LG Washing Machine PF Code
Applies to front-load and top-load washers. What you do next differs by type — both are given below.
What to check first
- Top loaders: simply press Start/Pause — the washer recalls its last operation and continues the cycle from there.
- Front loaders: unplug the washer (or switch off the breaker), press and hold Start/Pause for 5 seconds while it is unpowered, restore power and run a cycle.
- If PF keeps appearing when there has been no power cut, LG sends that pattern to repair service.
PF is the washer's blackout diary. Something cut the power mid-cycle — an outage, a tripped breaker, a plug knocked loose — and the machine is telling you the cycle did not end, it was interrupted. The two LG lists then part company: the top-load list treats PF as information, not a fault, while the front-load list gives a defined reset sequence for clearing it.
Either way, the first question is not about the washer at all: was there actually a power cut? A PF after a genuine outage needs nothing but the steps below. A PF that appears with no outage behind it is a different signal.
Safety first
- If the power cut came from your own wiring — a breaker that keeps tripping, a scorched socket, a damaged cord — do not keep resetting the washer. That is an electrical problem first and a laundry problem second.
- Do the front-load reset at the plug or breaker as LG describes; keep hands dry while handling the plug.
- 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
A power outage during the cycle
The plain cause on both lists: the supply was interrupted while a programme was running. The washer records the interruption as PF.
A tripped breaker or a disturbed plug
Anything that cuts power mid-cycle — a breaker trip, a loose plug, a switched-off socket — produces the same display. The washer cannot tell an outage from a wobbly plug.
PF with no interruption at all
LG's front-load list covers this case by its ending: if PF persists after the reset sequence, request repair service. A code that claims power failures that never happened points inside the machine.
Step-by-step checks
- Continue the cycle (top loaders)Press Start/Pause. LG's top-load guidance: the washer recalls its last operation and continues from there — no reset dance required.
- Run LG's reset sequence (front loaders)Unplug the washer or switch off its breaker. While it is unpowered, press and hold the Start/Pause button for 5 seconds. Restore power, then run a cycle.
- Check the supply if it repeatsIf PF returns, look at the supply before the machine: is the plug fully home, does the breaker hold under load, did anything else in the house lose power at the same moment?
When to call a technician
If PF persists after the front-load reset sequence, LG directs you to request repair service. On either type, a washer that reports power failures on a supply you have verified as steady belongs in front of a technician, not in another reset loop.
Model differences that matter
| Machine type | What changes |
|---|---|
| Front load | PF records an interrupted supply. LG's sequence: unplug or trip the breaker, hold Start/Pause 5 seconds while unpowered, restore power, run a cycle. Persistent PF: repair service. |
| Top load | PF is explicitly not an error on LG's top-load list. The washer recalls its last operation and continues when you press Start/Pause. |
One-page checklist
- Power cut confirmed (or ruled out) at the time PF appeared
- Top loaders: Start/Pause pressed and the cycle continued
- Front loaders: LG reset sequence done — unplug, 5-second hold, power restored, cycle run
- Plug and breaker checked if PF repeats
- PF persists with a steady supply — service booked
Official LG references
Questions people ask about PF
Is PF a fault in the washer?
On top loaders LG says no, in so many words: PF indicates the power was cut, and the washer continues from its last operation when you press Start/Pause. On front loaders it is a record of interruption that LG clears with a reset sequence. It only becomes a washer fault if it persists with no interruption behind it.
My cycle was nearly finished — do I have to start over?
On a top loader, no: LG says the washer recalls its last operation and continues from there. On a front loader, LG's guidance is the reset sequence and a fresh cycle run.
PF showed but there was no power cut. What now?
Check the plug, socket and breaker for a momentary cut the house did not notice. If the supply is verified steady and PF persists after the reset, LG directs you to repair service.