Dishwasher Not Starting? Common Causes and Quick Fixes

When your dishwasher, a kitchen appliance designed to automatically clean dishes using water and detergent. Also known as dishwashing machine, it’s one of the most relied-on appliances in the home. suddenly won’t start, it’s not always a sign of a broken motor or expensive failure. More often, it’s something small—a door that didn’t latch, a power glitch, or a safety switch that got tripped. You don’t need to replace it right away. Most of the time, you can fix it yourself in under 15 minutes.

The most common reason a dishwasher won’t start is a faulty door switch, a safety mechanism that prevents the dishwasher from running unless the door is fully closed.. If the door isn’t sealing right—maybe because of food debris, a bent latch, or worn rubber—you’ll hear silence when you press start. Try opening and closing the door firmly, then press start again. If that doesn’t work, check for visible damage or test the switch with a multimeter. Another frequent culprit is the circuit breaker, a safety device that cuts power to the appliance if it detects a surge or overload.. Dishwashers often share a circuit with other kitchen appliances. If your microwave or garbage disposal just tripped the breaker, your dishwasher might be caught in the same outage. Head to your fuse box and check for a flipped switch.

Don’t overlook the control panel, the digital interface that lets you select cycles and start the machine.. Sometimes, it’s not the dishwasher that’s broken—it’s the buttons. If the display is blank or flashing error codes, the control board might be faulty. But before you assume it’s the board, try a simple reset: unplug the dishwasher for 5 minutes, then plug it back in. This clears memory glitches in the system. You’d be surprised how often this brings it back to life. Also, check if the child lock is on. It’s easy to accidentally activate it, and the machine won’t start until you disable it.

Water supply issues can also stop a dishwasher cold. If the inlet valve is clogged or the water supply line is kinked, the dishwasher won’t fill—and many models won’t start the cycle until they detect water. Look under the sink for the shut-off valve and make sure it’s fully open. If you’ve been using a lot of hot water right before starting the dishwasher, the tank might be empty. Wait 20 minutes and try again.

These problems aren’t rare. In fact, over 70% of dishwasher start failures are caused by one of these four things: door switch, breaker, control panel glitch, or water supply. You don’t need to be a technician to check them. A flashlight, a multimeter, and 10 minutes of patience are all you need. If you’ve tried these fixes and it still won’t start, then it’s time to look at the motor, timer, or wiring—but that’s when you call in a pro.

Below, you’ll find real-world fixes from homeowners who’ve been there. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what actually works when your dishwasher refuses to turn on.