LG Washer CL Code: Find and Release the Control Lock
Contents
LG CL means Child Lock is enabled. Find the marked control on your model to unlock the buttons; switching the washer off may not clear the setting.
LG washers with CL Child Lock. Button labels, combinations and hold times differ between models; use the control panel and matching owner manual.
Child Lock does not replace supervision. Never force the door or bypass a door lock to release the controls.
CL is a control setting
LG identifies CL as Child Lock. The setting prevents accidental changes to the controls; it is not, by itself, a component-failure warning. LG’s front-load Child Lock instructions explain that the Power control remains available on the examples shown.
Read the characters carefully before choosing troubleshooting. A photograph can help distinguish CL from a different two-character message.
Find the marked button or button pair
Look for Child Lock wording or the lock symbol associated with a control. Some panels use one button and others use a pair. With the washer powered on, follow the combination and hold time printed on the panel or specified in the manual.
The LG washer and dryer control examples show several arrangements. For its single-button washer example, LG instructs holding the marked Child Lock control for 3–5 seconds to turn the setting off. This is an example, not a universal button assignment: confirm which control your own panel marks before pressing it.
Why switching off may not help
LG explains that the lock can remain set after a cycle or after the power has been switched off. Returning to CL at the next start does not prove the electronics have failed. Use the actual unlock command rather than repeatedly disconnecting power.
After unlocking, confirm that the required cycle controls respond. Record the exact model number if you cannot locate a matching control diagram. If the correct Child Lock buttons still do not respond, LG advises contacting customer support. Avoid opening the machine or trying random button combinations.
A locked door is a separate question
If the buttons unlock but the door stays closed, follow the door-release instructions for that model. Do not interpret Child Lock removal as permission to pull against the latch.
If a different warning appears, use that code for the next check. For example, an LG LE message concerns a different operating problem.
Frequently asked questions
Will unplugging always remove CL?
No. LG says the Child Lock setting can remain enabled after power is turned off.
Which two buttons unlock every LG washer?
There is no single pair for every model. Check the marked control or the matching manual.
Does CL mean the washer needs a new control board?
The message alone does not establish a fault. It normally identifies an enabled control-lock feature.
Check the original documents
Sources
- LG USA: Enable/disable Child Lock
CL Child Lock, Power exception and persistence
- LG USA: Child Lock single/dual controls
Single/dual controls and model-specific holding instructions
Sources checked on 2026-10-14. Follow the instructions for your exact model.
