You can reset a Roper washing machine in 3 ways: unplug it for 60 seconds, flip the breaker off for 1 minute, or press and hold Start/Pause for 3-5 seconds to clear the cycle. All three take under 2 minutes and cost nothing. The unplug method suits most people best, because it clears the control board memory completely. If the machine still won’t respond after all three, the fault isn’t in the memory — it’s a part, and you’ll need a technician.
What you’ll need before you start
Gather these 6 things before you touch anything. Most are already in your home — a flashlight helps if the outlet sits behind the machine in a dark corner.
- The washer’s power cord — reachable, not trapped behind a full drum of wet clothes.
- A dry cloth or towel — for wiping the control panel and the door seal area.
- Your home’s breaker box location — know which switch controls the laundry area before you start.
- A phone or notebook — write down the error code on the display, if one shows.
- The model and serial number — on a sticker behind the lid or on the back panel. You’ll need this if you call for service.
One doesn’t: don’t use an extension cord to reach a far outlet — washers draw high current, and the cord can overheat.
How to reset a Roper washing machine step by step
Work through these 7 steps in order. Each one takes under a minute, and you can stop as soon as the machine responds.
- Write down any error code first. Look at the display before you cut power. Error codes on the display tell a technician what failed, and they vanish the moment power drops.
- Press Start/Pause and hold it for 3-5 seconds. On most Roper models this clears the current cycle. Release when the lights blink or the display goes blank.
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Unplug the washer for a full 60 seconds. Count it out. Tip: If the plug sits behind the machine, flip the breaker instead — same result, less reaching.
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Flip the breaker off for 1 minute, then back on. Do this only if the outlet is hard to reach. Confirm the breaker is fully back in position — a half-flipped breaker leaves the machine dead. Careful: Never open the washer’s control console or touch anything inside the cabinet. A capacitor can hold a lethal charge even with the machine unplugged. That work belongs to a qualified technician.
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Plug it back in and press Power..
- Run a short Rinse cycle to test. If it fills, drains and spins, the reset worked. If the same code returns within one cycle, the reset didn’t fix it — something inside has failed.
Careful: If the machine hums but won’t spin, or trips the breaker when it starts, stop. That points to a motor or wiring fault, and repeated reset attempts can damage the board further. Call a technician.
How the reset changes with your situation
The method stays the same, but the time and effort shift depending on your machine and your setup. Use the table below to find your case.
| Your situation | Time it takes | What’s different | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top-load Roper, plug easy to reach | About 2 minutes | Unplug method is fastest | Nothing — this is the simple case |
| Front-load Roper, plug behind the drum | 3-5 minutes | Breaker flip is easier than moving the machine | Confirm you flipped the right breaker |
| Machine shows an error code | 2 minutes, then a service call | Reset clears the code but not the fault | Write the code down before you reset |
| Washer shares a breaker with other outlets | 2-3 minutes | Flipping the breaker cuts power to that room too | Warn anyone using those outlets first |
| Machine won’t power on at all | 5 minutes | You’re testing the outlet, not the memory | Try a lamp in the same outlet to confirm power |
| Reset works but the fault returns | Under 5 minutes per attempt | The board keeps losing its state | Two failed resets means call for service |
Start with the smallest action — a button hold — before you cut power. It’s safer to try the lightest reset first and step up, because each harder reset costs you more time and risks nothing being fixed.
How to tell the reset worked
A good reset looks like this: the machine powers on, the display is clear, and a short Rinse cycle fills, drains and spins without stopping. A poor result looks like this: the same error code returns, the drum won’t turn, or the machine stops mid-cycle again.
The quality problem with resetting is that it hides the real fault. A reset clears the board’s memory, so the code that told you what broke is now gone. That’s why step 1 matters — write the code down first.
Three things prevent this problem. Write the code before you cut power. Run a full test cycle, not just a power-on check. And if the same code comes back twice, stop resetting and book a service visit. Repeated resets don’t fix a failed part, and each one erases the evidence a technician needs.
Give the test cycle long enough to reach the part that failed. If you stop watching after the drum starts turning, you’ll miss it.
Watch the machine for the whole cycle rather than walking away. A washer that fills and spins but never heats will pass a quick check and fail again on the next hot wash.
If the machine completes two full cycles with no code, the reset held. If the same code returns on the second cycle, the fault is still there, and no further reset will change that.
The rules, and what to do afterwards
Roper is a Whirlpool brand, and Whirlpool publishes its own use and care guides for each model. Check your model’s guide on the Whirlpool Roper support page for the exact reset sequence — some newer models use a different button combination than the standard Start/Pause hold.
After a successful reset, clear the drum, wipe the door seal, and leave the lid open so moisture escapes. Write down the date and the error code in your notebook. If you used the breaker, check that nothing else in the house lost power.
A reset isn’t a repair. It clears the control board’s memory, and that fix lasts only until the same fault triggers again — sometimes one cycle, sometimes weeks. If your machine is under warranty, call Roper service before you touch the breaker. Any work inside the cabinet needs a licensed technician, both for your safety and to keep the warranty valid.
Other ways to handle a stuck Roper
Call Roper service directly
If the machine is under warranty, this costs you nothing but a phone call. Give them the model number and the error code you wrote down. A technician can read fault history the reset erased. Expect a wait of a few days for a home visit, depending on your area.
Use the Whirlpool app or owner’s guide
Some newer Roper and Whirlpool models list a model-specific reset in the owner’s guide or app. The sequence can differ from the button hold — sometimes it’s a dial position plus a button press. Download the guide for your exact model number, not a general one.
Replace the control board
If resets keep failing, the board itself may be faulty. A replacement board plus fitting is a technician job — the part alone often runs into the low hundreds of dollars, and prices vary by model. Ask for a quote first, because on an older machine a new board can cost more than the washer is worth.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to reset a Roper washing machine?
About 2 minutes for the unplug method — 60 seconds of that’s the wait time. The button hold takes 3-5 seconds. The breaker method takes about 1 minute plus the walk to your breaker box. None of them need tools or parts.
Can I reset my Roper washer without unplugging it?
Yes. Press and hold Start/Pause for 3-5 seconds, or turn the cycle dial back to Normal and press Start again. If the machine is fully frozen and won’t respond to any button, unplugging or flipping the breaker is the only way to cut power to the board.
Why does my Roper washer keep stopping mid-cycle?
A recurring stop usually means a real fault, not a glitch — often a lid switch, a drain pump, or a control board issue. A reset clears the symptom for one cycle, then the fault returns. If it stops twice in a row at the same point, book a service call.
Is it safe to reset my Roper washing machine?
Yes, all three methods are safe for you to do yourself. The danger starts if you open the cabinet — a capacitor inside can hold a lethal charge even when unplugged. Leave everything inside the machine to a qualified technician.
What happens if I reset my Roper washer and it still won’t turn on?
Then the problem isn’t the control memory. Check that the outlet has power by plugging in a lamp, and confirm the breaker is fully on. If the outlet works and the machine stays dead, the fault is inside — call a technician.
How often should I reset my Roper washing machine?
Only when it misbehaves — there’s no schedule for it. A healthy Roper washer shouldn’t need a reset at all. If you’re resetting it more than once a month, that pattern points to a failing part, and it’s worth a service visit.
Will resetting my Roper washer erase the error code?
Yes, and that’s the problem. The board’s memory clears the moment power drops, so the code is gone. Write it down before you reset. A technician uses that code to order the right part on the first visit instead of guessing.
Conclusion
A reset buys you a working cycle, not a repair. Try the button hold first, then the unplug, then the breaker — and write down that error code before you cut power. If the same fault returns twice, stop resetting and call Roper service.