Refrigerator FF Error Code: What It Means by Brand

Check the brand name on the door or the model label inside before you go further. We couldn't find FF in Whirlpool, KitchenAid or Frigidaire's own published code lists, so if you have one of those brands, check your owner's manual or call us with the model number.

Food safety first: keep the doors closed as much as possible while you sort this out. The FDA recommends keeping the refrigerator at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F. An appliance thermometer tells you where you stand. If you unplug the fridge to defrost it, move food to coolers with ice first.

LG refrigerator Er FF: freezer fan error

LG says Er FF appears when the freezer fan motor doesn't operate normally. It can also happen when the fan is locked by ice or frost around it. That fan circulates the cold air, so an Er FF can come with rising temperatures. LG's related code Er rF is the same kind of error for the refrigerator-compartment fan.

Safe things to try first (LG)

1. Reset the power. Unplug the refrigerator or switch off its breaker, wait about 5 minutes, then restore power.
2. If ice is the cause, defrost fully. LG's method: move the food to coolers, unplug the fridge, open the doors wide and wait about a day (longer in cold weather) for the frost around the fan to melt. Put towels down for the meltwater.
3. Check the doors seal. Make sure nothing is keeping the freezer door from closing tightly, since warm, moist air getting in is how frost builds up.

LG says that if the same code comes back, the fridge needs a technician for an accurate diagnosis. A fan that keeps icing up can point to a defrost problem, which needs a technician too.

GE refrigerator FF: freezer getting too warm

On GE refrigerators with dispenser controls, GE lists FF as: "Check frozen food for thawing because the temperature is rising too high." It's a warning that the freezer isn't holding temperature.

Safe things to try first (GE)

1. Check the food. Look for thawing and check the freezer temperature with a thermometer.
2. Make sure the door is closed. A door left ajar, or held open by a package, is the simplest cause.
3. Reset the control. GE says disconnecting power for a minute or two can reset the control panel and clear the code.

If FF comes back, or the freezer keeps warming, the cause is somewhere in the cooling or defrost system. That needs a technician.

Samsung O FF or OF OF: Cooling Off mode, not a fault

Samsung says a display showing OF OF, O FF, OFF OFF or scrolling temperature bars means the fridge is in Cooling Off mode (also called Demo or Shop mode). Cooling, ice making and the water dispenser are switched off. Samsung says service is not required. On many Samsung models with the panel on the left door, you exit by touching and holding the top two left buttons (on newer models, also the top right button) for about 8 seconds until the fridge chimes. The exact buttons vary by model, so check your manual.

When to call a technician

Call if an LG Er FF comes back after a reset and full defrost, if a GE FF keeps returning, or if your fridge or freezer won't get cold no matter what the display says. Tell us the brand, model number and code, and whether you hear the fan inside the freezer running.

Questions about the FF code

Does FF mean freezer fan on every refrigerator?

No. On LG, Er FF is a freezer fan error. On GE, FF means the freezer temperature is rising too high. On Samsung, O FF or OF OF is Cooling Off (demo) mode, not an error. Check the brand before you troubleshoot.

Is my food safe if my fridge shows FF?

Check with a thermometer. The FDA recommends 40 degrees F or below in the refrigerator and 0 degrees F in the freezer. Keep the doors closed as much as you can, and move food to coolers with ice if the fridge will be off for a defrost.

How do I get my Samsung fridge out of O FF mode?

On many models, touch and hold the top two left buttons on the panel (plus the top right button on newer models) for about 8 seconds until it chimes. Buttons vary by model, so check your manual. Samsung says no service is needed for this mode.