How to Unlock Samsung Oven: Complete Guide

If your oven always locks itself, there’s probably nothing wrong with it. Most of the time, it just needs to cool down to unlatch.

A Samsung oven with a smart-locking system keeps you safe by locking the door when it gets too hot, preventing accidental injuries. However, other factors can also trigger the auto-lock function.

Depending on the cause, you might have to do additional steps or troubleshoot the issue to unlatch the door.

Here, we’ll delve into the most common reasons that cause a Samsung oven to lock. We’ll also show you how to get the door to unlatch.

Why do Samsung ovens lock?

A Samsung oven automatically locks when its internal temperature reaches extreme highs. Whether you’re cooking or running a self-cleaning cycle, its door will lock as a safety precaution.

The smart locking system also activates if you turn on Child Lock or Control Lock.

How to Unlock a Samsung Oven

The best solution to unlock a Samsung oven is to wait. If your Samsung oven is extremely hot, give it enough time to cool, and it will eventually unlock. 

Once it reaches safe temperature levels of about 200°F (93 °C) or lower, the door will automatically unlatch. 

If it doesn’t work, inspect the oven and look for the root cause of the issue. Although it’s often as simple as an active Child Lock function, or a system glitch, it’s also possible that a failed component is causing the issue.

Not to worry, you can troubleshoot the issue yourself, or hire a professional to do it.

To unlock a Samsung oven door, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Let the oven cool down. 

• Step 2: Check if the door unlatches. 

Once the internal temperature of your Samsung oven decreases to about 200°F (93 °C), the door should unlock by itself. You can stop here if the door unlocks.

If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

• Step 3: Turn on the range.

In some Samsung oven models, the door automatically locks when the range is powered off. You must power on the range to unlock the door.

If this doesn’t apply to your model, skip this step and proceed to the next one.

• Step 4: Turn off the power at the circuit breaker. Wait for at least 60 seconds before turning the power back on.

• Step 5: Inspect your Samsung oven. Check if Child Lock is on and if Self-Clean was recently activated.

How to Troubleshoot a Locked Samsung Oven Door

Troubleshooting a locked Samsung oven door can be as simple as disengaging the Child Lock function. In many cases, it can also be resolved by power cycling the appliance at the circuit breaker.

If a faulty door lock motor is causing the issue, you must replace the component to unlock the oven.

Although waiting for your oven to cool down usually works, there are times when the door fails to unlock even after the unit has cooled down. 

We made a list of the most common reasons that can cause your Samsung oven to lock. We also have step-by-step instructions to help you troubleshoot the issue and unlock your Samsung oven.

Causes	Solutions
There was a power interruption.	Unplug your oven, or turn it off at the circuit breaker.  Turn the power back on after 5 minutes or until your oven cools down. Select the Clear/Off button to reset the oven. Then, check if the door will unlatch. If it doesn’t, press the Self-Clean button. After 60 seconds, select the Clear/Off button to cancel the cycle. The goal isn’t to run a self-cleaning cycle, so cancel the function when it starts.  If it doesn’t work, press the Self-Clean button again and run a cycle for two hours. Then, let your oven cool down for several hours.
Self-Clean was recently activated.	Reset the power by turning it off at the circuit breaker. Let your oven cool down for about 30 to 90 minutes. Turn the power back on. Check if the oven door is unlocked.
Child Lock is on.	Check the user manual to find the Child Lock or Control Lock function on your Samsung oven model. Press the corresponding button for Child Lock or Control Lock for at least three seconds to unlock the door.
The door lock motor is jammed.	Unplug your oven, and move it around to access the back panel. Disassemble the back panel to access the door lock assembly. Remove the mounting screws and pull out the door lock assembly. Then, push the door-latching rod and open the oven door. Disconnect the electrical wires on the door lock motor. Set a multimeter to 20,000 ohms of resistance setting. Touch a probe to each terminal on the door lock. If the multimeter reads 2,000 ohms, the door lock is working properly. You can proceed to the next step. If it has no continuity, the component is faulty and must be replaced immediately. You can proceed to the next solution. Take a photo of the assembly. Or, take note of the drive cam and the locking rod hole’s position. Remove the screw mounting the drive cam to the motor. Then, detach it from the assembly and rotate it 180° from its original position. Align the bottom grooves of the drive cam with the motor shaft. Push the drive cam in and secure it to the motor shaft. Keep the switch arm aligned with the edge of the drive cam. Mount the drive cam and reattach it to the locking rod. Secure the door lock motor assembly onto the oven. Finally, reconnect the power.
The door lock motor is malfunctioning.	Unplug your Samsung oven. Remove the back panel to access the door lock assembly. Disconnect all the wires and unmount the screws on the assembly. Then, release it from the locking rod by pulling it down and tilting it inward. Install the new assembly by tilting it forward and insert it into the locking rod. Connect all the wires and attach the mounting screws on the new locking mechanism to keep it secure. Reattach the back panel of your oven. Move it back to its original spot and plug it back in.

There was a power interruption.

Power interruptions can often cause a glitch in your Samsung oven. For instance, if a power outage interrupts a self-cleaning cycle, your oven door can stay locked even after the power comes back. 

Solution: To unlock a Samsung oven after a power interruption, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug your oven, or turn it off at the circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Keep it unplugged for at least 5 minutes. If it’s hot, give it enough time to cool down.
• Step 3: Plug your oven back in. 
• Step 4: Press the Clear/Off button to reset it.
• Step 5: Check if the door unlocks.

If your oven unlocks, you can stop here. However, if it doesn’t, proceed to the next step

• Step 6: Press the Self-Clean button. 
• Step 7: Tap the Clear/Off button after 60 seconds or when you hear the oven starting the self-cleaning process.

For now, the goal isn’t to run a self-cleaning cycle, so make sure to promptly cancel the function. However, if this doesn’t work, proceed to the next set of steps.

• Step 8: Press the Self-Clean button again and run a self-cleaning cycle for an hour or two.
• Step 9: Let your oven cool down for several hours.

Self-Clean was recently activated.

Did you recently run a self-cleaning cycle in your oven? As a safety precaution, your unit automatically locks itself when its internal temperature gets too high.

When you activate the Self-Clean function, your oven raises its internal temperature to about 932°F (500°C) to aid in cleaning. It dissolves hardened gunk and grime.

Typically, your oven door will unlatch once its internal temperature decreases and reaches safe levels. It may take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to cool to room temperature.

However, if it’s still locked after a considerable amount of time, you can try power cycling your unit.

Solution: To unlock a Samsung oven after a self-cleaning cycle, you can follow these steps:

• Step 1: Reset the power by turning it off at the circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Give your oven enough time to cool down. After a cleaning cycle, it takes about 30 to 90 minutes to cool down.
• Step 3: Turn the power back on.
• Step 4: Check if the oven door is unlocked.

Child Lock is on.

Some Samsung oven models have a Child Lock or Control Lock that keeps curious hands from tinkering with it. If this function is activated, it locks the door and the control panel.

Depending on your unit, you might see a lock icon or the term “Loc” on your display if the function is activated. Since it varies per model, you can refer to your user manual to be sure.

Solution: First, locate the Child Lock or Control Lock button on your Samsung oven. Press the button for at least three seconds to unlock the door.

The steps for disabling Child Lock or Control Lock may vary per model. For Samsung ovens, you’ll often find instructions on the control panel.

You can also check the user manual for more detailed instructions.

The door lock motor is jammed.

When you’re running a self-cleaning cycle and it’s interrupted by a power outage, the door lock motor can get jammed. That means it won’t unlock even after your oven cools to room temperature.

You can manually unlock the door by accessing the lock assembly inside your oven. We recommend doing a continuity test to check its performance, so you can rule out the possibility of component failure.

Before opening your oven and troubleshooting it, wear the right gear and use the right tools for your safety.

What you’ll need:

• Insulated gloves
• Phillips screwdriver
• Multimeter

Solution: To fix a jammed door lock, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Unplug your Samsung oven, and pull it away from the wall to access the back panel.
• Step 2: Unmount the back panel to access the door lock assembly.
• Step 3: Remove the screws mounting the door lock assembly. Then, gently pull it down and tilt it inwards to release it from the locking rod.
• Step 4: Push the door-latching rod and open the oven door.
• Step 5: Disconnect the electrical wires on the door lock.
• Step 6: Set a multimeter to 20,000 ohms of resistance setting. Place one probe on each terminal on the door lock.

If it measures 2,000 ohms, the mechanism is working properly and is most likely just jammed. You can proceed to the next step.

No continuity means that the component is faulty and must be replaced immediately. You can proceed to the next solution.

• Step 7: Take a photo of the assembly. Or, take note of the drive cam and the locking rod hole’s position.
• Step 8: Remove the drive cam’s mounting screw. Then, detach it from the assembly and rotate it 180° from its original position.
• Step 9: Align the bottom grooves of the drive cam with the motor shaft. Push the drive cam in and secure it.
• Step 10: Keep the switch arm aligned with the edge of the drive cam.
• Step 11: Reinstall the drive cam’s mounting screw.
• Step 12: Insert the locking rod into the drive cam hold.
• Step 13: Reattach the lock motor assembly onto the range.
• Step 14: Reassemble the back panel.
• Step 15: Plug in the oven and move it back to its original position.

The door lock motor is malfunctioning.

In your Samsung oven, a door lock motor assembly keeps the door closed during self-cleaning cycles and whenever your unit gets too hot. If it malfunctions, your door will get stuck. 

You must replace the faulty mechanism to prevent the problem from recurring. Not to worry, it is an easy fix, which you can finish in 30 minutes or less.

Solution: First, you must check if your door lock motor is even functioning properly. You need to perform a continuity test using a multimeter.

• Step 1: Unplug your Samsung oven. Then, pull it away from the wall to access the back panel.
• Step 2: Remove the screws on the back panel. Take off the panel, and set it aside.
• Step 3: Unmount the door lock assembly and release it from the locking rod.
• Step 4: Disconnect all the electrical wires on the assembly.
• Step 5: Set a multimeter to 20,000 ohms of resistance setting. Touch one probe to each terminal on the door lock.

If it shows no continuity, your lock mechanism is malfunctioning. You must replace it with a new component to resolve the issue.

What you’ll need:

• Insulated gloves
• ¼” nut driver
• Phillips screwdriver
• New door lock assembly

To replace a door lock mechanism on an electric Samsung oven, follow these steps carefully:

• Step 1: Unplug your Samsung oven, or turn it off at the circuit breaker.
• Step 2: Use a Phillips screwdriver to unmount the screws on the back panel. Then, pull out the panel to access the door lock assembly.
• Step 3: Disconnect all the wires from the door lock assembly.
• Step 4: Unmount the screws on the door lock assembly. Release it from the locking rod by pulling it down and tilting it inward.
• Step 5: Get the new door lock assembly. Tilt it forward and insert it into the locking rod.
• Step 6: Install the mounting screws on the new door lock assembly to lock it in place.
• Step 7: Connect all the wires to the new door lock assembly. Make sure you connect the wires in their correct positions.
• Step 8: Reinstall the back panel and keep it secure with its mounting screws.
• Step 9: Plug in your oven.

Frequently Asked Questions