LG Refrigerator OFF (Demo Mode)
LG's demo-mode article gives different button sequences by model year — both are in the steps below. The digital and analog list describes the same setting: hold FRIDGE and press Express FRZ 3 times, or hold both for 3 seconds.
What to check first
- Read the display exactly: O F F means demo mode — cooling is disabled by a setting, not by a failure.
- Check the serial number's first three digits: 901 or larger uses the 2019 & newer button sequence.
- Run the button sequence for your model year (door open) until the panel beeps and temperatures display.
- Confirm both sections actually start cooling afterwards.
An OFF (shown O F F) display means your refrigerator is in demo mode, also called display mode. LG describes it plainly: the setting disables all cooling in the refrigerator and freezer sections to conserve energy while the unit is on display in a retail store. The lights and control panel stay active, which is why a fridge in demo mode looks alive but never gets cold. It is the first thing to rule out on a new or newly moved refrigerator that is not cooling — and it is not a fault, so no part of this page sends you to a technician.
Safety first
- You do not need to unplug the refrigerator to leave demo mode — LG's procedures use the control-panel buttons with a door open. Unplug only if you are moving the unit or working behind it.
- Stop condition: stop using the machine and unplug it — and do not run it again until it has been checked — if you smell burning, see smoke, find damaged electrics (a scorched plug, a melted or cut cable), or water is leaking in quantity.
Common causes
The refrigerator was never taken out of display mode
Demo mode is set for the showroom. A unit that was installed without the setting being deactivated — or that was switched into it accidentally — shows O F F from the first plug-in and never starts cooling.
The setting was re-activated
LG's Signature support article notes demo mode "may also be turned on accidentally": the same button combinations that deactivate it are ordinary control-panel buttons, and a long press during cleaning can be enough on some models.
Step-by-step checks
- 2019 & newer models: hold REFRIGERATOR, tap ICE PLUS 3 timesOpen either refrigerator door. Press and hold the ICE PLUS and REFRIGERATOR buttons — you will hear a beep when you first press; keep holding until a second beep. While still holding REFRIGERATOR, press ICE PLUS 3 times. The panel beeps and the temperature settings display, confirming display mode is deactivated. (If the first beep is not heard, let go and retry.)
- 2018 & prior models: hold REFRIGERATOR + ICE PLUS for 5 secondsOpen the right refrigerator door. Press and hold the REFRIGERATOR and ICE PLUS buttons at the same time for five seconds, until a second beep is heard. The control panel beeps and the temperature settings display to confirm demo mode is deactivated. LG's note: if the first three numbers of the serial number start with 901 or larger, use the 2019 & newer method instead.
- Models whose list uses FRIDGE + Express FRZLG's digital and analog list gives the same deactivation with its button names: open the door on the refrigerator side, hold down the FRIDGE button and at the same time press Express FRZ 3 times — or, on some models, hold FRIDGE and Express FRZ together for 3 seconds. You will hear a sound indicating the setting has been deactivated.
- Confirm cooling has actually startedAfter the temperature settings display, the compressor and fans should start and both sections should begin to cool. If the display still shows O F F, repeat the sequence for your model year; if a different code appears instead, it is a real code — find it in the refrigerator code table.
When to call a technician
No technician is needed for demo mode — it is a setting, and LG publishes the exit procedure for owners. If the refrigerator will not leave demo mode after both sequences for your model year, or it leaves demo mode and then shows a fault code, contact LG with the model number and the exact display reading.
Model differences
| What you have | What changes |
|---|---|
| 2019 & newer models | Hold REFRIGERATOR + ICE PLUS to the second beep, then tap ICE PLUS 3 more times while holding REFRIGERATOR. |
| 2018 & prior models | Hold REFRIGERATOR + ICE PLUS together for 5 seconds (serial numbers starting below 901). |
| Button names differ | LG's lists variously name the cold-boost button ICE PLUS and Express FRZ / Express Freeze — they are the same control family; use the names printed on your own panel. |
One-page checklist — OFF
- Display read exactly: O F F (demo mode, not a fault)
- Model year / serial prefix checked (901+ = 2019 & newer method)
- Correct button sequence completed to the confirming beep
- Temperature settings displayed again
- Cooling heard and felt starting in both sections
Official LG references
Frequently asked questions
Is OFF an error code?
No. LG files OFF under "codes that may appear on the display but do not indicate a refrigerator fault": it is the demo/display setting used in retail stores, and it disables all cooling in both sections.
My new refrigerator runs its lights but never gets cold. Is it broken?
That is the classic demo-mode symptom LG describes: lights and control panel active, cooling system off. Check the display for O F F and run the deactivation sequence for your model year before suspecting any fault.
Will demo mode come back after a power cut?
LG does not say that it does. If O F F appears again, treat it the same way — run the sequence again — and note how it was triggered (for example, a long button press while cleaning) to tell LG if it keeps happening.