Samsung Ice Maker Won’t Come Out [Quick Fixes With Tips and Tricks!]

How to Fix Samsung Ice Maker That Won’t Come Out

Is your Samsung refrigerator’s ice maker stuck like it’s been super glued onto place? It’s one of those problems that feels bothersome and only becomes more of a hassle the longer it’s not solved.

Don’t worry because we wrote this article to give you the tips and tricks you need to know when troubleshooting your stuck Samsung ice maker. 

We also included solutions for the other parts of the ice maker that can get stuck or won’t come off easily. These include jams within the ice maker, buckets that keep getting stuck, and trays that won’t seem to come off.

Each guide we’ll be listing down will be fairly straightforward and easy to follow. Most of the problem-solving can be done by yourself, but a certain few will require professional assistance, especially if you find difficulty doing replacements and/or repairs.

Samsung Ice Maker Assembly Is Stuck and Won’t Come Out [Quick Fix]

Samsung Ice Maker Assembly Is Stuck and Won’t Come Out

The Samsung ice maker assembly usually won’t come out because of frost buildup keeping the appliance stuck in place. Initiating the Forced Defrost feature of the refrigerator should be able to solve the problem.

After the defrosting process, the assembly should be able to come out normally.

Here are the instructions to defrost your Samsung refrigerator using the Forced Defrost feature found on the control panel:

  • Step 1: Place the refrigerator in Forced Defrost mode by simultaneously pressing the “Freezer” and “Lighting” buttons until they beep. Press the “Lighting” button to cycle through the options until “Fd” appears and then press it to activate.
  • Step 2: Let the refrigerator defrost and make sure to have towels ready to clean up any mess from the process. The Forced Defrost mode takes about 20 minutes to finish.
  • Step 3: To avoid unwanted freezing in the future, set the temperature of the refrigerator to 38°F. This could be done by pressing the “Fridge” button on the control panel, which will cycle through different temperatures.
  • Step 4: Do the same for the freezer by setting its temperature to 0-10°F. This can be done by pressing the “Freezer” button on the control panel, which will cycle through different temperatures.

After defrosting the refrigerator, we can now attempt to remove the ice maker assembly from the refrigerator. Here are the instructions to do so:

  • Step 1: Power off and unplug your refrigerator. This is to avoid any hazards such as electrical shock while accessing the ice maker.
  • Step 2: On the ice maker, there should be a tab located near its top. Push on the tab and then gently pull out the ice maker’s ice box. 

Note that some ice maker models may have a lever or button that needs to be interacted with instead.

  • Step 3: There should be wire housing inside the ice maker. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws of the wire housing cover and carefully pull it out to expose the wiring harnesses.
  • Step 4: Gently detach the wiring harnesses of the electronics to free the ice maker assembly from the appliance.
  • Step 5: Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws of the ice tray duct. Carefully pry the ice tray duct with a flathead screwdriver to release it and gain access to the cooling coil.
  • Step 6: Check if the cooling coil has any frost buildup on it. If there is any, let the ice on the coil melt off before proceeding.

    If there is no longer any sign of frost buildup on the coil, use a flathead screwdriver to pry down the coil. Be very careful when doing this because any sort of damage to the coil can ruin the entire refrigerator.
  • Step 7: Once the coil has been pried down, release the old ice maker assembly from the housing by pressing on its locking tabs and then gently pulling it out.
Quick Note: 
If defrosting the refrigerator still doesn’t allow the ice maker to come out, then the problem is something entirely different. At this point, we recommend you call a professional to help you perform the necessary maintenance on the ice maker.

Samsung Ice Maker Jams Regularly [Causes and How to Fix]

The Samsung ice maker may encounter jamming, but this can be fixed by resetting it. Press on the ice maker’s reset button until a chime sound is made – this should dump all the jammed ice.

However, regular jamming may be caused by defective parts such as the gasket, defrost system, and compartment.

Before tackling these problems, fixing most of them may need a few tools, such as a screwdriver set, pliers, a multimeter, electrical gloves, and brand-new parts for replacement. You may also need a few pieces of cloth for any sort of needed cleaning.

With all of that out of the way, you can find the list of the common jamming problems of the Samsung ice maker and each of their corresponding solutions below:

ProblemSolution
Excess Stored Ice• Reset the ice maker by pressing the blue button found on the side of the appliance until you hear a chime or beep.

• The reset process should take roughly 5 minutes or until the ice maker beeps again.

• The ice maker should be able to dump all of the ice causing the jam. It will take about 24 to 48 hours for the ice maker to produce an ample amount of ice to dispense again.

• If jamming persists even after resetting the ice maker, the problem may be from one of the appliance’s components.
Broken Ice Maker Seal/Gasket• First, check if the ice maker gasket has any dirt buildup. 

• This could be the reason for the jamming, so the gasket needs to be cleaned with a piece of cloth and soap water solution.

• If you find any sort of tear or damage on the gasket, replace it immediately.

• Call for professional help if you find any trouble replacing the ice maker’s gasket.
Faulty Defrost System• Inspect if the core components of your Samsung refrigerator’s defrost system are working and if they have sustained damages – the thermostat and thermistor, defrost timer, and defrost heater.

• You can perform a continuity test on the thermostat and thermistor, defrost timer, and defrost heater to verify their functionality.

• If any of the components have any visible damage and/or failed the continuity test, then they need to be replaced. 

• Don’t hesitate to call for professional help if you will be going through with replacing any of the parts.
Cracked Ice Maker Compartment• Check if the ice maker’s compartment has any sort of cracks. 

• If there are any, these can be remedied by applying a silicone compound to seal the cracks of the compartment.

• If the issue still persists, the ice maker may need to be replaced. Call for a professional if you have trouble replacing the entire ice maker.
Quick Note:
• If you need to replace any parts of the Samsung refrigerator and ice maker, remember to consult the user manual first to identify which model of replacement parts you need. You can also refer to the serial number of the refrigerator.
• It is highly important to acquire the right parts for replacement so that there will be no risk of malfunction within your Samsung refrigerator. You’ll also avoid wasting money on the wrong parts if you know which components you need.

Excess Stored Ice

A jam in your Samsung refrigerator’s ice maker is often caused by excess stored ice inside the appliance. 

Not to worry, the accumulated ice can be easily dumped by resetting the ice maker.  After doing so, everything should operate as normal.

Solution: Reset the Samsung ice maker to dump all the ice causing the jam inside the appliance. Here are the instructions to do so:

  • Step 1: Take out the ice maker’s ice bucket. There should be a lever or button that needs to be pressed before carefully sliding the bucket out of the compartment.
  • Step 2: Locate the reset button on the side of the ice maker. The button is colored blue on most models.
  • Step 3: Press the reset button until you hear a chime or a beep. This indicates that the reset has started, and then wait for roughly 5 minutes for the process to complete (this will be indicated by a chime or beep).
  • Step 4: The ice maker will be dumping all of its accumulated ice, so make sure to be ready to clean up the appliance. Take note as well that it will take the ice maker around 24 to 48 hours to produce an ample supply of ice after the reset.

If the jamming continues to persist even after resetting the ice maker, then the problem may be from one of the components of the ice maker or even the refrigerator itself.

Broken Ice Maker Seal/Gasket

A dirty or broken ice maker gasket allows warm air to enter the appliance, and this causes the ice maker to overwork itself to compete with the abnormal temperature. 

Frost buildup results from this and will eventually create a jam inside the ice maker.

Solution: Inspect the gasket for any dirt buildup. If you are able to find any, clean the gasket using a piece of cloth and soap-water solution.

However, if you are able to find visible damage to the gasket, replace it with a new one immediately.

Here are the instructions to replace the ice maker’s gasket:

  • Step 1: Locate the ice chute. This is usually found near the ice maker assembly.
  • Step 2: Use a flathead screwdriver to pry open one of the retaining tabs of the ice chute gasket assembly. You will be able to remove the cap of the assembly along with the gasket attached to it.
  • Step 3: Gently pull off the gasket from the assembly’s cap to remove it.
  • Step 4: With your brand-new gasket, repeat the steps above in reverse to install the gasket back into the assembly.

Faulty Defrost System

The defrost system of your Samsung refrigerator consists of the thermostat and thermistor, the defrost timer, and defrost heater. If any of these parts malfunction or become faulty, it will cause the refrigerator to have irregular defrost cycles.

It’s worth noting that irregular defrost cycles can cause frost buildup to be more common.

That being said, this is where the ice maker jams can come from. Other problems, such as lower-than-normal temperatures inside the refrigerator and malfunctioning components, can be caused by this too.

Solution: Diagnose the thermostat and thermistor, the defrost timer, and defrost heater by performing a continuity test on each of them with a multimeter.

Thermostat and thermistor: Perform a continuity test on the thermostat and thermistor by following the steps below.

  • Step 1: Locate the refrigerator’s thermostat. You can refer to the user manual, but this is typically found on the back panel of the refrigerator near the thermistor.
  • Step 2: Take out the thermostat to test it for continuity. The user manual has electrical specifications for its opening and closing temperatures.
  • Step 3: Run the continuity test. If you’re testing for its closing temperatures (colder) then there should be continuity while opening temperatures (warmer) do not have continuity.

Replace the thermostat if it fails any of the continuity tests or if you find any damage to its wires and components.

If there is no problem with the thermostat, you should test the thermistor next. 

Here are the steps to test the thermistor:

  • Step 1: Locate your refrigerator’s thermistor. You can refer to the user manual, but it’s usually found in the back panel of most refrigerators.
  • Step 2: Once you are able to access the thermistor, run a resistance test using the multimeter.
  • Step 3: Set the multimeter to the ohm setting and touch the probes of the multimeter to the wires on the thermistor. The resistance of the thermistor should be 5,000 ohms at room temperature.

Any abnormalities in the multimeter readings signify a faulty thermistor. You should replace your current one if this is the case.

Defrost timer: Use the multimeter to perform a continuity test on the defrost timer.

Here are the instructions to do so:

  • Step 1: Locate the defrost timer. This can usually be found in three different places depending on your refrigerator’s model – behind the refrigerator’s kickplate, inside the control panel, or behind the refrigerator on its back wall.
  • Step 2: Use a screwdriver to remove the screws of the defrost timer and then disconnect its electronics from the refrigerator.
  • Step 3: Use a multimeter to conduct a continuity test on the defrost timer. Start by setting the multimeter to the R X 1 scale.
  • Step 4: There should be four metallic terminals extending from where the multimeter was located. Place one of the multimeter’s leads on the common terminal (it is usually labeled or designated by color white wiring).
  • Step 5: Once one of the multimeter leads is touching the common terminal, place the other lead on the three terminals one by one.

    The first and second pair should produce similar readings of zero, or near zero, which means it has continuity. On the other hand, the third pair of terminals should produce a reading of infinity.
  • Step 6: Now repeat the continuity test on the three pairs of terminals while activating the defrost timer’s switch.

    The results of the continuity should now be reversed. The pairs which registered zero or near zero should now result in infinity, and the ones that showed infinity in the multimeter should now be zero or near zero.

If there are any abnormalities in the multimeter test, then you should replace the defrost timer. Call for professional help if you find the process to be difficult.

Defrost heater: Use a multimeter to perform a continuity test on the defrost heater.

  • Step 1: Defrost the refrigerator by initiating the Forced Defrost mode. Press the “Freezer” and “Lighting” buttons until you hear beeping. 

Press and cycle through the different modes on the control panel using the “Lighting” button until “Fd” appears. Press “Fd” to activate Forced Defrost.

  • Step 2: Let the refrigerator defrost (it should only take about 20 minutes) and then power off and unplug the refrigerator. This is necessary to avoid any electrical shock or burns while accessing the defrost heater.
  • Step 3: Remove the contents of the refrigerator, the shelves, drawers, and any other possible obstructions. You need to do this since you will be accessing the evaporator fan’s compartment.
  • Step 4: With a Phillips screwdriver, remove the screws of the cover and pry the bottom part open. From there, you will be able to access the electronics and wiring.
  • Step 5: Before you can fully take the cover off, disconnect the evaporator fan motor’s electronics. After taking off the cover, you should be able to access the evaporator fan and the defrost heater.

    If there is still frost buildup on the evaporator fan and defrost heater, let the frost melt before proceeding with the next steps.
  • Step 6: Disconnect the defrost heater’s terminals using a flathead screwdriver.
  • Step 7: With your multimeter, place one of each of its probes onto each of the defrost heater’s wires or terminals. If you do not get any sort of reading from the multimeter, that means that the defrost heater failed the continuity test.

If the defrost heater failed the continuity test, you need to replace it immediately. Here are the instructions to do so:

  • Step 1: Initiate Forced Defrost mode to defrost the refrigerator. Press the “Freezer” and “Lighting” buttons until you hear beeping. 

Press and cycle through the different modes on the control panel using the “Lighting” button until “Fd” appears. Press “Fd” to activate Forced Defrost.

  • Step 2: Let the refrigerator defrost (it should only take about 20 minutes) and then power off and unplug the refrigerator. This is necessary to avoid any electrical shock or burns while accessing the defrost heater.
  • Step 3: Clear out the contents of the refrigerator, the shelves, drawers, and any other possible obstructions. You need to do this since you will be accessing the evaporator fan’s compartment.
  • Step 4: With a Phillips screwdriver, remove the screws of the cover and pry the bottom part open. From there, you will be able to access the electronics and wiring.
  • Step 5: Before you can fully take the cover off, disconnect the evaporator fan motor’s electronics. After taking off the cover, you should be able to access the evaporator fan and the defrost heater.

    If there is still frost buildup on the evaporator fan and defrost heater, let the frost melt before proceeding with the next steps.
  • Step 6: Disconnect the defrost heater’s terminals using a flathead screwdriver.

At this point, the wiring and electronics of the appliance should have been disconnected from the refrigerator. All that is left now is to safely disconnect other components and remove the heater from the housing.

  • Step 7: Carefully cut the zip tie locks of the defrost heater. After doing this, you should be able to disconnect the other parts attached to the heater, such as the wire retainer found on the right side and the bimetal defrost thermostat.
  • Step 8: Before proceeding to remove the defrost heater, wear gloves to avoid any cuts as the heater can have sharp edges. Be very cautious so as to not damage the evaporator coil while interacting with the heater’s retaining tabs.
  • Step 9: Locate the defrost heater’s retaining tabs and pry on them with a flathead screwdriver to release them.
  • Step 10: Next, bend the bottom two tabs of the defrost heater with pliers to release them.
  • Step 11: Carefully remove the entire defrost heater. Starting slowly from the top until you make your way to the bottom is the safest way to do so.
  • Step 12: To install the new defrost heater, simply repeat the previous steps in reverse.

If you have any sort of trouble performing a continuity test and/or replacing the defrost heater, then do not hesitate to call for professional help to solve the problem.

Cracked Ice Maker Compartment 

Cracks on the ice maker compartment can cause the same problem of warm air flowing inside the appliance. This may eventually lead to frost buildup and then jamming inside the ice maker.

Solution: Apply a silicone seal on the cracks of the ice maker compartment to remedy the damage and prevent warm air from flowing inside.

If applying the silicone seal doesn’t work and the ice maker continues to jam, then we need to remove and replace the old ice maker assembly with a new one in your Samsung refrigerator.

  • Step 1: Defrost the refrigerator by initiating the Forced Defrost mode by pressing the “Freezer” and “Lighting” buttons until you hear beeping. 

Press and cycle through the different modes on the control panel using the “Lighting” button until “Fd” appears. Press “Fd” to activate Forced Defrost.

  • Step 2: Wait for the Forced Defrost cycle to finish (about 20 minutes) and power off the refrigerator.
  • Step 3: Detach the ice bucket from the ice maker. Some models can be easily pulled out while others have a release button that needs to be pressed before being removed.
  • Step 4: There should be wire housing inside the ice maker. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws of the wire housing cover and carefully pull it out.
  • Step 5: Gently detach the wiring clips of the electronics to free the ice maker assembly from the appliance.
  • Step 6: Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws of the ice tray duct. Gently pry the ice tray duct with a flathead screwdriver to release it and gain access to the cooling coil.
  • Step 7: Check if the cooling coil has any frost buildup on it. If there is any, let the ice on the coil melt off first before proceeding forward.

    If there is no sign of frost buildup on the coil or you have let the ice melt after some time, use a flathead screwdriver to pry down the coil. Be very careful when doing this because any sort of damage to the coil can ruin the entire refrigerator.
  • Step 8: Release the old ice maker assembly from the housing by pressing on its locking tabs and gently pulling it out.
  • Step 9: Install the new ice maker assembly by carefully sliding it into the housing and making sure that it locks into place.
  • Step 10: Repeat all the other steps in reverse to fully install the new ice maker assembly and return the refrigerator to its original state.

Manually replacing the ice maker assembly is difficult for anyone without prior experience. We highly recommend that you simply call a professional to replace the old assembly with a new one to fix the problem.

Samsung Ice Maker Tray Won’t Come Out [Quick Fix]

Most Samsung ice maker trays/buckets can usually be easily pulled straight out of their compartments. The tray may not come out easily because the ice maker needs to be thawed out to remove any frost buildup.

How to Pull Out an Ice Tray/Bucket from a Samsung Refrigerator 

Before trying anything serious, make sure that you’re pulling out the ice maker tray properly. Most trays only need to be gently pulled out to remove them, but there are other models that have locking mechanisms to secure the tray in its place.

Solution: Here are the instructions to pull out the ice tray/bucket from the refrigerator:

  • Step 1: Make sure that the pathway of the ice tray/bucket is not obstructed. Opening the refrigerators will help make the process easier.
  • Step 2: Grab and hold onto the bottom of the ice tray/bucket. Slightly lift it up at an angle and gently pull it to remove it from the ice maker. 
Quick Note:
• Samsung refrigerators can have different ice makers and ice trays/buckets depending on the model. Some models of ice maker trays have locking clips or mechanisms to prevent the tray from sliding off accidentally.
• Removing these kinds of ice maker trays should only take a few extra steps. You should check your user manual on how to interact with the locking mechanisms, although usually, a button or a lever must be held or pulled before pulling out the tray.
• If the ice maker cannot be removed even after following the tips and instructions above, make sure to thaw out the ice maker first as frost buildup may be causing the tray to get stuck.

How to Thaw Out a Samsung Ice Maker

A Samsung ice maker can be thawed out by initiating the refrigerator’s Forced Defrost mode. 

Once the defrost cycle is done, brush off any remaining ice and clean the ice maker.

The ice maker needs to be thawed out whenever there is frost buildup inside the appliance. Allowing frost buildup in the ice maker may cause complications such as jamming, stuck trays, and even damage to the ice maker’s components.

Quick Note:
DO NOT attempt to thaw out the ice maker and its other components by using a hair dryer (or anything similar). This will only lead to damaging the ice maker and potentially breaking any of the components it needs to function.

Solution: Defrost the Samsung refrigerator to help thaw out the frost buildup.

  • Step 1: Defrost the refrigerator by initiating the Forced Defrost mode. Press the “Freezer” and “Lighting” buttons until you hear beeping. 

Press and cycle through the different modes on the control panel using the “Lighting” button until “Fd” appears. Press “Fd” to activate Forced Defrost.

  • Step 2: Let the refrigerator defrost (it should only take about 20 minutes) and then power off and unplug the refrigerator. This is necessary to avoid any electrical shock while cleaning the ice maker.
  • Step 3: Carefully take out the ice maker tray, brush off any remaining frost build-up on it, and wipe it clean with a piece of cloth.
  • Step 4: Do the same for the ice maker. Brush off any leftover frost buildup and wipe the appliance clean with a piece of cloth.

Now that you know how to troubleshoot and perform maintenance on your Samsung ice maker, you should be able to quickly address any future problems.


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