If the door of your Samsung WF50BG8300 will not open, the washer is doing what it was designed to do until one of four timers or conditions clears. Samsung's manual says the door lock light must be off, all water must be drained, and after a pause the door stays locked for one minute; after an information code and a drain it stays locked for 3 minutes. If you unplugged the washer mid-cycle, the door also stays locked until you plug back in, power on and stop the operation.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung front-load or top-load washer door or lid will not unlock”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A cycle that is still running or paused for less than a minute
What separates it The door lock icon is on and the display shows a cycle running or paused
How to confirm Press Start/Pause to stop the cycle and wait about a minute for the lock to release
- 2
Water left in the drum
What separates it The drum is wet and the door lock light stays on after the cycle ends
How to confirm Check the drain filter and hose; Samsung says the door may not open if water remains in the drum
- 3
An information code that recently stopped the washer
What separates it A code such as 5C or 4C is showing and the door refuses to unlock
How to confirm Wait 3 minutes after the washer stopped or was powered off, as the manual says
- 4
A power cord that was unplugged while the washer ran
What separates it The washer was unplugged mid-cycle and now shows nothing or a locked door
How to confirm Plug it in, power on, turn off Child Lock if it is on and press and hold Start/Pause (Hold to Start) to stop the operation
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the door lock icon is lit and what the display or information code shows
- Whether the drum holds water and when the cycle was stopped or unplugged
- Whether Child Lock is on (a key icon on the display) or the washer was started from the SmartThings app
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedStop the washer and wait
ReversiblePress Start/Pause (Hold to Start) to stop the cycle. Samsung says it may take a few moments for the lock to disengage, and after a pause the door will not open until one minute has passed.
Check the lock light and the code
ReversibleDoor lock light off means the door can open. If an information code stopped the cycle and the washer drained, wait 3 minutes after it stopped or was powered off.
Drain the drum if water remains
ReversibleUnplug the washer, press the top of the filter cover, put a wide container by it and let the emergency drain tube run empty. Samsung says the door may not open until the drum is drained, and that you can then open it by hand.
Reset after an unplug
ReversibleIf the cord was unplugged during a cycle, plug it in, turn power on, deactivate Child Lock and press and hold Start/Pause (Hold to Start) to stop the operation.
Power-cycle and retry
ReversibleTurn the washer off, wait 2 to 3 minutes, turn it on and see whether the lock releases. If the SELF CLEAN indicator is on, empty the drum and run SELF CLEAN as the manual says for a washer that will not turn off or open the door.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Door timing (from the manual)
- One minute after a pause; 3 minutes after an information code and a drain; the door lock icon disappears when it can open.
- Emergency drain
- Behind the filter cover at the lower front: a tube with a cap. Use a spacious container because there may be more water than expected.
- Tools and supplies
- A wide container and towels for the emergency drain, and a flashlight to check the lock icon on the display.
- Parts for this problem on the WF50A8600 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-20)
- switch door lock, part number DC34-00028A, at $173.20; wire retaining clamp for boot seal, part number DC97-04973B, at $17.81.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models WF50A8600, WF42H5000, WF45K6500, WV60M9900, WV55M9600, WA55A7300, WA54R7200, WA52A5500, WA50R5200, WA50T5300, WA45T3200, WA40A3005, WF45B6300, WF45T6000, WF45R6100.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Never pry or force the door with water in the drum; drain it first through the emergency drain tube behind the filter cover
- !If the door stays locked with the drum drained, the washer powered off and unplugged and the lock light off, stop and call Samsung service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The chapter names are the manual's own: Maintenance, Troubleshooting Checkpoints and Information codes. Samsung sells other WF50 and WF45 washers whose manuals differ in filter intervals and code lists, so use the label on your own door frame to confirm the model.
Exact questions
Common questions
How long does the Samsung WF50BG8300 door stay locked?+
Until the cycle ends and the lock light goes out; after a pause, one minute; after an information code and a drain, 3 minutes.
Can I open the door if water is in the drum?+
Not safely. Drain the drum first through the emergency drain tube, then open the door by hand.
What does the door lock icon mean?+
The door is locked and cannot be opened; you can open it when the icon disappears.
What if I unplugged the washer mid-cycle?+
The door will not open. Plug in, power on, deactivate Child Lock if needed and press and hold Start/Pause (Hold to Start) to stop the operation.
What does DC mean?+
The door is open. Close the door and press Start/Pause (Hold to Start) to resume.
Does Smart Control lock the door?+
Yes. When a remote start is waiting, the Smart Control indicator blinks and the front door locks.
What is Child Lock?+
A setting with its own icon on the display; the manual tells you to make sure it is off, and to deactivate it before stopping a cycle after an unplug.
Why is the door locked after a cycle that has finished?+
Water may remain in the drum or the washer may have stopped on an information code; the door does not open until it has drained and the door lock light is off.
What does the SELF CLEAN indicator have to do with the door?+
If the SELF CLEAN indicator is on and the washer is not off or the door will not open, remove all items from the drum and run the SELF CLEAN cycle, as the checkpoints say.
Can I open the door after unplugging the washer?+
Not during a cycle. The door does not open if the cord was unplugged while operating; plug in, power on, deactivate Child Lock and press and hold Start/Pause.
door lid locked: model differences
Also covered: Samsung Bespoke AI WF53BB8700 front-load washer.