If a Samsung washing machine shows **A1**, the verified Samsung meaning in this research set is **factory test mode is active**. Use the code to narrow the diagnosis, then confirm the exact model because code scope can change by product generation or region. The exact stage when the code appears can be as important as the characters themselves. Note whether it happens at startup, during fill, heating, cooling, draining, spinning, drying, or after a power event. The recorded display form is **A1**. Search normalization stores it as **A1** while preserving the characters a homeowner actually sees.
Reviewed by Ethan Mercer · Last reviewed August 17, 2026
Written by
Ethan Mercer Appliance Repair Content SpecialistPublished August 17, 2026Updated August 22, 2026Technically reviewed August 17, 2026
Content status:
Verified
Error codeA1
ApplianceWasher
Quick answer
Factory test mode is active.
Model compatibility: Samsung can reuse or reformat codes across series and model years, so A1 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
If a Samsung washing machine shows **A1**, the verified Samsung meaning in this research set is **factory test mode is active**. Use the code to narrow the diagnosis, then confirm the exact model because code scope can change by product generation or region. The exact stage when the code appears can be as important as the characters themselves. Note whether it happens at startup, during fill, heating, cooling, draining, spinning, drying, or after a power event. The recorded display form is **A1**. Search normalization stores it as **A1** while preserving the characters a homeowner actually sees.
Signs
Symptoms you may notice
The A1 display becomes more meaningful if the display appears while the appliance is otherwise able to respond normally.
On affected Samsung washing machine models, the message may be tied to a mode, test, reminder, setup state, or protective condition rather than a failed part.
The A1 display becomes more meaningful if normal operation can resume after the documented mode or condition is cleared.
Depending on the exact model, a1 appears on the display while the appliance reports: Factory test mode is active.
Why it happens
Possible causes
varies by model — official regional/current support — Factory test mode is active
Before you call
Safe checks you can make
These are simple, non-hazardous checks only. If anything is unclear, stop and contact a technician.
The next non-invasive check is to confirm the exact display characters and appliance model before treating the message as an issue.
With A1 recorded, verify the user-facing setting, mode, door, filter, container, or setup condition named by Samsung for this display.
The next non-invasive check is to use the model-specific manual to clear the status; avoid repeated resets if the message reappears unexpectedly.
Before opening any service area, record the code and the cycle stage where it appears.
Before requesting service for A1, verify owner-accessible water supply, drain hose/filter, load balance, door, detergent, or power only when relevant.
The next non-invasive check is to power-cycle once only where Samsung's guidance recommends it; if the same code returns, move to model-specific diagnosis.
Important safety warning. Disconnect power and stop use for active leakage near electrical parts, smoke, burning smell, or repeated breaker trips. For A1, stop troubleshooting immediately if the symptom crosses into a safety hazard rather than a normal diagnostic condition.
Get help
When to request repair service
If the owner-accessible checks do not clear A1, Service is not automatically required. Request diagnosis only if the status cannot be cleared as designed or normal operation does not resume. The repair should confirm the monitored function and its feedback before any board or component is condemned.
Book your repair
Seeing this code on your Samsung appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
One controlled restart is reasonable after correcting an obvious external issue. A recurring **A1** display should be treated as diagnostic evidence, not as a reason to keep rebooting the appliance.
The display can be normal in the documented context. If **A1** appears unexpectedly, cannot be cleared, or prevents normal operation, then the issue deserves diagnosis.
No. **A1** tells you which condition or check the control detected. The same display can result from the named component, its wiring, a connector, a supply/airflow/water condition, or the control that reads it.
The same-looking code can be reused on another Samsung appliance family or reformatted by region/model year. Match the appliance type and exact model before applying a meaning. This page therefore keeps **Washer A1** separate from same-looking codes used by other Samsung appliance families.
