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There is no single button sequence that turns off forced defrost on every Samsung refrigerator. The exit steps depend on your exact model and control panel. The button combinations Samsung publishes for leaving a fridge’s Cooling Off (Demo) mode are a different function, so they should not be used as a forced-defrost fix. This guide explains how to tell which situation you are in and how to get steps that match your appliance.
Why there is no universal forced-defrost sequence
Samsung’s refrigerators are sold in several control-panel layouts across different model families, and Samsung’s own support content says its mode controls vary by model. The same button press can do different things on different panels. For that reason, any instruction that does not name a model number and panel type is a guess. Start with the model, then follow the documentation written for it.
Forced defrost and Cooling Off are different functions
Forced defrost and Cooling Off (Demo) mode are often confused because both can change what the fridge is doing and both can show up on the display. Samsung’s public Cooling Off guidance describes a mode that disables cooling in the refrigerator, freezer, and ice maker. Its pages do not describe forced defrost, and they do not offer a forced-defrost cancellation sequence.
| Item | Cooling Off (Demo) mode | Forced defrost |
|---|---|---|
| What Samsung says it does | Disables cooling in the refrigerator, freezer, and ice maker | Not described in Samsung’s Cooling Off pages |
| Display signs named by Samsung | “OF OF,” “O FF,” “OFF OFF,” scrolling temperature bars, or OFF compartments in Family Hub’s Fridge Manager | Not stated by Samsung’s Cooling Off pages; these signs do not confirm forced defrost |
| Exit instructions | Panel-specific directions in Samsung’s U.S. troubleshooting and model-specific pages | Follow the matching model’s user manual; no universal sequence is published |
| Universal button combination | None; combinations vary by panel | None established |
Read the display before choosing a procedure
Look at the display and the Family Hub app or screen, if your model has one. Samsung lists these as signs of Cooling Off mode:
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- “OF OF” or “O FF” on the display
- “OFF OFF” on the display
- Scrolling temperature bars instead of normal temperature readings
- OFF compartments shown in Family Hub’s Fridge Manager
If none of these appear, Samsung’s guidance says the refrigerator is not in Cooling Off mode. That does not identify forced defrost. It only means the Cooling Off steps do not apply, and you should move to the model documentation described below.
Find your exact model number
- Open the refrigerator and locate the rating label, which lists the model number. Write down the full string, including any letters after the main model code.
- Note the control panel: its layout, the buttons it has, and anything it displays.
- Photograph the display if it shows a code, a set of letters, or moving bars. Samsung’s troubleshooting pages are organized by these displayed signs.
- Search Samsung’s support site for that exact model number together with “user manual” to find the matching documentation.
Choose the right path
If the display shows a Cooling Off sign
Use Samsung’s panel-specific Cooling Off directions for your model, or the Family Hub steps if your model uses the app-based Fridge Manager. Samsung’s U.S. control-panel guidance for certain RF28 model families documents a specific three-button combination. That combination applies only to the models it names, so check the model list before trying it. Do not apply a button sequence from another model family to your refrigerator.
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If the display shows no Cooling Off sign
The Cooling Off steps are not the right tool. Open the user manual for your exact model number and find the section on forced defrost. If the manual does not cover it, or if you cannot find a manual for your model, contact Samsung support before pressing button combinations you have not verified for your model.
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Samsung’s error-code guidance says the steps for leaving Cooling Off mode are model-specific and directs readers to the user manual. It also separates Cooling Off indications from other error codes. Look up the displayed code for your model in the manual before assuming the fault is a mode setting.
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- DUAL ICE MAKER WITH ICE BITES: Enjoy your favorite beverage with your choice of ice. Select from cubed ice or Ice Bites that chill your drink faster.
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Keep food safety in mind while Cooling Off is active
Samsung warns against storing food while Cooling Off mode is active, because food can spoil if the mode stays on for an extended period. Remove or move perishable food before you wait on, or work through, a Cooling Off situation. This warning comes from Samsung’s Cooling Off guidance. It does not establish the same risk for forced defrost, so do not treat forced defrost as proof that food is unsafe. Samsung’s public pages do not give a duration for a forced-defrost cycle, so do not assume it will end after a set time.
Use third-party guides with caution
iFixit’s guide on initiating forced defrost on a Samsung refrigerator describes several forced-defrost modes and cancellation procedures for different refrigerator layouts. It is useful for understanding how these modes are structured, but it is secondary guidance and not a Samsung procedure. Before following any step from a third-party guide, confirm that it matches your exact model number and panel against Samsung’s documentation.
When to stop and contact Samsung or a technician
- You cannot find a user manual for your exact model number.
- The display does not match any sign in this guide or in Samsung’s manual.
- The steps in the manual do not change the display or the fridge’s behavior.
- The refrigerator is not cooling properly and you cannot identify the cause.
Contact Samsung support with the full model number and a description or photo of the display. If the problem remains, a qualified appliance technician can diagnose a fault that a mode change cannot fix.
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