LG LOC status codewhat it means
Not a fault. LOC is LG’s child lock, and it releases by holding STOP/CLEAR until the display drops it.
Before you start
What LOC means
LOC is on the display because somebody switched the lock on, and LG say so plainly: it "indicates the lock function is turned on", a feature "designed to prevent unwanted microwave operations". The release is one button held down — STOP/CLEAR, kept pressed until LOC leaves the display. Their published instruction contains a typo at exactly the point where it matters, telling you to hold the button "unit LOC disappears", so this page gives the action rather than the sentence. It is worth a page rather than a footnote because of what it looks like from the outside.
A locked microwave is not obviously locked. The clock is there, the light comes on when you open the door, the turntable moves if you nudge it, and no button starts anything. LG’s manuals explain the one clue: while the oven is locked, Loc appears in the display when any key is pressed — and if the clock was set, the time of day comes back after a second. So the word is there, but only for a moment and only when you press something, which is why it is so easy to read past when you are annoyed, and why a locked microwave is a fault people pay to have looked at. How it gets switched on is nearly always the same story. LG’s manuals give the sequence: press STOP/Clear, then press and hold it until Loc appears, which takes about three seconds.
Three seconds on one button is a thing that happens when a child is exploring the front of the appliance, when the fascia is being wiped, or when a hand rests on the panel while reaching for a cupboard. Nobody remembers doing it because from their point of view nobody did. LG’s release is the same button held again, not the plug, and their manuals do not offer unplugging as a way out of it.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| STOP/CLEAR held accidentally | A few seconds of pressure is all it takes, and the person who did it usually has no idea they did. | Common |
| Switched on deliberately and forgotten | Turned on when small children were about, then left on long after anyone remembered setting it. | Common |
| Pressed during cleaning | Wiping the fascia holds buttons for far longer than using them does, which is enough to arm the lock. | Occasional |
What to try yourself
Press any key and watch the display. On a locked LG, Loc appears for about a second and then the time of day returns. If you see it, nothing is broken and no tools are needed.
Press and hold STOP/CLEAR. Keep holding it — a tap does nothing, and this is where most attempts fail.
Watch the display rather than the clock. Let go when Loc disappears, which LG’s manuals put at approximately three seconds.
Press any number to confirm the panel responds again. If it does, the appliance was never faulty.
If LOC will not clear after several attempts, that is a genuine control panel fault rather than a lock, and it is worth booking.
Get a qualified appliance engineer to look at your LG LOC
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. When you book a qualified appliance engineer, tell them the make, the model and the exact code or message on the display, and ask whether they carry parts for this make — that is what turns one visit into a repair rather than a quote.
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0
Time on site
2 minutes
Nothing. Holding one button for three seconds is the whole repair, and this is a call-out people pay for every week.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 2026. Your quote may differ.
Own this appliance and had this code? . Nothing is published until a person has read it.
Related LG fault codes
- 12HUsually simple to fixNot a fault at all. LG publish 12H and 24H together as the clock asking which format to use before it will accept a time.Related: settings and modes
- F3Get it checkedLG document this one twice and differently. One article says wipe the touch panel, the other says the control panel is faulty and needs service.Related: same brand
- DOORGet it checkedThe word DOOR rather than a number. LG say the door is not closed or the latch is not engaged, and they include transit packing as a cause.Related: same brand
- F16Get it checkedLG say a heating issue was detected. They publish F19 with word-for-word identical text, so both codes land here.Related: same brand
- E10Get it checkedLG say an internal short was detected in the control board, and then give you something to try anyway: unplug it for a full minute.Related: same brand
- F1Get it checkedLG publish this as a problem with the mainboard and say it requires service. There is no owner remedy, and the useful question is whether the appliance is worth it.Related: same brand
Own a LG microwave? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Common questions about LG LOC
I unplugged it and it still will not respond.
Unplugging is not LG’s release for the lock, and their manuals do not say a power cut clears it. Press a key and watch for Loc; if it shows, hold STOP/Clear for about three seconds and it will go. People who try the usual unplug-and-retry first, and skip the button, are the ones who conclude the appliance has failed.
Nobody turned it on.
Almost certainly somebody did without noticing. It arms from STOP/Clear held for about three seconds, which happens while cleaning, while reaching past the appliance, or when a child is pressing things. It cannot switch itself on.
Is LOC the same as F3?
No, and the display tells you which you have. LOC means the panel is deliberately ignoring you. F3 means the appliance has decided the panel is sending it something it cannot act on, which is a fault.
Can I lock it again once it is off?
Yes. LG’s manuals give it as press STOP/Clear, then press and hold STOP/Clear until Loc appears, approximately three seconds. It is a useful feature if there are small children in the kitchen, as long as everyone who uses the appliance knows it exists.
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer support portal
- Manufacturer technical and service documentation
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.