Restart & reset

Start with what stopped

First note what the dryer was doing when it stopped: beginning a cycle, heating, tumbling, or finishing. Look at the display before changing settings. A blank display, a paused cycle, a warning indicator, and a running drum with no heat point to different next checks. If the load is warm, avoid immediately opening and handling hot items; let the drum stop and cool enough for safe unloading.

Check that the door is fully closed and that the selected cycle has not simply paused or reached its end. If a control lock indicator is on, resolve that condition using the control-lock guidance for the specific panel. A reset will not correct a door that cannot latch, a locked control panel, an unsuitable cycle, or a blocked exhaust path.

1. Write down any displayed message or indicator before clearing it.
2. Confirm the door is shut and note whether the drum, display, and cycle status are active.

Use a simple restart

If controls remain responsive and there is no warning suggesting overheating or a physical fault, stop the cycle with the normal control and wait for the drum to stop. Select the intended cycle and start once. Avoid rapidly repeating starts: each attempt can obscure whether the original interruption has cleared and can add heat to a load that is not exhausting properly.

For a display that has frozen, use the appliance’s normal power control to turn it off. If the model’s owner instructions describe a power reset, follow those instructions for that exact model. Do not pull a built-in unit out, reach behind it, open a panel, or manipulate wiring to force a reset. A gas dryer and an electric dryer have different supply arrangements, so do not treat unplugging or breaker operation as a universal reset method.

Separate a power interruption from a cycle issue

If the display is completely dark, check whether nearby lights or appliances also lost power. For an electric dryer, a tripped branch circuit can leave some functions unavailable; use the home’s normal breaker controls only if you can do so safely and the panel is accessible. For a gas dryer, the drum and controls still need electrical power, while the heat source is gas. If power returns but the dryer goes dark again, stop resetting it and arrange an electrical evaluation.

If the display is on but the cycle will not start, the issue may be an active lock, an unclosed door, a cycle selection, or an alert. Read the panel and owner instructions rather than assuming the machine needs a factory reset. Models with app features may also show a remote-start or connectivity state; check the local controls and the app status separately.

Respond to heat and airflow warnings

A restart is not a remedy for heat buildup. If the cabinet, plug area, or laundry smells scorched, the dryer feels unusually hot, or a warning points to restricted exhaust, stop the cycle. Let the load cool. Clean the lint screen and inspect the accessible vent connection for crushing or visible blockage without moving a heavy appliance or disconnecting a gas line. A long or obstructed exhaust can keep a vented dryer from moving heat out; repeated resets may make the condition worse.

Condenser and heat-pump dryers route moisture differently from conventional vented models. Do not apply vent-duct troubleshooting to a ventless design unless its instructions identify an exhaust duct. Follow that machine’s warning indicators for its lint, condenser, or heat-exchanger areas.

Decide what the next result means

If one restart works and the dryer completes a normal load without abnormal heat, odor, or recurring warnings, note the interruption and watch the next use. If the same stop recurs at the same point, capture the cycle, load type, indicator, and whether the drum had been turning; that pattern is more useful than repeated resets.

Stop using the dryer if it repeatedly loses power, makes a new grinding or scraping sound, shows a persistent fault, or trips the circuit again. Do not remove covers to inspect internal wiring, a motor, a heater, or a gas component. Arrange service and provide the exact model identifier and the observations you recorded.