Washer Making Clicking Noise: Causes and How to Fix It

Washer making clicking noise usually means one part of the machine is engaging, switching, or trying to move into the next stage of the cycle.

If your washer is making a clicking noise, the sound may happen at startup, during locking, while shifting between stages, or before drain or spin. In some cases, a clicking sound is normal. In others, repeated or harsh clicking can mean the washer is trying to perform a function but not completing it correctly.

Why Is My Washer Making Clicking Noise?

A washing machine that makes a repeated clicking sound is often dealing with a door or lid lock issue, a control-related relay action, load sensing, a drain-pump transition, or a cycle condition that the washer keeps trying to complete. If your machine is showing a brand-specific code, you can also compare it with the LG Washer DE Code, LG Washer CL Code, Samsung Washer DC Code, Whirlpool Washer F5 E2 Code, Whirlpool Washer LOC Code, Maytag Washer F5 E2 Code, GE Washer LE Code, or Washer Starts Then Stops.

Quick Answer: Why a Washer Is Making a Clicking Noise

A washer usually makes a clicking noise because one part of the machine is switching, locking, or trying repeatedly to move to the next stage. The most common reasons are a lid or door lock attempt, a control-related switch action, or a cycle step that the washer cannot complete smoothly.

In many cases, one or two clicks are normal. The real concern starts when the clicking repeats and the washer stops progressing correctly.

Most Common Reasons a Washer Is Making a Clicking Noise

Door or lid lock trying to engage
Door or lid lock trying repeatedly and failing
Control relay or cycle-transition clicking
Washer stuck on sensing or early-cycle checks
Cycle starts, pauses, and retries
Drain or spin transition issue in some cases

If the clicking happens right before the cycle stops, start with Washer Starts Then Stops. If it happens near the latch area, also compare it with Washer Lid Won’t Lock or Washer Door Won’t Close.

When the Clicking Noise Happens Matters

The stage where the sound appears can help narrow the cause:

At startup: often lid or door lock, control, or sensing related
After fill: often lock, sensing, or wash-stage transition related
Before spin: often drain, balance, or lock-related transition
During the whole cycle: sometimes repeated control or retry behavior

You do not always need to know the exact internal part first. You mainly need to identify which stage keeps triggering the clicking.

What to Check First When a Washer Is Making a Clicking Noise

1. Check whether the sound comes from the door or lid area

If the clicking is strongest there, the washer may be trying to lock or confirm the latch condition.

2. Watch whether the cycle actually progresses

If the washer clicks once or twice and then runs normally, it may be part of normal operation. If it keeps clicking and does not continue, that is more important.

3. Check whether the clicking happens at the same stage every time

A repeat pattern often points to one blocked condition rather than random noise.

4. Check for related symptoms

If the washer also pauses, stops, or never reaches wash or spin, the clicking is likely part of that larger problem.

How to Fix a Washer That Is Making a Clicking Noise

Most clicking-noise problems should be approached by checking lock behavior, cycle progression, and stage timing first before assuming a major internal failure.

Check door or lid closure first

Open and close the washer firmly so the latch can line up properly.

Retest with a simple cycle

If the clicking keeps repeating, cancel the current cycle and try a basic program again.

Compare lock-related behavior

If the washer clicks but will not start normally, compare the issue with Washer Won’t Start, Washer Won’t Start But Has Power, or Washer Turns On But Won’t Start.

Watch whether the clicking happens before spin or drain

If so, compare the problem with Washer Won’t Drain or Spin or Washer Drains But Won’t Spin.

When Lock Problems Are the Real Cause

Many repeated clicking sounds are really lock problems.

Possible signs include:

The clicking comes from the lid or door area
The washer never starts properly
The machine clicks several times and then stops
A door- or lid-related code appears

In those cases, compare the issue with Washer Door Locked, Washer Won’t Unlock, Washer Lid Won’t Lock, and Washer Door Won’t Close.

When Cycle-Retry Problems Are the Real Cause

If the clicking happens as the washer tries to move from one stage to another, the real issue may be repeated cycle retry behavior.

Possible signs include:

The washer clicks and pauses over and over
The cycle takes much longer than normal
The machine seems stuck on one stage
The same problem happens every cycle

In those cases, compare the issue with Washer Keeps Pausing, Washer Stuck on Sensing, and Washer Won’t Finish Cycle.

How to Reset a Washer After a Clicking Noise Problem

Once you have checked the obvious lock and cycle conditions, a simple reset may help the washer run normally again.

Turn the washer off
Unplug it from the power source
Wait about 5 minutes
Plug it back in
Run a short test cycle

A reset can clear a temporary interruption, but it will not permanently fix repeated latch, relay, or cycle-stage problems.

Is It Serious If a Washer Is Making a Clicking Noise?

Usually it is not serious if the clicking is brief and the washer works normally. But repeated clicking that comes with no-start, pause, or cycle-stall behavior is more important.

It becomes more serious when:

The clicking repeats over and over
The washer never starts or keeps stopping
The sound comes from the lock area every cycle
The same stage fails every time
A reset does not help

When to Call a Technician

You may need professional service if:

The washer keeps clicking after basic checks
The same problem happens every cycle
You suspect a lock, control, or relay-related issue
The machine behaves the same way after reset

At that point, the problem is more likely to involve internal lock or control components than a simple setup issue.

FAQ

Why is my washer making a clicking noise but not starting?

The most common reasons are a door or lid lock issue, control-lock condition, or a cycle step the washer keeps trying to complete.

Can a lid lock make a washer click repeatedly?

Yes. A washer may click several times while trying to engage or confirm the lock.

Is one click normal on a washer?

Sometimes, yes. A brief click during startup or stage transition can be normal. Repeated clicking with no progress is the bigger concern.

Will unplugging the washer fix a clicking-noise problem?

Only if the issue was a temporary interruption. A reset will not fix repeated lock or control problems.

Final Thoughts

If your washer is making a clicking noise, start with the basics first: listen to where the sound comes from, check whether the washer actually progresses, and compare the timing of the clicking with door, lid, or cycle-stage behavior. In many cases, the clicking is not random. It is the washer trying to complete one blocked condition.

If the problem keeps coming back, the washer may have a repeated lock, control, or cycle-retry issue that needs closer diagnosis. Move next to Washer Starts Then Stops, Washer Keeps Pausing, or Washer Won’t Start depending on what happens after the clicking begins.