How to Fix Samsung Ice Maker 

de-thaw is literally freezing,great video,thank you

Really appreciate the video. Been dealing with this for the past couple of years and fixed it with the part replacement you recommended! It’s been going on one month now and no frost on the ice machine so it is doing it’s job. Thank you!

Thank you 1000 times for this video. Everything went exactly as you show and I finally get good ice and there is zero condensation freezing up inside my icemaker.

Thanks for the video. This fix worked great. Result -- a bin full of ice and no ice buildup at all on the underside of the maker. Awesome! Now we love our Samsung fridge again!

This is best video I found for exactly describing issue we were having! The ice creep on underside and constant chunks built up in back. And with parts linked. Thanks so much for making this. Really hope this solves issue. Another video mentioned adding a backer rod under gasket on door that goes to ice chute so that when door is closed the gasket stays in contact with bottom interior ice maker. That might be helpful too. Really hope all these steps helps us so we don't need to buy another fridge. Of course we are out of warranty.

Walt-Thank you very much for the informative video and discussion. We have had our Samsung since late 2017 and have had to defrost the ice machine on multiple occasions. I have used the hairdryer routinely on Hi Heat (I may be lucky that I haven't harmed anything). It takes about 5 minutes to defrost everything and that keeps things running for another month or so. Someone told me that there was a fix out there, hence my visit to RU-vid and eventually your video. So after ordering the part (Amazon actually has 2 replacement parts to order, so I ordered both). The first one to arrive was the cheaper of the 2 ($9.34 regular replacement vs $20.26 upgraded replacement). After watching your video a couple of times and taking notes, I jumped in with both hands only to find that our icemaker already had the fix (slanted edges & clips) applied that you demonstrated on your video. I still removed and replaced with the new regular one. It will be interesting to see if this fixes the problem. If it doesn't, I will install the upgraded replacement part when it arrives. Again, Thank you for your help. I hope my info has helped further the cause!

my ice maker was replaced once for the same issue. my fridge is 9 years old. since replacement, only twice I've had to use the hairdryer on full heat from the doorway with a towel laying along inside bottom for approximately 15 minutes. 5 hungry people live in this house and not a big issue. Hair dryer, 15 minutes, high heat from doorway with towel inside to soak up the water, and cycle two pitchers of ice to flush out possible contaminates in water and ice. You'll be good to go for another 4 to 6 years. No big deal..quite pleased with the fridge and both ice makers. very convenient.

My ice maker did not have as much frozen ice as his and did not take long to defrost. Upon taking mine apart I notice that my unit had the new plastic part with the clips. Amazon did not have the part in stock. As a result I sealed the inside and outside of the ice maker with freezer rated silicone. The next day it was working perfectly with no condensation. Thanks for the information.👍🏼

I really enjoyed the clear video. Unfortunately, my ice maker is slightly different, which is making removal more complicated. Mine has an extra screw on the side, so just pressing the tap isn't sufficient to remove it. Now I'm looking for a right angle screwdriver that will fit in that tiny space.

Good Job brother, good video and explanation of the problem. I was ready to use it for target practice with explosive ammo. :)

Great video i done know how i haven't seen this before, Samsung also came out to repair mine after my warranty ran out but all they did was swap the ice maker and I had the same issue cant believe they didn't provide the upgrade? Anyway i will now , thanks again maybe Samsung can reimburse you for that stuff in your fridge!! lol

I’ve done this “fix” plus replaced the ice maker and auger motor with Samsung’s new design and sealed all the edges with silicone and it still freezes over with time. This ice maker is just a bad design and Samsung refuses to admit it and provide a replacement or actual fix. Now Samsung has a ice maker repair kit for this ice maker that replaces a control panel as well. I’m not wasting anymore money on this piece of junk. Samsung TVs are amazing, but this is the last fridge from them I buy.

My Samsung 4 door was made in 2017. After months of defrosting, I finally got Samsung to come out and they replaced the ice maker around 2022. Seemed okay for about 3-4 months then started forming ice again. I also had ice forming in the bottom of my fridge area and water leaking from the ice maker or ice maker schute and leaking on to our floor and the puddle on our tile floor damaged our new kitchen cabinet at the floor. Samsung came out again and the technicians worked on the fridge again, removed the icemaker and via a zoom call, a third technician said that since I used a hair dryer to melt the ice, that they would not repair. Put the icemaker back and said good luck and goodbye. Will never buy another Samsung product. If they would have just replaced that little gasket on the coil and added some silicon, i believe that would have fixed it for good. Great video. Now I need to decide if I just want to dump this fridge or fix it myself.

Thank you so much you were the first understandable person I've seen on this, I won't need going further

Appliance repair tech did mine under warranty less than a year ago. He said he had done like 100 of them so i didn't worry about it or watch him too closely. Ice build up speed was reduced but I decided to take it apart and he didn't seem to think it was necessary to install the plastic flange or metal clips. He also did a poor job sealing it up as water was leaking out the side still while defrosting. I hope he didn't skip too many other steps. I will have to order my own clips and plastic piece and install them myself. Hope it fixes the icing 100%.

I installed the y clips and silicone based on another video's advice, and I have not had problems with the icemaker filling with frost since (just superficial frost from the poor sealing of the flapper). Others cover the Y clips, but your video is the first to explain exactly why the Y-clips work, including a visualization of how condensation draining should work and how they help. The explanation of how the ice accumulating slowly stops the entire icemaker functioning is also excellent. Thanks!

"de=thaw"??? So if thaw means to "melt" seems to me "de-thaw" would be to freeze. As my English teacher was fond of saying... words have meaning! I DID really appreciate the steady camera work. Well done there!

Instead of a hair dryer, the fastest way to get rid of ice in the icermaker area, is to put a couple of cups with boiling water in there and then cover the outside loosely with a towel. This also means you don't have to stand there and watch it as it defrosts. Just dry everything carefully with a towel after you're done defrosting, as there will be more condensation.

I called Samsung and complained and they sent a service guy out within a week and he replaced the ice-maker at no charge. My unit was out of warranty by over 3 years and I told them I hadn't had ice for almost 2 years and tried everything short of replacing it to get it to work. I think they realize they had a faulty unit and needed to stay ahead of any class action that in the conversation on the internet. Now I'm happy, happy, happy! Thank you Samsung, you really shined!

Overall this is a good instructional video but it's not a permanent fix for most Samsung ice makers but the fix will last awhile. Instead of the drip clips I used a piece of copper wire hung off the cooling coil. I'm adding an additional 15-watt heater to help keep the air vent ice free. My repair is not a Samsung recommended repair although Samsung does add a drain pipe heater to the auger assembly. I absolutely detest my $3000 Samsung refrigerator. It's only five years old and has had every failure you can imagine in the defrost circuit both icemaker and made refrigerator. The major design flaw is the Styrofoam insulation that is used. As you may be aware overtime Styrofoam absorb water. The water that freezes within the Styrofoam and all your defrost problems begin. I've overcome a lot of the design errors without spending a lot of money but I don't wanna put money into this POS and I'm saving to buy a new refrigerator of non-Korean manufacture. It's not that I don't like the Koreans it just don't care for their engineering.

So pay 2k for the fridge and be a repairman too

Thanks so much, very helpful! It seems someone else has done previously. When I took it apart, I noticed that the styrofoam for the clip kit is just starting to crumble a bit. The clip bracket is in tight, and it’s in tact, but wondering, is there’s anything more I should do?

Thank you for this video. This refrigerator is a bad design. I will do you recommendations.

Just a note for folks who first experience the freezing problem after a long time of normal icemaker function. I was able to revive our icemaker's operation by running the full programmed time of the forced defrost mode and pressing the icemaker's reset button. I had already removed frost in the compartment, and wiped out the condensation. I may need to take the icemaker apart and add the modified part with its Y clips, but perhaps not. I think we got the freeze up from evaporative cooler humidity, frequent door opening, and me putting damp water bottles on the shelf below the icemaker. I'll see if we can avoid a repeat by changing some behavior. If not, this video is a great resource and I'll wait to do the service when we don't have the fridge full of food.

Okay, I ordered the parts and got right to it. I discovered my 4-year old Samsung (looks like yours) already had the plastic rectangle and clips installed. Also, the drain tube and circuit board were already upgraded. I bought it new and no one has serviced it. I defrosted it all day yesterday and removed the fan and motor and still found ice way in the back. All dry now and getting the ice maker tray back right was tedious. After many attempts I found the white plastic bottom piece was warped. I fixed that. I found another video that says the entire problem was the refrigerator needs to be installed in level. Tilted backward. By raised the front wheels, using the adjusters, bring the front wheels up ¼” off the floor. I’ll let the fridge make some ice first then do that tomorrow.

There is much more to do to fix this class action law suit design issue! I use RTV sealant. If cleaned with isopropyl alcohol it seals just fine.You are supposed to seal the inside and outside with the RTV sealant. Also some older models did not have the heater on the auger, which is recommended to replace. Control boards are also included in some of the older model kits, which also include the evaporator line Y clips. I have had zero call backs using this proper method of repair! Samsung appliances are junk!

I have had this issue for 6 years. I called Samsung as others have commented on doing themselves and they sent out a technician to install the kit provided in this video. It has been 2 months and I have to say I do not want to take a hammer to my expensive refrigerator anymore. Since the replacement the ice maker has yet to freeze. The only issue is the water line does freeze up but I have purchased the additional heater kit and I believe this will solve my problems. I am very pleased but disappointed it took 6 years to solve this problem. CALL SAMSUNG they will send someone out at no cost.

Good video....its just thaw not, de-thaw...that would mean refreeze it....:) sorry pet peeve.

Thank you very much for your hack to fix the Samsung ice maker problem. Would you mind tell me where/how to order the condensation clip that you replaced the old one? Thanks again.

I have had no ice for almost 1 year and this video was excellent. Thank you, it worked and now I have Ice plus money I save on a service call or new refrigerator. So happy. Thank you!

Hey mr Walt did you order your part thru Amazon or does Home Depot or Loews or does a local shop stock these types of Samsung parts. I have the same type of Samsung freezer and desperately want to fix and seal mine like you did. I’ll take any more advice that you have. I like the way you explained the detail parts of the repair in the video… signed nice job!!!

Great video! Thank you for taking the time to make this video.

But seriously samsung was sued by class action for this. They sell a kit to fix it, if you have buyer information you may be able to get it for free

So...ice maker still working good after 18 months? Mine is not after Samsung Tech came out (not in warranty) and replaced everything. After 4 warranty visits and 3 Samsung out of warranty attempts to fix, Samsung sent me a check for the current market value of the frig. Had to remove the serial sticker though. Fun!

This is a great video. Until I found it, I thought I was doomed to having to thaw my icemaker every month or so for the rest of eternity. My only critique is that it's hard for me, as a jackass, to get past my grammar nazi annoyance everytime you say "dethaw." That isn't a word, and if it were, it would mean exactly the opposite of what you're trying to say, which is "thaw." Beyond that, I am so grateful to you for making this very very helpful--nay, life-saving!-- video.

Very exact, clear and comprehensive thank you. Is there a part number for the mod kit?

Where did you get that new part? Is there a name/part number for it?

You can use a steamer with an extended wand to safely defrost the icemaker

Finally !!! Thanks for making the post that problem was bugging me nut now I have a solution

After looking at all these videos, I called Samsung. They know about the problem and will send a technician to fix it (free)

There is absolutely no acceptable reason that any consumer who purchased an expen$$ive Samsung fridge, should have to do all of this manual work, buy an extra part, and experience constant frustration- for a known issue. This is a recall qualified issue. I am having the same issue & have been for over a year, on an expensive Samsung fridge that I purchased 1 year and 7 months ago. It was 7 months of fine, then a full year + with this horrible manufacturing nonsense.

Amazing video!!! Going to do this!!!!

Thank you so much. I followed your directions and now have no more problems. After one month, I still have no ice build up. Also, I defrosted by putting four mugs of boiling water inside the ice maker on a towel. Then , I snugged another towel over the opening. Changing the mugs every hour. This worked very well for defrosting as the fridge was still on. I left room in the mugs for melting ice. Your video was such a great help. Thank you again

I did the same thing as you, but I couldn't wait for hours (no secondary fridge), so I never got to extract the back part to get to the fan which is actually making the noise.....but it defrosted enough to stop the fan noise for about 4 months... today the noise is back, so I'm going to attempt a full extraction!

Thank you so much for making this video! One little thing we learned from fixing the refrigerator fan. when you have everything out of the ice maker, take your handy turkey baster and put hot water in the drain pipe to make sure it's working correctly too. Hoping for no more ice making issues also. Now I'll have to use my steamer for what it was intended ;)

Great Video, ty for all the extra details.

Using a hand held steamer that has a hose makes quick work of the ice.

Do you have to isolate water pressure when removing this unit

Hi, most comprehensive video I have seen yet on this issue, just wish I could find the force defrost setting in my UK machine as it doesn’t seem to work! What is the little repair kit called and where do you buy it? Thanks

gr8 vid, Samsung should be ashamed , I have a 2014 model year, and I hate it. I have been doing the Fd and Rd modes for a while. even replaced the icemaker once. few days ago the fridge stopped cooling, but freezer worked and Ice maker seem to work (go figure because it thawed the ice make part ) always , the coil had frozen up behind the back panel. This vid helped me ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-l5beJp8amJU.html and others like it.

Bought my fridge in 2018 from Home Depot. Problem started 2 months ago. Nice video. FYI. Contacted Samsung. Told them the problem, Model # Serial # and where I bought it. After 20 minute call, they arranged to replace the ice maker and fix the problem free of charge. 10 minutes later the service company called to schedule the repair. Thanks again.

What's Going On? A class action lawsuit has been filed alleging that the built-in-door ice makers on these fridges are defective and can cause a number of problems, including water leaks, parts "freezing up" and loud fan noises that consumers have described as "growling" or "jamming." How Can a Class Action Help? A class action lawsuit could help hold Samsung accountable for the money consumers spent on the fridges, as well as any relevant repairs. FREE REPAIR 1-800-SAMSUNG / AIR LEAK FROM FLAPPER, FROM DRAIN , THIS PART OLD UPDATE, NOT GOINF FIX IT.

Thank you for taking the time to put this video together! It was exactly what I needed to get our ice maker working. Brilliant!

👍👍👍👍👍👍 we don’t buy any Samsung products of any kind now.🤬

I called Samsung and they are coming out to install a whole new unit ...no charge ....Mine is 3 1/2 years old.

We're on our 5th ice maker. Experience with a whole bunch of technicians showed us how to quickly deal with ice. Get a steam gun or cleaner. NOT the floor model. All of the recent techs used a steady blast of hot steam into all the openings for about 30min to release the bin unit and not damage any plastic or other components. Following up inside the unit the steam produces lots of fog and water. Steam is much faster than a heat gun and is easier to target. Layering some towels the floor of the unit will keep the fridge and the kitchen floor more or less dry. Needless to say we will never have another Samsung fridge.

great instruction. thank you and keep up the great work!

Thank you so much!

Thank you very much for making the video and also linking the stuff you used in your description. For anyone who follows this video it 100% works. My ice maker used to drip water before dispensing ice, and would freeze over every 3 - 5 days, and I would have to scrape and melt all the stuff off. Now, it's completely functional and hasn't frozen over at all. Thanks a lot!

I don't like anything about it. Its ridiculously hard to clean the shelves and take them out. Samsung over engineered everything! Thats the last one I buy. Great video. But if you always have to work on them, and you do, that's time I'll never get back.

What a nightmare. Thanks for posting.

Thanks for the video! I’m going to give it a try! Can you force defrost with the tray in? There is so much ice that we cannot pull the tray out.

This was so well done! Thank you!

Fun.... Just bought a house and I have this problem 🤣 Guess I'm doing that in the near future 😬

Dethaw is not a word. Its just thaw :-) Excellent explanation of what the new plastic piece and clips will do.

No way I'm doing this. I usually use a hairdryer but I'm sick of doing this. No help from Lowes.

Does anyone else find it ridiculous to have to go through all of this due to issues that apparently Samsung has. I have never had to go through all of this. I’m also having issues in the fridge area where there are frozen sections (frost), in the back of the fridge and then have water accumulating in the crisper bins and green fuzz growing. Any other refrigerator I’ve ever had, all I’ve ever had to do is clean the fridge. This green fuzz comes back every couple weeks. This is ludicrous!!!

Love the crowbar!! If I had a crowbar anywhere near this thing I would absolutely smash it up.... Of course I used a hair dryer so who knows what's melted inside there but it was only about one year old when it started having this problem... once I saw so many other people having the same problem and could not seem to get it fixed with a repair man I resorted to just putting a bag of ice down in the freezer...argh!!!

Samsung is complete garbage for appliances. Every single one of my appliances starting failing after warranty was up. Never again.

Any updates about this repair? Has it been working okay? About to do all of this with my almost identical Sam-dung fridge.

Samsung make terrible refrigerators, every part breaks down, the best way to fix a Samsung it to buy another brand, any other refrigerator would be better

Like the video but what exactly is "de-thaw"?? Isn't that freezing?

I really appreciate the detailed and easy to follow information. This is the best video I've seen which is very clear. You just helped a lot of people save a lot of headache with the ice maker and also save us a lot of money for repair. Thank you for taking your time to make this wonderful video.

Give me a break , Samsung should be replacing it and doing the work !!!!

best option for fast melting steamer

the forced defrost works faster it turns off the condenser and has a heating element. the beeping is very annoying though, i use ear buds lol

You used a hairdryer... HUGE HUGE NO NO.. DO NOT USE A HAIR DRYER PERIOD!!! I can see you've melted the back and caused more harm than good. It's going to happen again. If you don't have a steamer, heat a couple cups of coffee with water in microwave for 5 mins and place inside compartment. Repeat until defrosted. Place them inside

Hey Walt, is that silicone safe to use near the ice?

so ive had my samsung fridge for over 5 years. ice maker has been repaired like 6 times under warranty. It just went out again and now out of warranty. I took it apart using your video and its frozen over but i can see the upgraded plastic piece and y clips were already installed. I can also see the silicone is intact. I am gonna thaw it out but looks like this fix is only temporary. The ice maker is just a terrible design. Never buying this brand again

Great video. But please stop saying "dethaw"! 🤣🤣🤣 Driving me bonkers. Just say "thaw". 😉

Thank you for taking the time to post this very informative video. And a special thanks to those who suggested contact with Samsung, even with out of warranty refrigerators. As a result, Samsung will fix our ice maker, hopefully, free of charge. Note: I did spend $80 for a “repairman” to troubleshoot the problem. He only took photos, particularly of the manufacture’s S/N etc - did not touch the ice maker. Then he handed me a written estimate for $1200 to repair our ice maker. Sent him on his way with his $80. Thanks again.

Excellent video, Samsung should be paying you for showing consumers how to fix their defective appliance

So how did this work after time .

Do I really need to turn off the fridge to fix it?? Like to unplug the cables

My ice maker didn’t freeze up at all. It just stop making ice

Pretty sure there is a screw on the main unit on mine on the 4:51 upper right side. Pressing the tab is not releasing it for me and I can see a screw up there that would need an offset screw driver to remove.

My Gawd! Thank you for this. I've been ready to take a hammer and sickle to this fridge for years because of this issue. None of the vidz online nor the tech we paid EVER had reference to removing the motor and dealing with the drip. Resealed, replaced solenoids, dealing with a discontinued flow sensor, being told to buy a expensive main board for a working fridge. ... Thanks again and I'll let you cut in line if I'm closer to the pearly gates

My auger doesn't have a built in fan any idea where it's getting it's air flow from?

I Did all this, it increased the amount of time before it froze up again, but still did. There are kits to be had that has a new ice maker and circuit board. But of course not in my model. Wonder why a new control board. Defective or did they change how the ice maker works.

Why would you defrost on COOL? The door is wide open. Defrost... Just take out tray and put a towel in the freezer part. What did you do with the food in the fridge after the HOURS of thawing?

“De-Thaw” isn’t a word. De-thaw would actually mean to freeze! It’s a double negative. I think you meant “Defrost” or “Thaw”.

Have you ever heard of Tannerite? It's an explosive that I was about to insert in the ice maker and shoot it with my AR-15. Excellent video of the fix but you said you had to buy the part? Samsung should have sent it to you for free plus pay you what there technician would have gotten paid for doing this job. You earned a new sub for this demonstration, now I just need to work up the courage to do the same thing. Thanks again for the video.

Seriously the best explanation. You saved me a ton of headaches!

Shut the ice box down and buy sonic ice. Load it into the tray dispense like a boss

Can I unplug wiring harness as desplayed. So now the ice maker will not work but will the water dispenser work as I have bought a counter top ice maker . We enjoy the convenience of getting a glass of water from the front of fridge. Rather windy explanation so will it work with ice maker disconnected?

sooo by "de-thaw" did you mean totally frozen?

Samsung being "well aware of it" should fix it. It's a lemon. Shouldn't have to buy anything. Garbage. I've had this problem for about a year and it is serious pain.

THANK YOU! This was the most informative and perfectly detailed DIY video I've seen in a long time! I appreciate your efforts!

Another tip on these fridges is to use the front leveling feet to tilt the fridge slightly back from level. This will keep the water draining to the back and help with water dripping from your ice/water dispenser. Make sure you fully thaw (or de-thaw if that's your thing) so the passages are clear for the water to escape.

Contact Samsung and they will now really fix it for free. They have a complete kit to install.