You want to dig into your leftovers for movie night when your Samsung microwave shuts itself down before you can even begin reheating — in this case, what do you do?
Grab this article for a guide on how to fix the problem, of course!
A Samsung microwave that suddenly shuts down and won’t turn back on is quite the hassle, especially at crucial times when you badly want a quick meal.
This is why we’ve prepared this simple but comprehensive guide for you to fix the issue, and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Why Your Samsung Microwave Shut Off
Samsung microwaves will automatically turn off if they are overheating or experiencing an issue with the door switches. When this happens, let your appliance cool off for about 30 minutes before powering it back on.
If it doesn’t turn on at all, it might have an issue with its power supply.
Part of any Samsung appliance’s safety design is automatically pausing operations when it detects an unusual rise in temperature to avoid overheating.
A good cooling-off session should be enough to solve the problem. But if it doesn’t, we’ve listed a couple of other issues you can try looking into and how to troubleshoot them!
Common Causes of a Samsung Microwave That Shuts Off Completely and How to Fix Them
If your Samsung microwave keeps shutting down, this typically points to a safety issue, often either because of overheating components or unlocked doors.
We’ve prepared a table for you below to serve as a guideline about root issues your appliance might be facing. Don’t worry, we promise they’re not at all complicated!
You might want to get your handy-dandy Phillips screwdriver ready, though!
Cause | Solution |
Overheating | Unplug your Samsung microwave and let it sit and cool down for at least 30 minutes. |
Insufficient Power | Unplug your Samsung microwave and inspect its power cord and outlet for any damages. If there are any damages to the power cord, take the appliance to the nearest Samsung service center. You can test the electrical outlet by plugging other appliances into it and checking if they work. You can also try plugging the microwave into different outlets to determine if its initial electrical outlet is the problem. If the issue lies in the outlet, call an electrician. Check your circuit breaker(s) for any switches that tripped, especially after a power outage. If your circuit breaker(s) keep(s) tripping, call an electrician to check on your house wiring. |
Malfunctioning Door Switch | Check your door switches if they’re working properly. Unplug your microwave oven or cut it off at its power source. Unscrew the two screws on the top of the unit and pry off its top cover. Unscrew the screw holding the keypad panel in place, then carefully pry the keypad panel off without removing it or disconnecting the wires behind it. Locate the three door switches next to the microwave doors and run a continuity test on each one using a multimeter. If one or more switches fail, replace them. |
Faulty Control Board | Look out for any faint smell of burning. If you suspect that the control board has failed, take the appliance to the nearest Samsung service center to get the component replaced. |
Overheating
As we’ve mentioned above, your Samsung microwave is designed to shut itself off when it detects abnormally high temperatures.
Your appliance makes use of thermal detectors that can differentiate between the temperature you set to heat or cook your food and the surface temperature of the body of the unit.
That means that cooking food at high temperatures isn’t a cause for concern by itself. Overheating issues typically occur when your appliance doesn’t have proper ventilation or when you heat batches of food at high temperatures without a cooling interval.
Your microwave uses high-voltage parts to generate enough heat to meet your settings. While these parts will have no problem enduring heat, overworking them will activate the thermal cut-out switch, which in turn would shut your appliance down.
This isn’t any cause for panic, though. The thermal cut-out switch automatically resets itself when the microwave’s parts have cooled down, and then you can boot the appliance back up with no problem!
Solution: Overheating issues can be resolved by letting your Samsung microwave cool down for at least 30 minutes. Just turn off your appliance and keep it unplugged for half an hour.
Once cooled down, you can use your microwave normally again.
As a word of caution, though: overheating can sometimes lead to a blown thermal fuse.
If, for example, you’ve cooled down your appliance and it powers back on just fine but doesn’t heat up (samsung microwave not heating), you might need to call a technician on it.
Quick Tip: To avoid encountering overheating issues in the future, remember to do two things: • Keep your microwave ventilated. Placing the appliance in an open space with a 10-centimeter gap from behind and on both sides can provide enough ventilation. If there’s a cupboard or any similar platform above the unit, make sure that it’s at least 20 centimeters apart from the top of the microwave. • Let your microwave cool down every 10 minutes. If you’re heating or cooking a handful of batches, let your appliance take a break after every 10 minutes. If you’re cooking each batch for more than 10 minutes, let it cool down after every batch. A break of 2 to 3 minutes would suffice if you’re using regular settings. If you’ve set the temperature higher than usual, we suggest letting the unit cool down for about 5 minutes. |
Insufficient Power
Say you’ve tried letting your microwave cool down, but when you try to turn it back on, it wouldn’t work!
In that case, perhaps the issue is in the power source. It wouldn’t be unusual to have your appliance receiving enough voltage one second, and suddenly having its power cut off in the next.
Plugs, outlets, and adapters can wear down with frequent and heavy use. Moreover, in cases where you have your appliance plugged into an extension instead of an outlet of its own, it might not always receive sufficient voltage or power supply.
A recent or frequent power outage can also contribute to this issue, especially when it causes a problem in your circuit breakers.
Troubleshooting this issue comes in steps as you inspect each electrical element related to your appliance, so if it starts getting too technical for you, don’t hesitate to call for professional help.
Solution: If you find your Samsung microwave not turning on, keep it unplugged, then check the power cord and outlet for any damages or signs of burning out.
If you find any chafing, fraying, or cracks along the power cord, call Samsung Support Center, especially if your warranty is still valid.
Meanwhile, outlets can be a tricky thing. If your appliance’s power cord has no immediate and visible signs of damage, you can try plugging the appliance into a separate outlet and see if it powers on.
Or you can also try plugging a different appliance into the outlet under inspection to see if that will work.
Either way, if this test proves that your outlet is deficient, you need to contact your electrician to check on your household’s power supply.
If you find your Samsung microwave not turning on despite changing outlets, and at the same time, no other appliance seems to be working via the outlet you’re testing, then that means the problem lies in your house’s circuit breaker.
Circuit breakers can often trip under sudden excessive power currents, or in other words, because of power surges or other similar cases. Households that use several breakers can have only one or two breakers trip while the rest function normally.
This issue would require you to reset your circuit breaker. If your circuit breaker cannot be reset, contact your electrician.
Quick Tip: Plugging your Samsung microwave oven into an extension may not be the best option. Extensions don’t always meet the required voltage or power requirement of the appliance, which can lead to your microwave turning off mid-operation. Make sure that the unit is plugged into an outlet of its own. If you’re using an adapter on it, look out for damages on it the way you would the appliance’s power cord. |
Malfunctioning Door Switch
Aside from its safety design to prevent overheating, certain Samsung appliances are also designed to not operate unless their doors are properly closed.
For this, the appliance uses a component called a door switch that detects any gaps between the door, regardless of how small that opening is.
Once an opening is detected, the switch will then signal the main control board of the appliance to cease functions.
Door switch malfunction is typically a manufacturing defect or, like with any other parts, a sign of aging of your appliance.
Solution: Malfunctioning door switches need to be replaced immediately so you can use your microwave normally again. For this troubleshooting method, you’ll need to disassemble the appliance to access the component you need to replace.
Replacing door switches is easier than it sounds — all you need is a handy screwdriver, and the rest is a method of disconnecting wires and reconnecting them!
If, however, this sounds too technical for you, don’t hesitate to call for professional help.
Before replacing the door switches, consult your user manual for your Samsung microwave’s model type or number so you can verify what kind of door switch is compatible with your appliance.
Once you’re ready to replace them, grab your Phillips screwdriver and follow these steps:
- Step 1: Unplug your Samsung microwave oven or cut off the power source at its circuit breaker — this is a staple first rule to troubleshooting!
Simply turning off your appliance can still be hazardous, so you have to make sure that it’s not connected to a power supply and has no risk of accidentally turning on during the troubleshooting process.
- Step 2: Locate the two screws that are holding the top cover of the microwave body in place.
You’ll need to unscrew them and set them aside. Afterward, open the microwave door and pry the top cover off.
- Step 3: Once the top cover is off, locate the screw on the right side that’s holding the keypad panel in place.
It’s only one piece, and once you unscrew it, you can easily remove the keypad panel. Remember to be careful as you’re pulling it off — it’s still connected by wires!
Don’t disconnect the wires, though; they’re electrical plugs that keep the microwave running. Removing them might turn off certain functions we still need in troubleshooting, so let the panel dangle by the side for a while.
- Step 4: Samsung microwaves have three door switches next to the appliance door. Each of them works independently, so one switch going bad doesn’t mean all of them will have to be replaced.
To find the bad switch, you’ll need to run a continuity test on all switches. For this, you’ll need to grab a multimeter device — doesn’t matter if it’s analog or digital, as long as it works properly!
If you’re using an analog model, turn its dial to the lowest ohms setting and make sure that the needle reads 0.
A digital multimeter needs to be adjusted the same way, but if it has a resistance tone option, we suggest turning the dial to that instead.
Now choose a switch to test and insert one probe (just one!) into it while the microwave door is open. Testing the door switches requires the action of closing the doors to identify if the switches have gone bad.
Then, close the door and insert the other probe into the switch. Upon contact, a functioning door switch should make the multimeter beep.
If the multimeter doesn’t beep on contact, try opening the door again. If it still doesn’t work, that means that particular switch is bad.
Furthermore, you don’t have to keep opening and closing the door when checking each switch; once is enough! Just be sure to insert the probe one after the other, and not at the same time.
- Step 5: Once you’ve located the faulty switch, take it out by pressing down on the plastic clip around it and pulling it out — simple!
If you can’t pull it out by hand, we recommend using a pair of needlenose pliers.
- Step 6: To disconnect the door switch from its wire harness, locate where its terminal is connected to the wires by a metal clip. Carefully push down on the clip and slip the switch out until it’s removed.
Then, insert the replacement by sliding it into place and locking it. Afterward, put the switch back in its position beside the door — you should hear a clicking or popping sound indicating it’s in place.
- Step 7: Put everything back in place — the panels, the screws, et cetera — and then you’re set!
Quick Tip: A bad door switch will typically make loose clicks. When you hold a door switch, you’ll notice a switch — like its name suggests — on its body. When you push on it, it should click snappily and make noises. A bad switch will feel loose when you push on it and will make weak clicking noises. |
Faulty Control Board
We at ApplianceGeeked have two principal rules we live by in troubleshooting appliances: one, that unplugging is the first step to troubleshooting.
And two, when all else fails, check the control board!
Generally speaking, the control board should be the most durable component of any appliance because it functions as its brain.
It processes several signals and commands at once to keep your microwave working properly, so issues like a blown fuse or overheating can’t easily damage it — unless, of course, it happens frequently.
However, like any other electrical device, the control board doesn’t have immunity against power surges.
Frequent power outages, especially if you leave your microwave plugged in when the power comes back on, can melt or burn sections of the control board.
When this happens, you’ll typically notice a faint burning odor coming from your appliance.
Solution: Other components of your microwave is dependent on the main control board. As we’ve mentioned, it’s the central brain of your appliance, much like what a CPU is to a PC setup.
When this part breaks, it cannot be repaired; only replaced. You’ll have to check your user manual for the correct model of control board unit you’ll need.
Our best advice when this issue arises is to take your appliance to the nearest Samsung support center.
Quick Tip: Make it a habit to unplug your Samsung microwave when a power outage happens. Leaving it plugged in as the power comes back on may cause a power surge, which can wear down the appliance’s power cord over time. In the worst-case scenario, this can melt or burn your microwave’s main control board. |
You might initially think that a Samsung microwave that shuts off completely or wouldn’t turn on has plenty of possible root causes behind it, but it’s really not as complicated as when the appliance refuses to heat, for example.
Issues like these often point to a breach of safety measures, and the trouble is easier to spot because the appliance is still stuck in the first step.
We hope this article has helped you figure out what’s causing your Samsung microwave to shut off before it could even function, and while we’re at it, we hope you also gained a couple of insights about how to avoid this problem in the future!