What Does “Cooling Off” Mean on a Refrigerator?

For many homeowners, buying a refrigerator is a big deal. A cold drink from the kitchen is always more convenient than running to the store. But for some reason, the fridge display shows “Cooling Off,” and after opening it, you find that the cooling is turned off!

You should not get worried if you find “Cooling Off” displayed on the refrigerator. This article will explain what it means, what causes it, and how we can turn the mode on and off in different refrigerator models.

If you are wondering how to fix the issues on your refrigerator, stick and round and learn more about the Cooling Off feature.

What Does “Cooling Off” Mean in Your Refrigerator?

Some refrigerators come with an added feature called Cooling Off Mode. This feature is also referred to as Demo Mode, Display Mode, or Shop Mode in other refrigeration units. When the mode is activated, your fridge might display “COOLING OFF,” “OF F,” “OF OF,” or “O FF,” depending on your brand.

The cooling-off mode is designed for showcasing a refrigerator in the store. Though the lights are turned on, the mode disables the cooling system in the ice maker, freezer, and refrigerator. This means that your fridge will not cool down, and there is a high risk of your food going bad.

What Activates the “Cooling Off” Indicator on Your Refrigerator?

Since you already know the cooling-off feature, let us examine what causes the mode to activate.

1. Setting the Controls

Sometimes, your kids might play with the controls and accidentally turn the mode on. The settings controls on the refrigerator’s display can turn the mode on and off.

In addition, it is also advised to activate Cooling Off if you are installing new parts or making repairs to your refrigeration unit.

2. Power Surges

Power surges and spikes are another reason you might find the refrigerator in Demo Mode. This helps prevent any damage to the unit’s electrical components. However, you must manually turn the cooling back on after the power stabilizes.

How To Turn On or Off the Cooling Function

As previously stated, different brands have different ways of turning on and off the Display mode on the refrigerator.

Here are some simple guides on turning on and off the cooling mode on some of the different refrigerator brands. If your refrigerator unit is not on the list or you have an issue finding the function, you can consult your user manual.

Samsung Refrigerator

The most popular way to turn on or off the cooling feature on a Samsung refrigerator you need to locate its control panel and follow the following steps:

1. Find the top two buttons on the left side of the fridge’s panel.
2. Press and hold both buttons simultaneously for around 10 seconds or until the fridge chimes.
3. After a few seconds, you will notice the display change to or from Cooling Off Mode.
4. If the mode does not activate or deactivate, try repeating the steps.

However, this mode does not work for all Samsung models. Consult your manual for the specific buttons for your model.

Whirlpool Refrigerator

Most Whirlpool refrigerators’ Cooling Off Mode is activated and deactivated using the following steps:

1. Press and hold the “LOCK” and “MEASURED FILL” or “FILTER” buttons at the same time. Press both buttons simultaneously to prevent the disperser from locking or changing other settings.
2. Hold the two buttons for about three seconds until the cooling is back on.

As we mentioned earlier, turning the cooling function can vary depending on your Whirlpool fridge model. You can consult your user manual for the specific buttons to turn the mode on and off.

LG Refrigerator

The LG refrigerator’s Display Mode can be disabled or enabled using the following steps:

1. Open the refrigerator door, press and hold the “REFRIGERATOR” and “ICE PLUS” buttons simultaneously for five seconds.
2. After holding the buttons, the refrigerator will start beeping. Your temperature setting will appear if you deactivate the mode, or the display will show “OFF” or “OF” when you activate the cooling function.

If these steps do not activate or deactivate Cooling Off, you should check your user manual for your model’s specific instructions.

Haier Refrigerator

For the Haier refrigerator, you should follow these steps to enable the Demo Mode:

1. Press and hold the Lock Pad for three seconds.
2. Press and hold the “FRIDGE” button and then press the “QUICK COOL” buttons five times. The fridge will buzz to indicate that the Demo Mode is activated.

To disable the Demo Mode:

1. Press and hold the “FRIDGE” button and then press the “QUICK COOL” buttons five times. The fridge will buzz to confirm that the Demo Mode is disabled.
2. Press the Lock Pad for three seconds.

Maytag Refrigerator

The most popular procedure to activate and deactivate the Cooling Off Mode on a Maytag fridge is by following these steps:

1. Press and hold the “LOCK” and “MEASURED FILL” buttons simultaneously for three seconds. Always press both buttons simultaneously to avoid locking the dispenser or changing the refrigerator’s settings.
2. Hold the bottoms for three seconds, and you will turn on or off the cooling function.

However, activating and deactivating the mode can be different on other Maytag refrigerators. Make sure to check the user manual for help.

Conclusion

The Cooling Off Mode might be activated if your refrigerator is not cooling properly. The mode turns off the compressor and the cooling system of the refrigerator. Some fridge units must be manually reset after a power surge or installing new parts.

Please consult your refrigerator’s user manual if you need to turn on or off the cooling function, as different units have different procedures.