Dryer Door Locked & Won’t Open? Try These 8 Tricks

In the vast majority of cases, a dryer can save a significant amount of time. You probably count on your dryer to help you save time when it comes to doing laundry. At the same time, there are situations where a dryer can pose a significant issue. For example, it can be frustrating if your dryer door is locked will not open. You may think that your laundry is done, you still cannot release it. 

There are several reasons why your dryer door might not unlock. In some cases, the door is still spinning. In other cases, there might be a sensor issue. Your dryer door might even be a bit sticky. Regardless, you need to figure out what to do if you need to get into your dryer. 

What should you do if your dryer door is locked will not open? Take a look at a few helpful tips below, and remember to reach out to a professional if you have questions about getting your dryer door open. 

How To Open a Locked Dryer Door: 8 Tips To Follow

If you are having a difficult time getting your dryer door open, you have several options available. A few tips you may want to try to get into your dryer include: 

#1 The Dryer Is Still Spinning: Cancel the Cycle

One of the first reasons why you might not be able to get into your dryer at the drum still spinning. When the dryer starts its cycle, it locks the door. That is because your dryer does not want to leak its heat to the outside world. This allows your dryer to function efficiently.

If you cannot get into your dryer, it is because the drum is still spinning. You will need to put a stop to the drum before you can open the dryer door. In this case, you may want to take a look at the drying cycle and see if you can cancel it. Even if you hit the cancel button, it may still take a few minutes for the dryer drum to stop spinning. Therefore, you will need to wait for the drum to stop spending before you can get inside. 

If all else fails, you can always cut the power at the breaker box.

#2 Wait for the Cycle To Finish

Of course, another option you should also consider is simply waiting for the cycle to finish. If your dryer is still spinning, this is a sign that the clothes are still wet. Therefore, you probably do not want to stop the cycle early because your clothes are not going to be dry when they take them out. You might want to wait for the cycle to finish.

When you sit back, relax, and wait for the cycle to finish, you may be able to bring start a few ideas that can help your dryer to operate more efficiently. For example, you should always make sure you clean out the lint trap after every load. That way, you don’t have to worry about your event getting clogged. This can make it significantly easier for your dryer to dry your laundry efficiently. 

#3 Unplug the Dryer

If you need to access your laundry immediately, another option you have available is to unplug the dryer. If you unplug the dryer, the door should unlock immediately. Remember that you may have to shift your dryer to access the plug. If the dryer is currently moving, you run the risk of hurting yourself and damaging the dryer.

Even though this is not recommended, it is an option you have available. You will need to move the dryer out of the way to access the plug. Then, even after you unplug the dryer, you will have to wait a few seconds for the drum to stop spinning. 

After you open the dryer door, remember that your clothes are probably going to be hot. You did not give the dryer a chance to cool down, so you need to make sure you do not burn yourself. If you need to access your clothing as quickly as possible, this is an option you have available. It is not a choice you should make lightly. 

#4 Test the Door Lock

If you would like to get into your dryer door more easily, you may want to test the door lock itself. If a door is stuck in the closed position, you will not be able to pull it open. The door lock is very strong, and you will have a difficult time opening the door. Therefore, it is important to test the door lock to make sure it is working properly.

The exact process to do this is going to vary depending on the type of dryer you have. Therefore, it is probably better for you to reach out to a professional who can take a look at the door lock for you. There is a chance that something could be going wrong with the door lock on which could mean you have to replace the part.

Even though this can be an expensive fix, you do need to talk to the professional to see what your options are. There might be options for you to find a discounted door lock, or you may want to swap out the dryer entirely. 

#5 Ensure the Door Is Not Sticky

Sometimes, the simplest explanation is the best. In reality, the dryer door might not be locked at all. Instead, it could be sticky. If a dryer door is sticky, and may give the appearance that a door is still locked when, in actuality, it is not.

So, why might the door to your dryer become sticky? If you use a lot of fabric softener on your clothes, this could be the reason why your dryer door is getting sticky. Fabric softener contains a lot of oils that cause your clothes to feel nice and soft. On the other hand, the oils can also build up inside your dryer door. 

When this happens, you may have a difficult time pulling your dryer door open. Therefore, the next time you do get the dryer door open, you should make sure to clean the frame of your dryer door. If you use some dish detergent or some bleach mixed with some water, you should be able to solve the problem relatively quickly. 

#6 Swap Out the Door Latch

If you are still having issues with a dryer door, then you may want to try swapping out the door latch. There is a latch that is responsible for telling the dryer when the dryer door is locked. If there is a problem with the latch, then the dryer might not be getting the right information. To fix this situation, you may want to swap out the latch entirely. 

First, you need to test the latch to make sure it is working properly. Take a look at the manual to figure out where the door latch is located. If you have a problem with the door latch, then you may need to order a new one and replace it. After replacing the door latch, your dryer door should work properly. 

#7 Swap Out the Door Hinges

Another option for fixing your dryer door is to swap out the door hinges. It is unlikely that the hinges are preventing you from getting into your dryer; however, it can make the problem much more difficult. If the hinges are not loose enough, then you may have a difficult time opening the dryer door.

There are a number of reasons why your hinges might not be working properly. Perhaps they have been exposed to a lot of moisture, or maybe they are simply old and broken. Fortunately, you can replace the hinges on your dryer door:

If you decide to replace the hinges, you should take a look at the manual carefully to make sure you get the right ones. Dryers come in all shapes and sizes, so the hinges come in different shapes and sizes as well. If you are unsure of the type of hinges you should get for your dryer, then you may want to contact a professional who can help you. 

#8 See if the Door Has a Magnet Issue

Finally, if you have a newer dryer, then you may have an issue with the magnet. A lot of dryer doors today are sealed using magnets. It can be very difficult for you to overcome this magnet, and it can also be frustrating if something goes wrong with the magnet itself because it could lock your dryer door permanently. 

You may want to try unplugging your dryer door first. If you remove the power source from the magnet then it may release. If this doesn’t work, then you’ll need to contact a professional who can help you get the dryer door open. Then, you might have to replace the magnet to get the dryer working again. 

Fix a Locked Dryer Door

These are a few of the top options you have available if you are looking for a way to fix a dryer door that has been locked. The first thing you should do is see if you can wait for the cycle to finish. That way, the dryer door will open on its own. 

If you cannot wait, then you may want to try unplugging the dryer. If you can do this, you may get the dryer door to open automatically. Remember that you need to make sure you do not burn yourself when you get inside the dryer.

Finally, if all of this fails, then you may have to replace one of the parts associated with the dryer door. You may want to contact a professional who can help you test the individual parts of your dryer door. If you can figure out what is wrong with your dryer, then you may be able to replace the part to get your dryer working again. There is also a chance you may have to replace the entire dryer.