UE / U6
Samsung Washing Machine
Severity:What Does This Error Mean?
Samsung UE (or U6 on some models) means the laundry load is unbalanced — the drum weight is uneven, so the machine stops before the high-speed spin to prevent damage. Redistributing the laundry inside the drum and restarting the spin cycle fixes UE in almost every case.
Affected Models
- Samsung AddWash series
- Samsung EcoBubble series
- Samsung QuickDrive series
- Samsung WW series front-loaders
- Samsung WF series front-loaders
Common Causes
- Single heavy item (duvet, jeans, towel) sitting on one side of the drum
- Very small load — one or two items that bunch up
- Laundry tangled into a ball rather than distributed evenly
- Machine not level — feet uneven on the floor
- Worn drum bearings causing unusual vibration at high speed
How to Fix It
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Open the door and redistribute the laundry.
Pause the cycle using the Start/Pause button. Open the door and manually spread the laundry around the inside of the drum. Unravel any tangled items. For a single heavy item (like a duvet), add 2–3 towels to balance the weight. Close the door and press Start to resume.
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Add items if the load is too small.
A single sock or one pair of jeans cannot balance in the drum. Add a few more similar-weight items to give the machine enough mass to balance. Samsung recommends a minimum load weight to prevent UE — check the user manual for your model's minimum.
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Check the machine is level.
Place a spirit level on top of the machine. All four feet should be in solid contact with the floor. Adjust the front feet by turning them clockwise (down) or anti-clockwise (up). Tighten the lock nut on each foot after adjustment. An uneven machine cannot balance the drum correctly.
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Run a Rinse + Spin cycle.
If the full wash has completed but the spin failed with UE, select Rinse + Spin (or just Spin) directly. This skips the wash and attempts a fresh spin with the already-washed load. The shorter programme gives you an opportunity to redistribute before the spin starts.
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Check drum bearings on older machines.
If UE appears consistently even with balanced loads, the drum bearings may be worn. A bearing fault causes unusual vibration that the machine interprets as imbalance. Listen for a rumbling or grinding sound during the drum rotation — this indicates bearing wear. Bearing replacement is a major repair best done by a Samsung service engineer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Samsung washer keep getting UE even with a normal load?
If UE appears repeatedly with balanced loads, the machine is likely not level. Even a few millimetres of tilt prevent the machine from correctly detecting drum balance. Check with a spirit level and adjust the feet — all four must be firm on the floor. Also check that anti-vibration pads under the feet have not compressed unevenly over time.