Skip to Content

LG Dryer Turns On By Itself (How to Fix)

LG dryers have a range of different features. But, in general they won’t start all on their own. There are a range of issues that cause an LG dryer to turn on by itself, here is how to stop this from happening.

First begin by restarting your LG Dryer by unplugging at the wall and plugging it back in. Doing so will reset the internal computer which can have a glitch which is causing it to happen. After that, ensure wrinkle prevention is not enabled, and you are not selecting delayed start by mistake.

White modern dryer

Wrinkle prevention is a setting that can be turned on and off. Typically, there is a single button on the control panel you can use to turn it on and off. If it’s turned when clothes are left in your dryer, your LG dryer will turn on for a few minutes and then turn off.

As the name suggests, this stops wrinkles from forming in your clothes. If you can’t find the wrinkle prevention button refer to the owners manual for your specific LG dryer model. When setting the dry cycle it’s easy to press the wrong button.

And because there are so many buttons you may be selecting the wrong thing when you operate your LG dryer. Each LG dryer is a bit different. So, you should refer to the owner’s manual on your LG dryer to ensure that you’re setting the dry cycle correctly.

Provided you’ve checked these two things, and restarted your LG dryer, then an internal component is faulty such as the on/off switch, or control panel. Contact LG to have it repaired.

6 Reasons Why Your LG Dryer Turns On By Itself

White modern dryer

When a dryer turns on by itself it can be a bit spooky. But there are many reasons why a dryer will turn on by itself, and some of them are part of normal operation. In this article, I will cover all of the reasons why this happens, as well as, how to fix your dryer and/or stop it from happening.

In general, start by ensuring that wrinkle prevention mode is not enabled, and delayed start isn’t accidentally enabled. These cause a dryer to turn on by itself, and is part of normal operation. Otherwise the components below are faulty and need to be inspected, and repaired or replaced.

These are the internal computer, start switch, motor, and the control panel. It’s possible to fix a few of these issues yourself. ell as, how to fix each of these issues.

General Fix For A LG Dryer That Turns On By Itself

White modern dryer

Home appliances such as dryers have quite a few moving parts, as well as various different settings. Each of these has the potential to cause issues. Here are which of these specifically cause a dryer to turn on by itself, and why.

Wrinkle prevention is enabled, you are turning on delayed start by accident, the on/off switch is faulty, the control panel has failed, the internal computer is faulty or has a glitch, or the motor has loose wiring or needs to be repaired or replaced.

Below, I will explain how each of these reasons causes a dryer to turn on by itself, as well as how to fix each of these issues individually.

1. Wrinkle prevention setting is on

Many dryers, such as Whirlpool and Maytag, have a wrinkle prevention mode. When it’s enabled the dryer will start by itself every so often and warm up the clothes to prevent wrinkles. Then shut off again soon after.

It only happens if:

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on February 21, 2023.

  • Clothes are left in the dryer after the cycle has ended
  • The wrinkle prevention setting is enabled

If you can locate this setting on the control panel ensure it’s turned off. Or, now you are aware this is why it’s happening.

When you can’t locate it, refer to your paper owners manual. Or, the online version of your owners manual to see if your dryer has this setting and how to turn it on and off.

2. Delayed start is accidentally enabled

Most dyers have a delayed start feature. You can set it so that it starts after a certain amount of time, such as 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hour. If your dryer has a LCD display it will generally have a symbol on the screen to state that a delayed start has been set.

It’s possible you’re pressing the wrong buttons accidentally. Or, someone in your household has been tinkering with your dryer without you knowing. Refer to your owners manual to see how delayed start is enabled, and how to know if delayed start is set.

3. Start switch is faulty – won’t stay in the off position

The start switch is a single component. Over time, it can wear out.

Or, it can fail due to a manufacturer’s fault. When it does, it can turn itself on randomly.

For this issue and the rest of the reasons why your dryer keeps turning on, a repair technician will need to identify if it’s faulty.

However, you can test it yourself if you are experienced using a voltmeter. It’s possible your dryer is covered under warranty, and performing repairs yourself can void the warranty. So, it’s best to contact your dryer manufacturer first.

4. Control panel is faulty

The control panel is an individual component. It can have a software or hardware problem that causes it to malfunction.

When it does, it can cause your dryer to do random things such as turning on by itself. The control panel can be removed, and swapped out for a new one.

5. Internal computer is faulty

The internal computer has basic software on it. It controls the sequence of things a dryer does during a cycle, and is responsible for turning the individual components on and off. It can have a glitch that can be fixed by restarting your dryer.

To do that unplug your control panel at the wall, then plug it back in again. Then see if the problem recurs. Otherwise, when a repair technician takes a look at your dryer they will inspect the internal computer to see if it’s what is causing it.

6. Motor is faulty

The motor is responsible for rotating the drum on a drier. The motor on a dryer has wiring, or the internal wiring in the motor itself can be a bit loose or faulty. If there is a fault with the motor it can cause your dryer to turn on by itself.

Related Articles

How to Reset LG Dryer

LG Dryer Not Heating (How to Fix)

ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on February 21, 2023.

LG Dryer Not Tumbling (How to Fix)