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LG dryer won't turn off: what it means and what to check

An LG dryer that keeps tumbling after the cycle can be normal Wrinkle Care, a simple control reset, a heat problem, or a stuck motor relay on the main board. The clue is whether the display says End or Wrinkle Care, whether it stops when the door opens, whether the clothes are getting dry, and whether the drum starts again by itself when the door closes.

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Straight answer

If your LG dryer won't turn off, first rule out Wrinkle Care or Anti Crease, which can tumble after the cycle ends. If it is not that, the control may be waiting for the load to dry, failing to read heat or moisture correctly, or the motor circuit may be held on after the cycle. One documented repair data set for LG dryers lists an open heating element as the leading repair, especially on electric models that run a long time while the clothes stay damp.

Check these first

Safe to do yourself. Unplug the appliance before you start.

  1. Stop it safely first

    Press Power to cancel the cycle. If the dryer keeps tumbling, open the door; if it still runs with the door open, unplug it or switch off the dryer breaker and leave it off until it’s checked.

  2. Watch what happens when the door opens

    First check the display. If it says End, Wrinkle Care, or shows a moving dotted line and only tumbles every few minutes, press Power; that can be normal wrinkle prevention. If the drum stops when the door opens and then starts again as soon as the door is closed, the door switch is probably still breaking the motor circuit, which points more toward a stuck motor relay on the control board.

  3. Try the LG control reset

    Unplug the dryer or turn off the breaker. With power off, hold Power for 5 seconds, then hold Start/Pause for 5 seconds, restore power, and test again. This can clear a latched control, but if the motor starts by itself again, plan on a repair visit.

  4. Check whether it is heating

    Run a short Timed Dry cycle with heat and a damp towel. If it heats and shuts off at the set time, the runaway problem is more likely tied to Sensor Dry, Wrinkle Care, or load size. If the towel stays cool or wet, no heat is a separate clue, often from a failed heating element, thermistor, or power issue on an electric model.

  5. Clean the lint path and sensor bars

    Clean the lint screen, look for a crushed vent hose, and check that the outside vent flap opens while the dryer runs. Wipe the two metal moisture sensor bars near the front of the drum, since dryer sheet film can make Sensor Dry act wrong.

Side view of a dryer venting through a transition hose and wall duct to an outside flapLint screenTransition hose: crush pointWallOutside flap
Air leaves through the lint screen, the transition hose and the wall duct to the outside flap. A crushed hose or packed duct causes most heat and long-dry problems.
When it's a repair

After Wrinkle Care, load size, venting, and a basic reset are ruled out, an electric LG dryer that runs and won’t end the cycle usually gets checked for heat first, then the main control board, then the thermistor. One repair data set puts those in that order, with the heating element leading. If the dryer runs any time the door is shut, even with no cycle selected, the main board’s motor relay becomes the prime suspect because that relay is part of the board. If it runs with the door open, the door switch moves up the list. If the dryer is well into its second decade, has cabinet rust, loud drum support wear, or needs a board plus heat parts, I’d lean toward replacement rather than stacking repairs.

Models where this shows up most

Electric LG dryers are the focus for the heating element cause in the repair data; the same data also lists the electronic control board and thermistor. One documented case involved DLEX2650W at 7 years old, with the motor running whenever the door was closed.

Error code lists

Every LG dryer error code in one table, with what each means and what to check first →

Have the model number ready

The company will ask for it first. It's on a sticker or metal plate, usually in one of these spots:

Where the model tag usually is on a dryer12
  1. Inside the door opening, on the frame
  2. Some models: on the back panel
Worth knowing

Conditions that make this more likely

Boards fail earlier in hot rooms

Electronics are rated for room temperature. In a garage or an unconditioned laundry room in summer, a control board can sit well above that for hours a day. Before replacing a board, a good technician confirms the parts it controls test good, since a shorted pump or valve can take out a new board too.

Lint and dust build up faster than you'd think

Dryer vents, refrigerator condenser coils and dishwasher filters collect lint, pet hair and dust. Homes with pets, long vent runs or dusty surroundings usually need these cleaned more than once a year.

What a technician tests

Most likely part first. These are for a technician with a meter and the tech sheet, not a weekend project.

PartHow it's tested
Heating elementWith power removed, the tech isolates the heater leads and checks the element for continuity. An open circuit or a visibly broken coil in the heater box means the element can’t heat, so Sensor Dry may keep running while clothes stay damp.
Main control board motor relayIf the motor starts as soon as power is restored with the door closed and no Start command, the tech checks the motor relay output from the main PCB and verifies the door switch circuit. A stuck motor relay is usually handled by replacing the board or the board assembly listed for that model.
ThermistorThe thermistor is unplugged and checked against the model tech sheet, then warmed to see if its reading changes smoothly. A reading that is out of range or doesn’t change can make the control misread drum temperature and stretch the cycle.
Door switchThe tech checks whether the drum light and motor circuit change state when the door switch plunger is pressed. No change on a continuity test, or a dryer that keeps running with the door open, points to a bad or misaligned switch.
Moisture sensor circuitThe sensor bars near the front of the drum are inspected for residue, lint, or loose wiring back to the control. On Sensor Dry, a false wet signal can keep the control from ending the cycle even after the load should be dry.

Don't see your symptom?

Describe it on the phone. The company on the other end works on these every day and will know what to ask.

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Common questions about appliance repair

Can I reset an LG dryer that won't turn off?

Yes. Cut power for a short time, then with power still off hold Power for 5 seconds and Start/Pause for 5 seconds. If it starts running again without a cycle, the reset didn’t fix the fault.

Why does my LG dryer keep running with no heat?

On an electric LG dryer, that often points to an open heating element or a temperature sensing fault. The control may keep the cycle going because the load never dries.

Why does it stop when I open the door, then start again when I close it?

That pattern often means the door switch is still doing its job, while the motor relay on the main control board is stuck closed. A technician can confirm it at the board before replacing parts.

Should I use Timed Dry instead of Sensor Dry?

Timed Dry is a good test. If Timed Dry heats and shuts off normally, check Wrinkle Care, clean the moisture sensor bars, and check load size; if it still runs on and on, look at heat, sensing, or the board.

Is this different on a gas LG dryer?

Yes. Gas models don’t use an electric heating element, so a no-heat runaway cycle points toward ignition parts, a thermistor, airflow, or the control board. Gas valve and burner checks should be handled by a technician.

Still showing the problem after the checks?

Call and describe what you tried. You'll be connected with an independent repair company near you.

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