Why Your Whirlpool Refrigerator Says 'Cooling Off'

Refrigerators have a pretty straightforward job: keep things cold. So, if your Whirlpool fridge suddenly starts displaying the "cooling off" message on the digital display, there's a pretty clear sign that something is wrong — but what, exactly? According to Whirlpool, this indicates that your refrigerator's cooling function is turned off. Luckily, it's usually pretty easy to switch it on again.

Before we explain how to get your Whirlpool fridge back in cooling mode, let's talk about why you might see the "cooling off" message in the first place. One possibility: If it's a brand-new refrigerator, it could still be in Showroom or Demo mode, which deactivates all settings other than the interior lighting. As you might expect, this mode is used in retail stores, where cooling isn't necessary — but it's important to have working lights so customers can check out the product before buying. (Note: On some models, the indicator light will say "showroom" — rather than "cooling off" — to indicate that the refrigerator is in this mode.)

On the other hand, if you've had the fridge for a while and it just stopped cooling, it could've happened after a power surge or electrical outage. Alternatively, someone in your household might've accidentally shut off the fridge while cleaning or moving it. Regardless of how the "cooling off" indicator light showed up on your Whirlpool refrigerator, it's easy to turn it off.

There are different ways to get your Whirlpool fridge cold again (and get rid of that pesky "cooling off" message), depending on whether you have a side-by-side or French door refrigerator. If it's the former, look for the "Lock" and "Measured Fill" buttons on the display. Press both buttons at the same time, holding them for a three seconds until the cooling turns back on. For Whirlpool's French door refrigerators, the process is similar — except you'll push the "Refrigerator" and "Freezer" buttons instead.

Keep in mind that Whirlpool is one of the most popular appliance brands in the U.S., and it sells a variety of refrigerators. If these instructions don't work for your specific model, check your owner's manual for more detailed information. If that doesn't help, Whirlpool recommends scheduling a service or contacting the company for help. Something else to consider: If you've had your fridge for over a decade and keep having issues, you might want to think about replacing it. (For reference, the average lifespan of a Whirlpool refrigerator is about 15 years.)

After turning the cooling setting back on, you may need to discard some of the perishable items in your fridge (depending on how long it was off). According to USDA, if your refrigerator is without power for four hours or more, you should throw out any meat, eggs, poultry, fish, and leftovers. If you're unsure how long the "cooling off" indicator light was on, it's better to play it safe and toss the food — rather than putting your health at risk.