On the covered Maytag over-the-range microwave, F2 E1 means the keypad or touch pad has reported a fault First, unplug the microwave for a minute and dry the panel. Then: wipe the pad dry, test with a cup of water, and book service if F2 E1 returns.
Differential
Likely causes of “Maytag over-the-range microwave code F2 E1”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The keypad or touch pad has reported a fault
What separates it The display shows F2 E1 and the keys respond oddly or not at all
How to confirm Unplug the microwave for a minute and press a key after it restarts
- 2
A key that is stuck or covered
What separates it A spill, a label or a damp cloth presses on the pad
How to confirm Wipe the pad dry and check that nothing covers it
- 3
Moisture behind the control panel
What separates it Steam or a cleaning spray has reached the panel
How to confirm Leave the microwave unplugged for several hours to dry
- 4
A loose ribbon cable to the touch pad
What separates it The code appeared after the microwave was moved or cleaned
How to confirm A technician reseats the ribbon connection
- 5
A control board fault
What separates it The pad is clean and dry and the code stays
How to confirm The control board is replaced
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which keys respond and which are dead or double-register
- Whether the touch pad was cleaned, wet or covered by a label
- Whether F2 E1 appeared at power-up or after a keypress
- The model number from the label inside the door frame
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedWhat to do first
Reversibleunplug the microwave for a minute and dry the panel.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleWipe the pad dry, test with a cup of water, and book service if F2 E1 returns. A power reset is the whole of what Maytag publishes for this code: remove power for 1 minute, restore it, and watch whether the code returns.
Unplug the microwave for a full minute
ReversiblePull the plug and wait a minute, so that the control restarts and a one-off keypad reading is cleared.
Wipe the pad dry
ReversibleUse a soft dry cloth on the keypad, and remove any label, sticker or film of grease that could press on the keys.
Let the microwave dry out
ReversibleIf steam or cleaning spray got near the panel, leave the microwave unplugged for several hours so that the moisture can evaporate.
Plug it in and press a key
ReversibleSee whether the display responds normally and whether the code has cleared.
Run a short test
ReversibleHeat a cup of water for thirty seconds to check that the heating side works, which tells you whether the fault is confined to the keys.
Book service if F2 E1 returns
ReversibleA technician tests the touch pad and its cable and replaces the pad or the control board, since the case holds a stored charge.
Leave the microwave unplugged overnight
ReversibleIf the panel got wet, a night unplugged lets moisture evaporate. Many F2 E1 codes disappear by morning, which saves a service call.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- F2 E1, a keypad or control fault.
- Parts involved
- The touch pad, its cable and the control board.
- Safety
- Never open a microwave case; the capacitor stays charged.
- A touch pad is a printed circuit
- The keys on a Maytag over-the-range microwave are a flexible printed circuit under a plastic film. Moisture, grease or a worn spot makes two traces touch, and the control reads a key held down, which it reports as F2 E1. That is why the code often follows a cleaning or a very steamy session.
- Cables behind the panel
- A flat ribbon cable joins the pad to the control board. It can work loose when the microwave is moved or when the door is slammed repeatedly. A technician reseats it in minutes, which is far cheaper than a new pad or board.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !F2 E1 that stays after the panel is dry and the microwave has been unplugged calls for Maytag service with the model number
- !Leave the case closed, since the stored charge in the capacitor is dangerous
- !Avoid spray cleaner on the touch pad, because it runs behind the keys
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F2 E1 mean on a Maytag over-the-range microwave?+
the keypad or touch pad has reported a fault
Can a wet panel cause it?+
Yes, moisture on or behind the touch pad is a common cause, and drying often clears it.
Can I reset it myself?+
Unplugging for a minute is a safe reset; anything inside the case is for a technician.
Does the microwave still heat?+
It may, if the control still accepts a cycle, but the keypad fault may stop you from starting one.
Is the control board expensive?+
It is one of the dearer parts, so compare the cost with the age of the microwave.
Can I replace the touch pad myself?+
It is a plug-in part, but the case holds a charged capacitor, so a technician should open it.
Why did it start after I cleaned the microwave?+
A damp cloth or a spray can leave moisture behind the keys, and it can take hours to dry.