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Dishwasher beeping

A beeping dishwasher is usually telling you one of four things: the door was opened mid-cycle, there’s a water alarm, there’s an error code, or the cycle has finished. Check for a water alarm first, because that one matters.

5 checks, quickest firstAbout 11 minutes if you do them allLast checked against its sources on

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Fix Finder: dishwasher beeping

Work through the checks below, in order.

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Before you start

  • Before reaching into the tub or under the sink: switch the dishwasher off at the circuit breaker.
  • Before touching any hose or connection: turn off the water valve under the sink.
  • Let the dishwasher cool after a cycle; the water and heating element can be hot.
  • Wear gloves when clearing filters. Broken glass ends up there.

More in appliance repair safety basics.

All the checks, in order

  1. Check for a water alarm

    Take careAbout 3 min

    Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid dishwashers sound an alarm for F8 E5, a water valve stuck open, and KitchenAid for F8 E4, water in the drip tray.

    1. Look at the display, or count the flashes of the Clean light, and look up the code.
    2. For a water alarm such as F8 E5, turn off the water to the dishwasher, then press Cancel once to silence it. Leave the power on unless you can’t turn the water off.

  2. Close the door properly

    Safe to tryAbout 1 min

    GE says beeping mid-cycle means the door was unlatched.

    1. Close and latch the door. On GE models this resumes the cycle and stops the beeping.
    2. Whirlpool models flash Start/Resume after the door is opened: press it, then close the door within 3 seconds.

  3. Clear an error beep

    Take careAbout 3 min

    Many error codes beep until they’re dealt with.

    1. GE C2: press Reset to stop the beeping.
    2. Bosch: if four lights flash and it beeps, press On/Off, switch off the power for at least 2 minutes, then switch back on.
    3. Any other code: look it up. Each code page gives the maker’s steps.

  4. Reset after a power surge

    Take careAbout 3 min

    GE says stray beeping or blinking lights can follow a power surge.

    1. Press Start/Reset and wait 2 minutes.
    2. If it carries on, switch the dishwasher off at the breaker for 30 seconds, then back on.

  5. Turn off the end-of-cycle signal

    Safe to tryAbout 1 min

    Some dishwashers beep when a cycle ends. GE lets you switch its tones off.

    1. GE: press Heated Dry (or Power Dry) 5 times quickly. On models with a digital or LCD display, press it 7 times within 5 seconds. This turns off all tones, including the end-of-cycle signal.
    2. Other brands: look in your owner’s manual for a sound setting.

When to call a technician

  • A water alarm keeps sounding with the water turned off.
  • It still beeps or flashes after a reset, with no code to look up.

Error codes that point here

If your dishwasher shows one of these, open it for the brand’s exact meaning.

Whirlpool F8 E5Fill valve stuck openMaytag F8 E5Fill valve stuck openKitchenAid F8 E5Fill valve stuck openKitchenAid F8 E4Water in the drip trayWhirlpool F8 E4Water in the drip trayGE C2Total pump-out took over 7 minutesBosch E15Water in the base (leak protection on)

Questions

Why does my dishwasher beep when I open the door?

GE says a beep mid-cycle means the door was unlatched. Closing the door resumes the cycle and stops the beeping.

Can I turn off the beep at the end of the cycle?

On GE dishwashers, yes: press Heated Dry 5 times quickly, or 7 times within 5 seconds on models with a display. That turns off all tones. Other brands vary, so check your manual.

Sources

  1. Dishwasher: Blinking Lights or Beeping Sounds (opens in a new tab), GE Appliances Support
  2. Dishwasher: Sounds and Tones (opens in a new tab), GE Appliances Support
  3. Not Filling With Water: Dishwasher (opens in a new tab), Whirlpool Product Help
  4. F8E5: Dishwasher (opens in a new tab), Whirlpool Product Help
  5. 8 Pause 4 Pause (F8E4): Dishwasher (opens in a new tab), KitchenAid Product Help
  6. Dishwasher: Error, Fault or Function Codes (opens in a new tab), GE Appliances Support
  7. Dishwasher error codes (opens in a new tab), Bosch Home Appliances US
Last checked against its sources on