Codes / LG / Washer (top load; front-load note below)
LG UE: The washer could not balance the load for spin.
LG's top-load page says the code means the washer is trying to balance the load, and the cause may be an unlevel machine or the load itself. A lowercase uE means the washer is still trying to rebalance by filling, agitating, draining and spinning again. After three failed attempts uE becomes UE, which LG says means the washer needs service unless leveling, load or cycle selection explains it.
Source: LG Washer - What is a Top Load Washing Machine UE/Ub Error Code?, last updated by LG 2026-09-03; read 2026-10-16. 4 owner checks listed.
Fault isolation, in LG's order
- Owner check from LG's page
- Observation LG asks you to make
- Request service: technician only beyond here
- Code should clear
The checks, with LG's detail
- 1Run Rinse and Spin with an empty drum
Take everything out, power on, select Rinse and Spin and press Start. It takes about 20 minutes. This is the test LG uses to decide whether repair is needed.
- Did uE, UE or Ub appear again on the empty drum?
- 2Check leveling
Open the lid and see whether the plastic guard is more exposed on one side; raise the side the tub leans toward by turning the feet. Don't extend the legs too far. Confirm the tub is centred, then run a test load of about six pounds on Rinse and Spin and watch for rocking. On slippery floors, LG suggests non-skid pads.
- 3Check load type and distribution
Small loads: add items or lower the spin speed. One bulky item such as a pillow or rug: add a few items to balance it. Large items such as sheets: untangle and redistribute by hand, and consider a lower spin speed.
- 4Check the cycle selection
Cotton/Normal and Heavy Duty use less water. Adding the Fabric Softener option switches to a deep rinse, which helps spread the load. Reduce spin speed or try Perm Press/Casual, which uses more water. If UE still appears, redistribute the load by hand.
Front-load LG washers
For front-load washers LG lists three checks: push the washer front, back and sideways and adjust the leveling legs with a wrench if it rocks, keeping it as close to the floor as practical; spread the laundry evenly and pick a suitable spin setting; keep the tub about two-thirds full. If the problem continues, schedule service. Source: Front Load Washer: Troubleshooting a UE/Ub Error Code, updated 2026-06-01, read 2026-10-16.
Where to stop
LG's page says that if uE, UE or Ub appears again during the empty-drum Rinse and Spin test, the washer needs repair service, and links to Request a Repair. If the code only appears with laundry in the drum, LG says repair is not needed once leveling, load and cycle are corrected.
Not covered here, on purpose: Suspension rods, the drive system, the hall sensor and the control board. None of these appear on LG's owner page. Read when to stop and call a technician.
Same code, different meaning on other brands
None of the other brands in the verified set (Bosch, Samsung, Whirlpool) uses UE or uE/Ub on their official pages read on 2026-10-16. If your display shows UE on a different brand, do not apply these checks; use the lookup or that brand's own support page.
Other LG codes here
- OELG washer: The washer cannot drain the water from the wash cycle.
Provenance
| Official page | LG Washer - What is a Top Load Washing Machine UE/Ub Error Code? |
|---|---|
| Page URL | https://www.lg.com/us/support/help-library/ue-error-code-washing-machine-CT10000010-1394563702295 |
| Manufacturer's last-updated date | 2026-09-03 |
| Read on | 2026-10-16 |
| Owner checks on the page | 4 |
| Service instruction | The manufacturer's own |
| Technician review | Not yet reviewed by an appliance technician. Model-specific pages are not built until that review happens (see /methodology/). |
| Record | /data/codes.json, id lg-washer-ue |