LG Washing Machine uE Error
Applies to top-load models that use the uE display. Not every model renders the rebalance state as uE — display variants differ by model — and a washer that is still trying needs no action from you. If the display settles on UE, follow the UE guide.
What to check first
- While uE is flashing, let the washer finish trying — it attempts to rebalance up to three times before asking for help.
- If the display changes to UE: pause, let the drum stop completely, and spread the laundry evenly by hand.
- Add a few items to a very small load so the weight can distribute; reduce the spin speed to low or no spin on small loads.
- Use the bulky/large cycle for rugs, comforters, sheets, blankets and pillows — the items LG names as balance risks on ordinary cycles.
- Check the washer is level — LG treats an unlevel machine as a cause in its own right.
This definition comes from LG itself. In its top-load support article “LG Washer — What is a Top Load Washing Machine UE/Ub Error Code?”, LG explains that when the items in the washer are not balanced, preventing the drum from reaching full spin speed, the washer shows the lowercase-u form or the uppercase UE code: it attempts to rebalance the load and flashes uE while it does so, and only after three unsuccessful attempts does it switch to UE — the point at which, in LG's words, the unit needs assistance to correct the unbalanced load.
So uE and UE are two stages of one event, not two faults. uE is the self-correction in progress; UE is the self-correction given up. This page covers the uE stage and what to do if it hands over to UE — the full UE procedure (load sizes, laundry nets, the empty-tub test) is on the UE page.
Safety first
- If the display reaches UE and you open the machine to redistribute the load, pause the cycle and let the drum stop completely first — never reach into a moving tub.
- Unplug the washer before adjusting its levelling legs or reaching underneath 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
Laundry bunched on one side of the tub
The trigger for the whole sequence in LG's article: the items in the washer are not balanced, so the drum cannot obtain full spin speed. Wet laundry clumped to one side is what the washer is trying to correct when uE flashes.
A load that is too small
LG's remedy list names small loads directly: reduce the spin speed to low or no spin on small loads, and add a few items to distribute the weight. A single item has nothing to balance against.
Bulky items on an ordinary cycle
Rugs, comforters, sheets, blankets and pillows — LG's own list — belong on bulky/large cycles. On a standard cycle they bunch to one side and the rebalance attempts begin.
The washer is not level
LG's article is a levelling procedure as much as a code definition: an unlevel machine lets the load sit to one side, and LG adds that some floor surfaces are too slippery to hold the washer in place during unbalanced loads — for those, it suggests non-skid pads.
Step-by-step checks
- Let the washer try firstuE flashing is the attempt in progress. LG allows the unit three attempts to rebalance the load; intervening mid-attempt restarts the problem rather than solving it.
- If it switches to UE, redistribute the load by handPause the cycle, wait for the drum to stop, and spread the laundry evenly around the tub — LG's stated remedy for the UE state the uE attempts end in.
- Correct a small loadAdd a few items to distribute the weight, and reduce the spin speed to low or no spin for small loads, per LG.
- Give bulky items their own cycleRun rugs, comforters, sheets, blankets and pillows on the bulky/large cycle LG specifies for them, rather than a standard cycle.
- Level the washer, the LG wayLoosen the lock nuts on all four levelling feet. With a level on a flat part of the washer, adjust front-to-back, then side-to-side — turn the bolts clockwise to raise the washer, counterclockwise to lower it — until the bubble stays in the middle both ways. Rock the washer corner to corner to confirm it is truly level, then tighten all the lock nuts.
- Run LG's test loadPlace around six pounds of laundry in the washer, select rinse and spin, and watch the spin: rocking or vibration means the levelling needs another pass. If the floor is slippery enough that the washer walks, LG suggests non-skid pads to keep it in place.
When to call a technician
uE normally indicates the washer is attempting to rebalance, not a fault requiring service. If the machine repeatedly fails to balance properly despite appropriate loading and levelling, follow the UE guide and consider service.
Model differences that matter
| Machine type | What changes |
|---|---|
| Top load (applicable models) | uE is documented here: LG's UE/Ub article describes the washer flashing uE while it attempts to rebalance, switching to UE after three unsuccessful attempts. LG's top-load error-code list covers the same event from the UE end. |
| Front load | LG's front-load list documents UE, not a separate uE stage. A front loader that is rebalancing shows its behaviour through a lengthening spin rather than a distinct documented uE display — your model manual is the authority for its panel. |
| Display variants | LG titles its article for the UE/Ub displays together, and panels render codes differently across models — the same family also produces the vS/u5/uS variants elsewhere in LG's lists. Read the exact characters on your display before choosing a guide. |
One-page checklist
- Exact display characters noted (uE while trying, UE when it needs help)
- Washer allowed its three rebalance attempts
- If UE: load redistributed evenly by hand, drum stopped first
- Small load: items added, spin reduced to low or no spin
- Bulky items on the bulky/large cycle
- Washer level front-to-back and side-to-side, lock nuts tightened, test load quiet
Official LG references
Questions people ask about uE
What does uE mean on an LG top-load washer?
Per LG's top-load UE/Ub support article, the washer shows uE (lowercase u, uppercase E) while it attempts to rebalance an unbalanced load — the display flashes uE during the attempts. It is the machine correcting the load by itself, not a breakdown.
What is the difference between uE and UE?
uE is the attempt; UE is the outcome. LG: the unit attempts to rebalance the load and flashes uE in the process — if it is unsuccessful after three attempts, it switches to UE, and at that point the unit needs assistance to correct the unbalanced load. UE is the code to act on: redistribute the load by hand.
Should I open the lid while uE is showing?
Not while the washer is still trying — uE means the rebalance attempt is in progress, so let it finish its attempts. If the display changes to UE, pause the cycle, let the drum stop completely, and then redistribute the load evenly.
Does uE mean something is broken?
uE normally indicates the washer is attempting to rebalance, not a fault requiring service. If the machine repeatedly fails to balance properly despite appropriate loading and levelling, follow the UE guide and consider service.