Samsung Washing Machine dC Error
Also shown as: dE · dC1 · dL
dC is the most misread code in Samsung's whole list, because Samsung itself uses it for two different faults. On most models dC (with dE) means the door is not detected as closed and locked — Samsung's Singapore page phrases it as "operating the washing machine with the door open." But Samsung's Latin guidance adds an asterisk owners rarely see: on some models, dC is an Unbalanced Load Error instead. Before you order a latch, use the table below to work out which machine you have.
Safety first
- Do not wedge or tape the door latch to bypass the code — the lock exists because the drum can be full of water and spinning.
- If the door is damaged or the latch is visibly broken, stop and book service rather than forcing the door.
Common causes
Door not fully closed
Samsung's first check: make sure the door is properly closed.
Laundry caught in the door
Samsung's second check: make sure laundry is not caught in the door — a sleeve in the seal is enough to stop the lock.
Latch not securely fixed
Samsung's Latin guidance for door errors: check that the latch is securely fixed and the door is closed and secured correctly.
On some models: an unbalanced load
Where dC is the balance code on your model, the door is a red herring — the load is the fault. See the table.
Step-by-step checks
- Work out which dC you have (table below)If the code appears when the door is visibly open or something is trapped in it, it is the door fault. If the door is firmly shut and the code appears at spin time with a bunched load, treat it as the unbalanced-load fault.
- For the door fault: close the door properlyOpen it, check the seal all the way round for caught laundry, and close the door firmly until it latches.
- Check the latchConfirm the latch is securely fixed and undamaged, and that the door sits closed and secured correctly.
- For the balance fault: redistribute the loadSpread the laundry evenly around the drum, make sure the machine is on a flat, stable surface, close the door and restart the cycle.
- FlexWash owners: check the small rubber buttonIf your FlexWash shows 1dC4, Samsung says the rubber button next to the upper washer's latch is missing. Service is not required — replacing the button fixes the error.
When to call a technician
If the code cannot be corrected, or there is damage to the door or latch, Samsung's guidance is to request service.
One odd case from Samsung's own notes: this code can appear even when you are not running a cycle, if Child Lock is enabled and there is water in the tub — and if the door is not closed (or Child Lock turned off) within 30 seconds, the machine will drain the water from the tub. That drainage is the machine protecting itself, not a new fault.
Model differences
| Your situation | What dC means on your machine | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Code appears with the door open, ajar, or with laundry trapped in the seal | Door error — Samsung: "the door is not detected as closed and locked." Shown as dC or dE (also dS, dE1, dE2, dC1, dL in Samsung's grouping). | Clear the seal, close the door firmly, check the latch. |
| Door is firmly shut; code appears as the machine tries to spin, load bunched to one side | Unbalanced load error — Samsung's Latin page states plainly: "On some models, dC is a Door Error. On some models it is an Unbalanced Load Error," and repeats it in the unbalanced section. Your manual confirms which your model uses. | Redistribute the load evenly, level the machine, restart — see our UE/Ub guide. |
| 1dC4 on a FlexWash | The rubber button next to the upper washer's latch is missing. | Replace the button. Samsung: service is not required. |
| dC/dE on the standard information-codes table | "Operating the washing machine with the door open" (Samsung Singapore wording). | Door properly closed; nothing caught in the door. |
One-page checklist — dC
- Decide which dC your model uses (table above)
- Seal checked for caught laundry
- Door closed firmly and latched
- Latch secure and undamaged
- If balance fault: load spread evenly, machine level
- FlexWash 1dC4: rubber button present
Official Samsung references
Frequently asked questions
The door is definitely shut, but dC keeps showing. Why?
Most likely your model is one of the ones where Samsung assigns dC to the unbalanced-load fault instead — the asterisk in Samsung's own Latin guidance. Check the load distribution, and confirm against your model's manual which meaning your machine uses.
Is dC the same as dE?
On the standard table, yes — Samsung lists dC and dE together for the door-open fault. The confusion is not dC vs dE; it is dC-the-door-code vs dC-the-balance-code on different models.
What is 1dC4 on my FlexWash?
A missing rubber button next to the upper washer's latch. Samsung says service is not required — replacing the button fixes it.
Why did the machine drain itself when dC appeared?
Samsung's note: with Child Lock enabled and water in the tub, if the door is not closed or Child Lock turned off within 30 seconds, the machine drains the tub. It is a safety behaviour, not another fault.