An LG ice maker not working is, more often than anything else, switched off at its own power switch, starved of water by an overdue filter, or blocked by a frozen fill tube. LG fits a small on/off switch to the ice maker itself, separate from the control panel, and it is easily knocked when the ice bin is put back. After that come a freezer that is not cold enough and, on in-door models, an ice compartment that is not sealing.
LG fridges can have up to three ice makers: one in the left-hand fridge door feeding the dispenser, one in the freezer, and on some models a Craft Ice maker that makes large round ice slowly. This guide helps you work out which has stopped, then gives the checks in order, the reset and test procedure, how to thaw a fill tube, and what is normal for Craft Ice. For the repair, see LG ice maker repair in Dubai.
OrderCheckWhat you are looking for
1The ice maker's own power switchA small rocker switch on the unit, set to O instead of I
2Ice setting on the panel or appIce Off, or Craft Ice switched off
3Control lockA padlock icon. Dispenser buttons dead
4Feeler arm or sensorArm held up, or ice piled against it
5Freezer temperatureWarmer than minus 18 degrees C
6WaterWeak dispenser flow, filter light on or filter over six months old
7Fill tubeIce in the tube above the tray
8Test buttonDoes the tray twist and refill?
9TimeNew fridge or just switched on: up to 24 hours
The first three take under a minute and are the answer surprisingly often.
Ice makerWhere it isWhat it makesIts own controls
In-door ice makerInside the left fridge door on French door models, in a compartment behind a hinged or lift-off coverCubes, dispensed whole or crushed at the doorPower switch on the unit, ice type on the panel
Freezer ice makerUpper left of the freezer drawer or compartmentCubes, into a bin you scoop fromPower switch on the unit
Craft Ice makerIn the freezer drawer on selected modelsLarge, slow-melting spheresCraft Ice setting on the panel or in the ThinQ app
Side by side ice makerTop of the freezer side, or in the freezer doorCubes and crushed at the doorPower switch on the unit, ice type on the panel
If one ice maker works and another does not, the shared supply, filter and freezer are fine. Look at the one that has stopped: its switch, its fill tube, its mechanism.
If all have stopped together, look at what they share. the water supply, the filter and the freezer temperature.
The model number is on a label inside the fridge section, on a side wall. Note it for the manual and for parts.
People often report that the fridge has stopped making ice when it is the door ice maker that has stopped and the freezer one is quietly filling its bin, or the reverse. Check both bins.
Every LG automatic ice maker has its own on/off switch. It is a small rocker on the body of the unit, marked I for on and O for off.
Ice makerWhere the switch is
In-doorOpen the left door and the ice compartment cover, and remove the ice bin. The switch is on the ice maker above where the bin sat, often on its lower front or side
FreezerOn the front or side of the unit. You may need to pull the ice bin forward to see it
Side by sideOn the unit at the top of the freezer side
2
If it was already on, switch it off, wait about 30 seconds and switch it on againThis restarts a stalled cycle and is LG's basic reset.
3
Refit the bin carefullyThe bin is what knocks the switch. Slide it in straight.
4
Allow a few hoursFor the first batch.
If you find the switch off and nobody remembers touching it, that is normal. It happens when the bin is pulled out to break up clumped ice and pushed back at an angle.
Step 2: panel settings, lock and the app
Look at the dispenser panel. If a padlock icon is lit, hold the lock button for three seconds to release it.
Check the ice type. Select cubed or crushed.
On models with Craft Ice, check it is switched on, and which mode it is in.
On ThinQ fridges, open the app and look at the ice settings. Ice making and Ice Plus can be changed there by anyone in the household with access.
Run Smart Diagnosis from the app if the fridge supports it. It reports stored faults. Note what it says.
Check the fridge is not in demo or display mode. On LG this typically shows OFF on the display, with lights and fans working and no cooling. The manual gives the way out, usually by opening a door and pressing two buttons together several times.
Ice Plus is not a fault mode. It runs the freezer colder for 24 hours to speed up ice making and then switches itself off.
If the whole panel is dark or unresponsive, unplug the fridge for five minutes and plug it back in. That resets the control.
Step 3: the feeler arm and the bin
The ice maker stops when it senses the bin is full. On LG units this is usually a plastic feeler arm that swings down into the bin after each harvest.
With the bin out, look for the arm at the side or underneath the ice maker. It should move freely and hang down.
If a cube or a ridge of frost is holding it up, clear it.
If the bin is full to the arm, production has stopped because it should. Use some ice.
If the ice is heaped under the ice maker with the rest of the bin empty, level it by hand.
Make sure the bin is the original one and is pushed fully home. On in-door models the bin also has to engage the dispenser drive at the back.
On in-door models, close the ice compartment cover until it latches. An unlatched cover lets the compartment warm up.
A bin that will not go back in fully usually has its auger out of line with the drive fork. Turn the bin's auger a quarter turn by hand and try again.
Set the freezer to minus 18 degrees C, or a degree or two colder.
Check it with a thermometer placed near the ice maker for several hours.
Make sure the freezer drawer closes fully. A drawer held open a few millimetres by an overfilled basket or a bag caught in the runner is a very common cause on bottom-freezer models.
Keep the vents at the back of the freezer clear of food.
On in-door ice makers, make sure the left fridge door closes and seals. The ice compartment is cooled by air ducted from the freezer through a port in the side of the door, and that port has to meet its seal on the cabinet.
Use Ice Plus for a day to give production a push.
Reading near the ice makerMeaning
Minus 18 or colderFine. Look elsewhere
Minus 12 to minus 17Slow or stopped. Check the door, vents and setting
Warmer than minus 12, or soft ice creamA cooling fault. The ice maker will restart by itself once the freezer is cold
If the freezer is not cooling, the ice maker is a symptom. The causes run from a door seal to the compressor, and they are set out in our guide to an ice maker not freezing or cold.
Step 5: water and the filter
Press the water dispenser for ten seconds. Its flow tells you about the supply the ice maker shares.
DispenserIce makerConclusion
StrongDrySupply is fine. Look at the fill tube and the ice maker
WeakSmall cubes or noneFilter, supply tap, kinked line or low pressure
NoneNoneSupply off, filter not seated, or the valve
StrongWorksNo water fault
LG asks for the filter to be changed about every six months.
Use the type marked on the old cartridge. LT1000P and LT700P are two of the common ones, and they are not interchangeable.
Turn the new filter until it stops, or push until it clicks, depending on the type.
Run several litres through the dispenser afterwards, then hold the filter button for three seconds to reset the indicator.
Discard the first batch or two of ice.
If the flow is weak with a new genuine filter, check that the supply tap is fully open and the line behind the fridge is not kinked. Low building pressure is the other cause. More in our guide to an ice maker not filling with water.
On an LG, the commonest reason for a dry tray with a working dispenser is a frozen fill tube. The risk is highest on in-door ice makers, where the water has to travel through the door hinge and across to the ice maker through cold spaces.
1
Remove the ice bin and look at the ice maker from below and behindFind the spout where water enters the tray. On in-door units it comes in at the top rear of the compartment.
2
Look for ice in the spoutA white plug or an icicle.
3
Switch the ice maker off at its switch
4
Thaw the tubeA hair dryer on low, held about 15 cm away and kept moving, for five to ten minutes. Or a little warm water from a squeeze bottle or baster, with a towel underneath.
6
Switch on and run one test cycleConfirm that water now arrives.
If it freezes againLikely cause
Within daysInlet valve dripping after it closes
Within a week or twoValve seeping, low water pressure or an overdue filter
Only on the door ice makerDoor not sealing, compartment cover not latched, or the tube's heater where one is fitted
After the freezer was set much colderSetting too cold. Return to minus 18
Thawing treats the symptom. A tube that keeps freezing needs the valve, the pressure or the door seal dealt with.
Step 7: reset and test
LG ice makers have a test button that forces one cycle. It tells you whether the mechanism turns and whether water arrives.
1
Remove the ice bin and put a towel or a shallow container under the ice makerWater will be released.
2
Find the test buttonA small button on the ice maker body, usually underneath or on the front edge near the switch. It may be unmarked, or need a fingertip or the end of a pen.
3
Make sure the power switch is at I
4
Press and hold the test button for about three secondsUntil the tray starts to move.
5
WatchThe tray twists over to empty, returns level and then fills. The whole thing takes a few minutes.
6
Refit the bin and waitIf the test ran and water arrived, ice should follow within a few hours.
ResultMeaningNext
Tray twists, returns, water fillsIce maker and water are both workingRecheck the switch, arm and temperature. Give it a day
Tray twists, no waterFill faultFill tube, filter, valve
Tray does not moveMotor failed, or the tray is frozen in placeThaw any frost and retry once. Then service
Tray stops upside down or part wayInterrupted cycle or a position switch faultSwitch off, wait, switch on. If it repeats, service
Nothing at allNo power to the unitCheck the switch. Then wiring or control: service
Water overflowsTray was already fullDo not repeat the test
Run the test once. Each run adds a tray of water, and water spilled in the compartment freezes round the ice maker. The exact position of the button and the hold time vary by model, so check the manual for yours if it does not respond.
Where an LG has two or three ice makers, comparing them is the fastest diagnosis there is.
Door ice makerFreezer or Craft Ice makerWater dispenserMost likely cause
StoppedWorkingWorkingDoor unit's switch, its fill tube frozen in the door, or its compartment frosted
WorkingStoppedWorkingFreezer unit's switch or setting, the drawer not closing, or its fill tube
StoppedStoppedWorkingFreezer temperature, or both units switched off
Small cubesSmall or misshapen iceWeakFilter or supply pressure
StoppedStoppedDeadSupply off, filter not seated or the inlet valve
WorkingWorkingDeadDispenser line frozen in the door, or the dispenser's side of the valve
Tell us which row matches when you book. It usually identifies the part before the fridge is opened.
1
Check the padlock icon and the ice type
2
Check the left fridge door, or the freezer door on a side by side, is fully closedThe dispenser is disabled with the door open.
3
Remove the bin and look for a fused lump of iceEmpty it, break up or discard the ice and dry the bin.
4
Refit the bin so its auger engages the driveTurn the auger a quarter turn if it will not seat.
5
Press the dispenser and listenA hum with no ice means still jammed or a stripped coupling. Silence means a switch, motor, door wiring or board fault.
On in-door LG units, the wiring and the water tube pass through the top hinge of the left door. A dispenser that works with the door in one position and not another has a tired wire in that hinge. The full dispenser sequence is in our guide to an ice maker not dispensing or dropping ice.
Frost and a frozen ice bin on in-door models
The in-door ice compartment is a small freezer set into a fridge door. If warm, damp air gets in, it frosts.
SignCause
Bin frozen in placeMeltwater refrozen under it, or frost bridging it to the walls
Frost on the ice maker and compartment wallsCompartment cover not latched, its gasket worn, or the door not sealing
Ice clumped in the binCompartment warming between door openings
Frost in the dispenser chuteChute flap not closing
Water running down the inside of the doorFrost melting, or a fill that overshoots
1
Switch the ice maker off
2
Leave the compartment cover open with the fridge door open for 20 to 30 minutesOr warm the edges of the bin gently with a hair dryer on low.
3
Ease the bin out when it moves freelyNever pull hard on it.
4
Let the compartment thaw fully and dry it
5
Clean the cover's gasket and the door seal
6
Refit the bin, latch the cover, switch on
If the frost is back within a few weeks, there is an air leak that needs a repair. See LG ice maker repair.
The Craft Ice maker freezes large round ice slowly so that it comes out clear and dense. LG's stated output is about three spheres every 24 hours in its standard mode, with a faster mode on some models that makes more spheres with less clarity. Most reports of a Craft Ice fault are that pace seen for the first time.
What you seeNormal?What to do
Three or so spheres a dayYesUse the faster mode if your model has one. Bank spheres in a freezer bag
No spheres in the first day or two after installationYes. The first batch takes longerWait. Check Craft Ice is switched on
Cloudy spheres in the faster modeYesUse the standard mode for clear ice
Half spheres, or flat-sided onesNo. Short fillNew filter. Check the supply
Spheres joined, or with a ring round the middleNo. Overfill, or the mould not closing fullyService
Cubes from the door ice maker, nothing from Craft IceNo. Craft Ice switched off, its fill frozen or the unit failedCheck the setting and the freezer drawer. Then service
Water or ice under the Craft Ice makerNoService
Craft Ice has its own setting, separate from the door ice maker. Switching one on does not switch on the other.
It has its own outlet on the water valve, so it can fail alone.
The freezer drawer must close completely. A drawer left ajar slows it badly.
Its bin holds only a small number of spheres. When the bin is full, it stops.
The output figures here are LG's general published figures. Check the manual for your model.
Noises and other signs
SignMeaning
Short buzz, then tricklingNormal fill
Creak, then a rattle of cubesNormal harvest: the tray twisting
Buzz with no waterSupply closed or fill tube frozen
Repeated clicking from the ice makerMotor stalling against a frozen or jammed tray
Grinding at the dispenserAuger forcing clumped ice. Empty the bin
Small or hollow cubesShort fill: filter or pressure
Cubes with bad taste or smellOld filter, old ice or food odours. Change the filter, empty and wash the bin
Ice maker switched itself offThe bin knocked the switch, or the control reset after a power cut
A new or newly connected LG needs up to 24 hours before the first ice. Discard the first batches.
After a filter change, run water through the dispenser to clear air.
After a power cut, switch the ice maker off and on at its switch.
After moving the fridge, check the water line is not kinked and the tap is open, and let the fridge stand upright for a few hours before switching on if it was tilted.
After a holiday with the ice maker off, switch it on and allow a day.
See our guide to a new or replaced ice maker not working.
Do not run the test cycle repeatedly.
Do not chip ice from the tray, the tube or the bin.
Do not pull on a bin that is frozen in.
Do not use a heat gun or boiling water.
Do not replace the ice maker before checking its switch, the temperature, the filter and the fill tube.
Do not leave the supply tap open if you find water behind or under the fridge.
The tray will not move on a test, with the switch on and no frost.
The test runs and no water arrives, with the dispenser working and the tube clear.
The in-door compartment frosts up again within weeks.
The freezer will not reach minus 18 degrees C.
The dispenser works only with the door in a certain position, or not at all with the lock off.
Craft Ice makes nothing after two days with its setting on.
There is water inside the door, at the hinge or under the fridge.
Our diagnostic visit is AED 100 plus VAT, with a fixed price before any work. Tell us the model number, which ice maker has stopped, whether the dispenser works and what the test button did. See LG ice maker repair in Dubai.
Change the filter about every six months.
Keep the freezer at minus 18 degrees C.
Refit the bin straight, and glance at the power switch afterwards.
Latch the ice compartment cover on in-door models.
Use the ice, or empty the bin every week or two.
Keep the freezer drawer closing fully.
Switch the ice maker off and empty the bin before a long absence.
Why is my LG ice maker not working?
+
Its own power switch is off, the filter or water supply is restricted, the fill tube is frozen, the freezer is too warm or the unit has failed. Check them in that order.
Where is the on/off switch on an LG ice maker?
+
On the ice maker itself: a small rocker marked I and O. On in-door models it is behind the ice bin inside the door compartment.
How do I reset my LG ice maker?
+
Switch it off at its own switch for about 30 seconds and back on. To force a cycle, press and hold the test button for about three seconds, once.
Where is the test button on an LG ice maker?
+
On the ice maker body, usually underneath or on the front edge near the power switch.
Why is my LG fridge not making ice when the water dispenser works?
+
The fill tube to the ice maker is frozen, or the ice maker's own outlet on the water valve has failed.
Why is my LG ice maker not making ice in the bottom freezer?
+
Its switch is off, the freezer drawer is not closing fully, or the supply or fill tube is at fault.
How long does an LG ice maker take to make ice?
+
A few hours for the first batch and about 24 hours to fill the bin.
How many ice balls does LG Craft Ice make?
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About three every 24 hours in the standard mode, by LG's published figure. It is slow by design.
Why is my LG ice bin stuck?
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It has frozen in place. Switch the ice maker off, let it thaw for 20 to 30 minutes and ease it out.
How often should the LG water filter be changed?
+
About every six months.
Should I replace the ice maker?
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Only if it will not run a test cycle with the switch on, the freezer cold and no frost.
Who repairs LG ice makers in Dubai?
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One Click Dubai sends a technician the same day. Call or WhatsApp +971 55 209 9785.
Switch on, tube clear, still no ice?A technician can find the cause on site. The diagnostic is AED 100 plus VAT, and repairs carry a 1-month warranty.
