Samsung Microwave Touchpad Not Working? (this is why)

If you own a Samsung microwave and the touchpad isn’t working it could be due to a faulty touchpad, defective control board or user error. 

In this article we take a close look at the reasons why your Samsung microwave’s touchpad isn’t working and offer solutions to these issues.

Please Note: Due to the high voltage capacitor and other internal components in your microwave that can hold a high voltage charge long after the appliance has been disconnected from the power supply, we recommend getting an experienced technician to investigate and replace any faulty parts for some of the solutions here.

Why Is The Touchpad On My Samsung Microwave Not Working?

There are several reasons why the touchpad on your Samsung microwave might fail to work, which include;

Probable Cause	Solution
Child Lock Activated	Deactivate the child lock
Wet Fingers	Ensure hands are dry before touching the touchpad
Dirty Touchpad	Clean the touchpad
Electrical Glitch	Perform a hard reset
Defective Control Panel	Replace the control panel
Touchpad Membrane Fault	Replace the touchpad membrane if necessary
Control Board Malfunction	Replace the control board

Let’s take a closer look at each of these issues;

Child Lock Activated

Some Samsung microwaves have a child lock or control lock. If this has been activated many of the buttons and controls on the microwave will not respond.

Consult your user manual to see whether your model has a child lock or control lock fitted and to find out how to deactivate it. The control lock button is typically located at the bottom right-hand corner of the touchpad.

You can usually deactivate it by pressing and holding the control lock button for around 3 to 5 seconds.

Wet Fingers

In some cases, trying to operate the touchpad with wet fingers can prevent the buttons from responding. 

Always ensure your hands are clean and dry before attempting to operate the touchpad on your Samsung microwave.

Dirty Touchpad

In much the same way as wet hands can prevent the touchpad from working correctly, so can a dirty touchpad. The touchpad is likely to collect dirt, grime and grease which can prevent it from working as it should.

You should clean the touchpad using a solution of warm water and washing up liquid on a soft cloth. If the levels of grease and grime are really high, try making a paste from bicarbonate of soda and warm water.

Once all of the grease and grime has been removed, rinse with a clean cloth and then dry thoroughly using kitchen paper or a clean towel. You should then check to see if the touchpad is working again. If it is, dirt was the problem, if not, move onto the next stage.

Electrical Glitch

With any electrical appliance a software error or electrical glitch is always a possibility. These can be caused by a power surge or loose electrical wire or connection.

If you suspect the problem is caused by an electrical glitch, you can often clear it by performing a hard reset.

How To Perform A Hard Reset On A Samsung Microwave

To perform a hard reset all you need to do is;

1. Disconnect The Power Supply
   Remove the microwave’s plug from the wall socket or flip the circuit breaker to the off position.
2. Allow Any Residual Power To Dissipate
   Wait 10 to 15 minutes to allow any remaining power to clear.
3. Reconnect The Power Supply
   Replace the microwave’s plug into the wall socket and turn the power back on or flip the circuit breaker to the on position.
4. Confirm The Reset
   Once the power has been restored, tap the touchpad to confirm the reset.

The microwave should now be reset to factory settings.

Defective Control Panel

The touchpad on your Samsung microwave might not be working due to a defective control panel. You can check whether the control panel is working properly by pressing each of the buttons on the touchpad and checking what happens.

If some buttons respond but others don’t, it could be due to a faulty control panel. We recommend contacting a technician to investigate and replace the control panel if necessary.

Touchpad Membrane Fault

The touchpad on your Samsung microwave consists of a membrane with a conductive inner coating. Each button on the membrane is actually a bubble.

Once a button is pressed on the touchpad, the coating makes contact with the back of the keypad. This closes an electrical circuit which allows current to flow to the main control board.

The problem is, that over time, the membrane wears out and fails to complete the circuit so no message gets sent to the control board. You will need to contact a technician to investigate and replace the touchpad if necessary.

Control Board Malfunction

Every function performed by your Samsung microwave happens because of the control board. If the control board fails due to a fault of some sort, the touchpad will not respond.

In some cases this can be caused by an electrical glitch which can be cleared by performing a hard reset (see above). If not, we recommend contacting a technician to investigate and possibly replace the control board for you.

Did You Know: The high voltage capacitor in your microwave can store high voltage power for up to 2 days after the power supply has been disconnected.

This is why we always recommend getting a skilled technician to investigate any faults that require the removal of any parts or components from your microwave.

SEE ALSO: Mini Oven Vs Microwave (which to choose)

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