Samsung Washer 4C Error Code (4E) — What It Means & How to Fix It

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The Samsung washer 4C error code means your Samsung washer is not filling with water correctly. Samsung groups it with 4E: 4C and 4E are the same code, and on some models it also appears as nF or 1 4C. The washer usually starts, waits, and then stops with the code on the display, because it cannot get the water it needs. The first safe thing to try is to turn both water taps on fully, then check that the water supply hoses at the back are not kinked or squashed.

If the taps and hoses look fine, the most likely cause is a blocked mesh filter where the hose joins the washer. This guide follows Samsung’s own advice and tells you when to stop and call a professional.

What the Samsung 4C error code means

Samsung’s own US support page lists the code like this: “4C, 1 4C, nF, 4E: Not filling error” — water is not entering the washer correctly. Samsung’s UK support page says the same thing in plain words: “The 4E (4C) error code indicates that the washing machine has detected a problem with the water supply. The most common reason for this error is a blocked or kinked water supply hose.”

4C usually appears at the start of a cycle or during a fill stage. The washer may make a noise as it tries to fill, pause, and then show the code. If the washer fills very slowly or not at all, the code will come back each time until the supply problem is fixed.

What 4C does not mean:

  • It is not a drain problem. If your washer cannot get rid of water, that is a different code — 5C or 5E, the no-drain error.
  • It is not the hot/cold error. Samsung’s 4C2, 4E2 and CE codes mean the cold supply water is extremely hot, or the hot and cold hoses are swapped. That is a different fault from 4C.
  • It does not automatically mean the water inlet valve is broken. In most cases the cause is simpler: a tap that is not fully open, a kinked hose, or a blocked mesh filter.
  • It is not caused by using too much detergent. Samsung does note that 4C can occasionally appear if the dispenser drawer is blocked, but the code itself is about the water supply, not the detergent.

Most likely causes of the Samsung 4C error code

Ranked most common first:

  1. A water tap that is not fully open. The hot and cold taps must both be open fully and left open while the washer runs. After a move, a repair or a new installation, a tap is often left off or only half open.
  2. A kinked or squashed water supply hose. When a washer is pushed back against the wall, a supply hose can bend sharply or get trapped, and the water cannot get through.
  3. A blocked mesh filter. Dirt and scale in the water supply are caught by small mesh filters where the hoses meet the washer. Over time they clog up and slow the water to a trickle. Samsung recommends cleaning these filters at least twice a year.
  4. A blocked dispenser drawer. Samsung notes that a 4C code can occasionally appear if there is a blockage in the dispenser drawer, where detergent residue builds up.
  5. A faulty water inlet valve. If the taps, hoses and filters are all fine and the washer still will not fill, the inlet valve that lets water into the machine may have failed. This is a job for a professional.

How to fix the Samsung 4C error code safely

Tools you need: a bucket, old towels, and an old toothbrush or soft brush. Adjustable pliers are useful if a hose connection is stiff. Time: 30 to 45 minutes. Difficulty: Easy — no panels need to be opened and no wiring is touched.

Safety first — stop and read this before you start. Unplug the washer before you move it, and turn off both water taps before you disconnect any hose — water will come out. Never remove the back or top panels, never touch wiring, and never work on a washer while it is plugged in. If water is leaking badly, you can smell burning, or the washer sparks, leave it unplugged and call a professional. If you rent your home, check your tenancy agreement before doing anything beyond the steps below.

  1. Unplug the washer. Switch it off and pull the plug out. If you plan to move the machine, make sure the area behind it is clear first.
  2. Check both water taps are fully open. Find the hot and cold taps behind the washer and turn both of them on to full. Samsung says the valves should be open completely and left open while the washer runs. Also check that the hot hose goes to the hot inlet and the cold hose to the cold inlet, and do not use Flood Safe hoses, which Samsung warns against.
  3. Check the supply hoses for kinks. Pull the washer away from the wall just far enough to see both hoses. Look for sharp kinks, bends or squashed sections and straighten them. Push the washer back gently, taking care not to squash the hoses again.
  4. Clean the mesh filters. Turn off the water at both taps. Put a bucket and towels ready, because water will come out of the hoses. Disconnect the hose from the supply tap, then disconnect the L-shaped arm from the back of the washer. Gently pull out the small mesh filters from the hose ends and rinse them under running water. Put the filters back in, reconnect the hose to the washer first and then to the supply, and make sure the connections are watertight before you turn the supply back on.
  5. Clean the dispenser drawer. Pull the drawer out of the washer, check it for blockages and clean off any detergent residue, then slide it back in.
  6. Reset the washer and run a test cycle. Unplug the washer, or flip the circuit breaker, for 1 minute, then restore the power. Run a short wash with the drum empty and watch it fill. If the water comes in normally and no 4C code appears, the fix has worked. Run a normal load next and check once more.

When to call a professional

Stop and book a repair if any of these apply:

  • The 4C code comes back after you have checked the taps and hoses, cleaned the mesh filters and cleaned the dispenser drawer.
  • Water is leaking from the inlet valve area, or a hose or tap connection is damaged.
  • The washer gets no water at all even though the taps are open and the filters are clean — the inlet valve may need replacing.
  • You cannot move the washer safely — washers are heavy, so get help or call a professional.
  • There is water damage to the floor, a burning smell, or any sparking.

How much does a Samsung 4C repair cost in the USA?

We could not verify a reliable price range for this fault from a named source, so we are not publishing a figure here. Costs vary by area, by model and by what is wrong. Ask for a written quote from a local repairer before agreeing to work.

Parts you may need

Most Samsung 4C problems are fixed without any new parts. If a part is needed, it is usually one of these:

  • Water supply hose (inlet hose)
  • Mesh filters for the supply hoses
  • Water inlet valve

If you order a part, confirm it matches your exact Samsung model number first. You will find the model number on the label inside the door or on the back of the washer.

Frequently asked questions

Does unplugging my Samsung washer reset the 4C code?

Unplugging the washer for a minute clears the code from the display, but it does not fix the cause. If a tap is closed or a filter is blocked, the 4C code will come back in the next cycle. Fix the cause first, then reset the washer by unplugging it or flipping the circuit breaker for 1 minute.

Is 4C the same as 4E?

Yes. 4C and 4E are the same code: Samsung lists them together as one not-filling error. On some models the same fault also appears as nF or 1 4C. Whichever form you see, the checks in this guide apply.

Can I still use my Samsung washer with the 4C code showing?

No. The washer cannot wash properly without water, and it will stop and show the code again. Fix the supply problem first, then run a test cycle before washing clothes again.

How do I clear the 4C code after fixing it?

Make sure the taps are open, the hoses are straight and the mesh filters are clean, then plug the washer back in and run a short wash. The code should clear by itself once the washer fills normally. If it does not clear, repeat steps 2 and 4 above.

Is the 4C error code dangerous?

The code itself is not dangerous. It is a warning that water is not entering the washer. The risks are a leak from a hose or connection while you are checking it, so keep towels ready and turn the taps off before disconnecting anything.

Why does the 4C code keep coming back after I cleaned the filters?

Because the problem may be elsewhere in the supply — a tap that is not fully open, a hose that is kinked again, or a faulty inlet valve. Check the taps and hoses once more. If the washer still gets no water at all, the inlet valve may need to be replaced by a professional.

Sources and last verified

Last verified: 14 November 2026.

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