How to Bypass the Electronic Eye of the Ice Maker on a Whirlpool Fridge

You may have a young child obsessed with the seeming magic of the ice dispenser on the front of your refrigerator or you simply may not want to make use of the ice and water dispensing function. Whatever the reason, Whirlpool makes it easy to lock the sensor eye and disable it, using different keypad sequences, depending on your specific Whirlpool refrigerator model.

On most models, the sensor eye also triggers a light when it senses motion so that you can see the amount of ice and water being released. Disabling the eye for dispensing ice and water will not disable the light function nor alter any other internal refrigerator or freezer function. The sensor can be quickly re-engaged when needed.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Locate the ice and water dispenser control panel positioned on the exterior face of the front door on the freezer compartment; it's just above the rectangular opening that releases the water and ice.

   • 2

     Press down the button labeled "Lock" one time to engage the "Lock" feature on the control panel unit and disengage the electronic eye sensor for the ice release and the water dispenser.

   • 3

     Depress the "Unlock" pad once to re-engage the electronic eye sensor and restore the normal ice and water dispenser operations.

   • 4

     Depress the pad labeled "Lock Out" once, on models with this alternate control panel keypad design. Re-enable the sensor and dispensing capabilities by pressing and then holding the "Lock Out" key down for two to three beats before releasing it to the neutral position.