# Refrigerator Ice Maker Not Working? 8 Fixes to Try First

> Ice maker not making ice? Check the power switch, water supply, filter, freezer temperature, and ice jams with these eight fixes based on manufacturer guidance.

- URL: https://applianceinsider.org/blog/ice-maker-not-working-how-to-fix/
- Publisher: Appliance Insider (https://applianceinsider.org)
- Category: Troubleshooting & Error Codes; Appliance: Refrigerators
- Published: 2026-10-03; Last updated: 2026-10-03; Author: Appliance Insider Editorial Team

When a refrigerator ice maker stops making ice, the cause is usually simple: the ice maker got switched off, the freezer is too warm, the water supply is restricted, or the water filter is clogged or not seated. Work through the checks below in order. The first five fix most cases without tools, and they come straight from Whirlpool and GE Appliances troubleshooting guidance.

> **Warning:**
> Unplug the refrigerator before reaching into the ice maker or behind the unit. The ice maker has a heater and moving parts, and GE notes the ice mold can be hot.

## 1. Make sure the ice maker is turned on

It sounds obvious, but it is the most common cause. GE Appliances notes that ice makers are typically shipped with power set to Off, and Whirlpool says an accidentally switched-off ice maker is a common reason for no ice.

Depending on the model, the control is one of these:

- A rocker or slide switch on the ice maker itself.
- A wire **shutoff (feeler) arm**: the ice maker stops when the arm is raised. Push it down to turn production back on.
- An **Ice Maker** setting on the refrigerator's control panel or touchscreen. On some GE models you press and hold the Ice button for about 3 seconds to see the status.

## 2. Check the freezer temperature

Ice makers will not cycle until the mold is cold enough. GE says the ice maker must reach about **16°F** before a cycle begins, and recommends setting the freezer to **0°F** and the fresh-food section to 37°F. Whirlpool recommends a freezer setting between **0 and 5°F** for ice production.

Put an appliance thermometer in the freezer for a day to check the real temperature. If it is too warm, GE suggests lowering the setting one degree every 24 hours. A nearly empty freezer also swings in temperature; GE notes that keeping it about three-quarters full helps hold temperatures steady.

If the freezer will not get cold even at a colder setting, that is a cooling problem, not an ice maker problem. Start with our [refrigerator maintenance checklist](https://applianceinsider.org/blog/refrigerator-maintenance-checklist/) (condenser coils and door gaskets).

## 3. Give a new ice maker time

If the refrigerator or ice maker was just installed, be patient. According to GE, a new ice maker can take **up to 24 hours** to get cold enough to make ice, and its first fills may be small while it purges air from the water line.

## 4. Check the water supply

Whirlpool calls a restricted water supply one of the most frequent causes of ice maker problems. Check that:

- The shutoff valve feeding the refrigerator is **fully open**.
- The water line is securely connected and has **no kinks**. Whirlpool advises not pushing the refrigerator too far back against the wall, which can pinch the line.
- The refrigerator is connected to a **cold** water supply.

If the water dispenser also runs slowly or not at all, the problem is upstream of the ice maker: the supply, the filter, or the water inlet valve.

## 5. Check the water filter

A clogged or badly seated filter restricts water to both the dispenser and the ice maker.

- **Recently replaced?** Whirlpool says an improperly installed filter can reduce or stop water flow. Make sure it is locked in place and sealed.
- **Due for replacement?** Whirlpool and GE both recommend replacing the filter about **every 6 months**, or when the indicator light comes on. Sediment from nearby construction can clog filters sooner, GE notes.
- **Purge air afterward.** After installing a filter, GE recommends running about **two gallons** of water through the dispenser to clear air from the system.

## 6. Clear ice jams and stuck cubes

Ice that has melted and refrozen into a clump can stop the ice maker. GE notes that clumped ice in the bin can keep the feeler arm from working, and that cubes stuck in the mold keep the ejector from finishing its cycle.

Empty the bin, break up clumps, and look for cubes jammed in the mold or the chute. Do not chip at ice with a knife or screwdriver near the ice maker; you can puncture the mold or a refrigerant line.

## 7. Reset the ice maker

Once the basics are right, a reset can clear a stuck cycle. Whirlpool's guidance:

1. If your ice maker has a **reset button**, press and hold it for a few seconds.
2. If not, **unplug the refrigerator for 1 minute**, then plug it back in.
3. Wait a couple of hours and check for ice in the bin.

## 8. Look for a frozen fill tube

If you can hear the ice maker cycle but no water reaches the mold, the small fill tube that carries water into the ice maker may be frozen. A freezer set much too cold or a water inlet valve that lets water trickle in can both cause it. Unplug the refrigerator, let the tube thaw (towels on the freezer floor help), and correct the freezer setting. If it refreezes, the water inlet valve likely needs a technician.

## Still no ice?

If the ice maker is on, the freezer is at 0 to 5°F, water reaches the refrigerator, and the filter is new, the remaining causes are parts: the **water inlet valve**, the **ice maker assembly** itself, or its wiring and control. Those are typical service repairs. Angi's 2026 cost data lists refrigerator ice maker repairs at $100 to $300; see our [appliance repair cost guide](https://applianceinsider.org/appliance-repair-cost/) and our [glossary](https://applianceinsider.org/glossary/) for what each part does.

## Step-by-step summary

Estimated time: 30m

Tools: Appliance thermometer, Flashlight, Towels

Supplies: Replacement refrigerator water filter (if due)

1. **Make sure the ice maker is turned on.** Check the ice maker's on/off switch or wire shutoff arm, or the Ice Maker setting on the control panel, and turn it on.
2. **Check the freezer temperature.** Set the freezer to about 0°F (Whirlpool recommends 0 to 5°F) and confirm with an appliance thermometer after 24 hours.
3. **Give a new ice maker time.** A newly installed refrigerator or ice maker can take up to 24 hours to get cold enough to make its first ice.
4. **Check the water supply.** Make sure the water shutoff valve is fully open and the supply line behind the refrigerator is not kinked or pinched.
5. **Check the water filter.** Confirm the filter is locked in and sealed, replace it if it is about 6 months old, then run water through the dispenser to purge air.
6. **Clear ice jams.** Break up clumped ice in the bin and remove cubes stuck in the ice maker mold or blocking the feeler arm.
7. **Reset the ice maker.** Press and hold the reset button if your model has one, or unplug the refrigerator for 1 minute, then wait a couple of hours for ice.
8. **Look for a frozen fill tube.** If the ice maker cycles but no water enters the mold, the fill tube may be frozen; let it thaw and fix the cause, or call for service.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: How long does a new ice maker take to make ice?**

A: GE Appliances says a newly installed ice maker can take up to 24 hours to get cold enough to produce ice, because the ice mold must reach about 16°F before a cycle starts. The first fills may be small while the ice maker purges air from the water line.

**Q: What temperature should the freezer be for the ice maker to work?**

A: Whirlpool recommends a freezer setting between 0 and 5°F (-17 to -15°C) for ice production, and GE recommends 0°F. If the freezer runs warmer, ice forms slowly or not at all.

**Q: How do I reset my refrigerator ice maker?**

A: If your ice maker has a reset button, press and hold it for a few seconds. Whirlpool says that if there is no reset button, unplug the refrigerator for 1 minute, plug it back in, and check for ice after a couple of hours.

**Q: Can a water filter stop the ice maker from working?**

A: Yes. Whirlpool and GE both note that a clogged or improperly installed water filter can reduce or stop water flow to the ice maker. Both recommend replacing the filter about every 6 months, or sooner if water flow slows.

**Q: Should I turn off the ice maker if the refrigerator has no water line?**

A: Yes. Whirlpool says an ice maker left on without a water supply can cause a buzzing noise and can make the freezer and fresh-food sections run too cold, freezing food in the crisper drawers.

## When to call a pro

For repairs beyond basic checks in Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, Appliance Insider recommends VIA Appliance (https://viaappliance.com). VIA Appliance is a featured repair partner of Appliance Insider.

## Sources

- [Whirlpool: Ice Maker Not Working - Troubleshooting](https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Refrigeration/Full-Size_Refrigerators/Product_Info/Product_Assistance/Ice_Maker_Not_Working_-_Troubleshooting)
- [Whirlpool: Not Making Ice - Refrigerator](https://producthelp.whirlpool.com/Refrigeration/Full-Size_Refrigerators/French_Door_Bottom_Freezer_Refrigerator/Ice_and_Water_Concerns/Ice_and_Dispenser_Concerns/Ice_Production/Not_Making_Ice_-_Refrigerator)
- [GE Appliances: Refrigerator - Icemaker Not Producing Ice](https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=17403)
- [GE Appliances: Refrigerator - New Icemaker Not Producing Ice](https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=17402)
- [GE Appliances: Bottom Freezer Refrigerator - Not Making Ice](https://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-support-search-content?contentId=35909)
- [Angi: How Much Does Refrigerator Repair Cost? [2026 Data]](https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-refrigerator-repair-cost.htm)