. We are getting ice made and dumping into the bin but then it appears to be clumping as if it has melted or may have come out clumped and therefore it will not dispense out the chute as it is too big. I have the temp lowered to -3 I think. The spring loaded delivery door appears to be closed on the outside. any ideas on where else to look?
You might have an air leak somewhere or temperature fluctuating a lot, causing ice to melt. What about dispenser ice shut? is it closed properly?
I have a LG Model-LFXS30766S My ice maker is making ice just fine. However, it will not dispense it into the cup. I have unplugged it, and pushed the test button and nothing has helped. It was purchased 18 months ago, so it is not under warranty. Do you have any suggestions?
Hello, I have the second type of icemaker that you listed. A few weeks ago, I noticed water in my fridge. I saw that there was a large block of ice clogging the air-out vent of the ice maker in the door, and the water appeared to be coming from there. I poured hot water over it to unclog it, and I appeared to have gotten it clear. Within a week, the ice compartment would no longer cool. I can hear the fan running (does not sound to be struggling), and it is pushing air, but it does not feel like a lot coming through. Any suggestions?
My LG French door refrigerator with ice maker has a problem letting the ice drop down from the ice tray. It fills up, freezes, then when it’s time to dump the ice in the box there is a continuous loud clicking noise and maybe sometimes some of the ice drops out, ice on the right side of the tray has a difficult time dumping. I have tried resetting, turning off power to thaw out, sometimes I get it working again for a couple of days then we go into the clicking noise when the ice is ready to drop to box and does not recycle since there are still cubes remaining in the tray. BTW I have contacted an authorized serviceman for LG twice and he never responds. The next closest authorized service tech is 60 miles away. Help!
Seems like something jamming ice tray. Did you try to reset ice maker? Did it make a turn, twist, and then fill with water as normal?
This is happening with my ice maker as well. The clicking noises get very loud. Wonder if it could be related to calcium build up in the tray? I can see the build up in the empty try when it is upside down twisted and clicking loudly. I wonder if there could be buildup somewhere else that is causing this. How do I clean it?? I have tried multiple resets, but still very loud clicks.
Hello,
My brand new refrigerator randomly produces ice, then stops. It seems to cycle, but no water dispenses. I then reset it and it will work for a day or so before failing.
A side note, we have great water pressure.
If it is a brand new fridge, then i would check the water connection again. Do you have water on the water dispenser? Maybe air gaps in the water line?
I own a French door LGLMXS27626S/01 MODEL. The ice maker worked fine for 3 years now while it still produces ice in the tray it no longer dumps automatically into the bucket. I have to mechanically activate the tray rotation. I have tried to unplug the unit and reset it but that seemed to have only worked once for about a month now it doesn’t work at all. Is it worth repairing this ice maker or should I replace it? What is the cost of a new one?
Did you test optical sensor (see post above) ? Here is ice maker for your model. Price is 179$
Thanks for responding. I followed the steps as listed above. I not only emptied the ice bin I also mechanically rotated the ice cubes in the tray. After pressing the waiting 3 minutes with the freezer door open I pressed the refrigerator and lock button and held it for 3 seconds. Neither ETY or Full appeared on my display panel. The top panel indicated that cubed ice was being made and a message of change water filter came up. Is there something I missed or is it time to buy a new ice maker? $179 isn’t bad but I am sure that I will have to pay another $100 for installation. Ouch!!!!
I recommend you to call trusted service company in your area, but first ask them if they dealt with LG ice makers, cause not every company wants to deal with these problems
Every once in a while I have to thaw out the water outlet with a hair dryer. The ice maker cycles, but evidently the water outlet freezes up. What to do?
Hello
Please say me how to test LG ice maker with out button switch
Without knowing model number of your fridge, i can not give you correct answer, but try to turn main power OFF to the fridge for a couple of minutes
Hi Eugene,
Thank you for your advice and troubleshooting tips- it’s very easy to follow!
We have a LG. GR-D907 and we woke recently to find the ice had dumped all over the floor and now the ice motor randomly turns on and we can only stop it by opening the door.
Since this happened, it is now a bit of an art form to get the water dispenser working- sometimes it works normally, other times we need to press the ice dispenser lever/button first then release it and press the water dispenser to get it to work.
I have pressed the ice dispenser test Button and the ice tray did its full turn then returned to normal position and filled with water – thankyou for the tip!
I have also followed your recommendation above to test sensors and ETY showed so we’re all happy there!
I have cleaned the sensors just with a damp sponge and everything looks to be in it’s usual position.
Do you have any ideas what our little ice maker is up to please?
Thank you!
i think you have a faulty or too sensitive ice dispenser button
Thanks Eugene- will call the repairer out then!
Hi Eugene,
This is basically what my ice maker is doing as well.
Mark Quinn
July 7, 2020 at 9:35 pm
The ice tray on mine is leaking as it refills. The water than collects and freezes, clogging up the chute. It also collects and freezes around the ice maker door gasket.
It may be that it is simply leaking underneath the tray somewhere or is there a drain tube?
I suspect that I may have to figure out how to remove the ice maker or tray to figure out where and why it is leaking.
I’ve also read that water pressure (hi or lo) and/or the refrigerator filter may need replaced?
Thoughts?
How do I remove the ice maker to check the fill tube. Sorry, I am trying to do this myself since my husband passed away and I am on my own. I also noticed when doing the test that when it fills the water is coming from between the tray and the shield where it rotates around when dumping! Does that make sense? Thanks Val D.
Hello, I have an LG LFXS28968S fridge with the twist/flex ice maker, BUT it does not have the sensor, it has a bar, and it has the power button, but no reset button, and I can’t find any pin hole that might be a reset button.
My issue is that after working fine for three or four months (new) the ice maker does not appear to be dumping the ice out of the tray. I have thawed it a couple of times and gotten it to run one successful fill and dump, and then on the next one it appears to not have dumped, and it then tries to fill again which results in the cubes being one huge block. Still no dumping, and then it fills again, and water goes everywhere.
In the process of thawing I have seen it dump out the block and then run one good cycle. Seems like maybe the motor freezes after so many hours and the dumping process doesn’t occur. I did catch it mid cycle once, the tray was tipped about a half inch, so I waited a bit and checked again and it was still in the same position. I’ve read that it will do this, tip and sit for a half hour or so. But when it didn’t complete it’s cycle I turned it off. I’m tired of defrosting it.
Any ideas on this? Or do you think that due to the weird nature of the ice maker (post old model, early new model) that I should just see if LG will replace it? (Still under warranty.)
Thanks!
I think you need a new ice maker. Contact LG if its still under warranty…
PS.. On your ice maker try to press ON switch for 5-10 seconds. Will it reset?
Pressing the on side of the switch did not trigger a reset. I tried it with the off side too and got nothing.
And of course, LG’s “Create a Service Request” led to them wanting me to check the water pressure. SIGH. So I get to spend some time on the phone with them. UGH.
Wish me luck! 🙂
And thanks for the input.
Eugene, thank you for helping all of us!
Here are the steps I’ve taken to fix icemaker:
1) Ran Test to empty icemaker pressing the reset button. It ran fine and dumped ice.
2) Water refilled in the ice tray & water comes out of the dispenser on the outside.
3) Checked fan by closing the door and pressing the door closed toggle. Cold air was blowing out of the top of the vent which goes up to the icemaker.
4) Freezer is set to -4 degrees
5) Several day sago, I unplugged refrigerator for 1 min. and plugged it back in.
6) I tested the Optical Sensor by removing ice bucket, opening the freezer, pressed ‘Refrigerator’ and ‘Lock’; the control panel displayed “E” under Refrigerator and ‘ty’ under Freezer labels respectively.
Any other suggestions?
Is there a way to diagnose the subPCB board or main board?
Thanks! Joe
Last thing what i would do is to check wire harness from the ice maker side to the control board. With, moving left door CLOSE and OPEN, cause wire harness coming through the door hinge. Who knows, maybe one of the wires is broken. If everything ok with the wires, i would try to replace the main control board. But even if you will replace control board, there is no guarantee that it will solve the problem. Regarding diagnosing the control board, please check service manual in this post.
Were you able to resolve your issue? Interested in what you found if so and would share.
Hello Eugene,
My LG is making ice but my problem is at times….when the tray dumps it falls off the plastic pivot pieces and does not return upright…..is it toast?
I think so
Mines doing the same thing!
Good evening Eugene
I have an LG Gc-L247ENSL 2 door model fridge freezer.
The water has stopped flowing to the ice maker, but l can hear it trying without the water.
The door is flashing “change the filter”.
I searched the manual and all l can find if the “fresh”filter located at the rear top of the refrigerator section.
My fridge is not plumbed into mains water, but has a water dispenser on the bottom of the fridge door which l fill with water when needed..
Question : is there a “water filter”for this unit and if so ..where is it located OR
will changing the square “fresh” filter at the rear of the fridge fix the water flow problem ?
Thank you for your time to help me.
I am only familiar with North American models of LG fridges. All of them have a water filter, which connected to the main water inlet valve –> water line. if there is no connection to the main water line, filter is useless. Because water dispenser and an ice maker getting water ONLY through the water filter. probably same thing applies to your fridge as well. No water connected to the fridge, filter is useless