Why Is My Washing Machine Not Spinning? Causes and Fixes

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Is your washing machine not spinning, leaving the laundry soaked at the end of the cycle? Most often the machine canceled the spin because the load is unbalanced, or the pump or drain hose is blocked. Start with the settings, then work up to the technical checks, which take about 30 minutes in all.

Common symptoms and causes

• The laundry is soaking wet at the end of the cycle.
• The spin stopped: the machine detected an unbalanced load and stopped spinning as a safety measure. On Samsung and LG machines the display then shows UE.
• On some models, the spin speed is set to “no spin”.
• The pump or its filter is blocked, or the drain hose is kinked or clogged.
• The machine is not level, or one foot does not touch the floor.

Before you start

• Keep your model’s manual handy: the maximum load per program and the calibration procedure depend on the model.
• Have a bucket ready for solution 3.

Warning: unplug the appliance from the mains before opening anything, and turn off the water inlet tap. Never work on a plugged-in appliance. The capacitors of some appliances (TVs, microwaves, power supplies) stay charged after unplugging: do not touch them.

Warning: the residual water in the drum may be hot and spill onto the floor when you open the service flap. Protect the floor before opening it.

Solution 1: Check the program and the spin speed

This is the quickest check. We could not verify the exact wording of these settings for every brand.

1. Look at the spin speed shown for the selected program: on some models, a speed set to “no spin” leaves the laundry wet. On Samsung, this setting appears as 0 or as a crossed-out symbol.
2. If that is the case, choose a spin speed.
3. On some models, an option stops the cycle with the drum full of water: if it is on, turn it off (check the manual for its name).

Then run a spin again: the laundry should come out wrung out.

Special case: the door stays locked

On a Samsung, empty the drum first without spinning:

1. Select the spin program.
2. Set the speed to no spin (0 or the crossed-out symbol).
3. Start the cycle to drain the drum.

The drum should empty. Then go back to steps 1 to 3 above to restore a normal spin speed.

Solution 2: Rebalance the load when the washing machine is not spinning

When the machine detects an unbalanced load, it stops the spin for safety. LG points to a single bulky or heavy item, or laundry bunched up on one side: a duvet, coat, plush toy, rug or curtain.

1. Spread the laundry around the drum.
2. If a single bulky item is in the drum (bath mat, large towel), add 2 or 3 towels.
3. If the load is over the program’s maximum weight given in the manual, take some items out.
4. From now on, wash duvets, coats, plush toys, curtains and rugs with other clothes rather than on their own.
5. Run the spin again.

The spin should run to the end and the laundry should come out wrung out.

Good to know: on an LG, the machine may take in water again after a UE code. That is normal: it uses the water to redistribute the laundry.

Solution 3: Clean the pump filter and the drain hose

Bosch lists a blocked pump or a kinked or clogged drain hose among the causes of no spin or a weak spin. If the water does not drain at all, also follow our guide on a washing machine that won’t drain.

The pump filter

1. Turn off the water inlet tap, then unplug the machine.
2. Open the service flap.
3. Drain the residual water.
4. Clean the filter and its housing.
5. Check that the pump impeller turns freely.
6. Put the filter and the cover back in place.
7. Pour about 1 liter (a quart) of water into the detergent drawer to check that the filter does not leak.
8. Plug the machine back in, reopen the tap and start the drain program.

Tip: the flap is often too low to slide a bucket underneath. A baking dish and a cloth do the job; empty the dish several times.

The drain hose

1. Turn off the water inlet tap, then unplug the machine.
2. Check that the drain hose is not kinked.
3. Place a bucket under the siphon connection.
4. Loosen the clamp and detach the hose.
5. Empty and clean the hose and the siphon connection.
6. Plug the machine back in, reopen the tap and start the Drain program while holding the hose above the bucket.
7. Reconnect the hose to the siphon, tighten the clamp and check for leaks.

Water should flow into the bucket, with no leak at the filter or the connection.

Solution 4: Level the washing machine

A wobbly machine triggers the unbalance safety sooner. LG and Samsung both list adjusting the feet and a flat, stable floor among the checks to make.

1. Check that the floor under the machine is flat and stable.
2. Adjust the four feet to level the machine.
3. Check that there is no gap between a foot and the floor.
4. Do the stability test by shaking the drum.

The machine should stay steady, with all four feet pressing on the floor.

Tip: if the feet have a lock nut, tighten it against the cabinet once the machine is level. Without it, the vibrations of the spin throw the foot off within a few washes.

Solution 5: Read the error code and calibrate the machine

On Samsung and LG machines, the UE code means the load is unbalanced: the spin stopped for safety, and it is not a fault in itself. Fix the load (solution 2) and the level (solution 4) first. For the codes of other brands, check the manual: we have not verified them.

Samsung washing machine not spinning: calibration

Some Samsung models offer a calibration, while others calibrate themselves. The button names below come from Samsung’s UK help page. They may differ on your display.

1. Turn the machine off, then on again.
2. Hold the Temp. and Delay End+ buttons for 3 seconds until CB appears.
3. Press Start/Pause.
4. Let the drum turn in both directions for about 3 minutes.

The display should show 0, then the machine switches itself off. Run a spin to check.

If nothing works

Stop if the pump impeller stays stuck after cleaning, if UE comes back despite a correct load and a level machine, or if the empty drum refuses to spin fast. According to third-party sites that we could not check against the manufacturers’ pages, the motor, its carbon brushes (the parts that feed power to the motor), the belt, the speed sensor or the electronic board may then be at fault. These parts are a job for a repair technician.

Contact the brand’s customer service. Bosch’s helpline lets you book an appointment with a technician. Have the machine’s model reference, the code shown and the solutions you have already tried ready.

If the repair costs more than the machine is worth, here are three reliable washing machines to compare.

Is your dishwasher also leaving the dishes damp? See our guide on a dishwasher that won’t dry.

Take better care of your washing machine: our toolbox

Regular care and a few simple accessories help keep the pump, the filter and the drain hose in good condition.

Frequently asked questions

Why has my washing machine stopped spinning?

The machine may have canceled the spin for safety because of an unbalanced load, or the pump or drain hose is blocked. First check the program’s spin speed, then how the laundry is spread out and the pump filter. If the empty drum still does not spin fast, call a repair technician.

How do I get a washing machine to spin again?

Spread the laundry around the drum, then run the spin again. On a Samsung, if the door stays locked, start the spin program set to no spin to drain the drum. Then clean the pump filter if the spin does not come back.

What should I do when a washing machine won’t spin because of an unbalanced load?

Redistribute the laundry, add 2 or 3 towels if a single bulky item is in the drum, then run the spin again. On Samsung and LG, the UE code flags this imbalance and is not a fault in itself. If the code returns with a correct load, check the level of the machine.

Can the drain filter stop the machine from spinning?

Yes: Bosch lists a blocked pump among the causes of no spin or a weak spin. Unplug the machine, drain the residual water, clean the filter and check that the pump impeller turns freely. Also check that the drain hose is not kinked or clogged.