Seeing **A3** on a Samsung washing machine narrows the problem to **factory test mode is active**. What you do next depends on whether the code is an issue, a normal status/test message, or a model-dependent interpretation. 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 **A3**. Search normalization stores it as **A3** 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 codeA3
ApplianceWasher
Quick answer
Factory test mode is active.
Model compatibility: Samsung can reuse or reformat codes across series and model years, so A3 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
Seeing **A3** on a Samsung washing machine narrows the problem to **factory test mode is active**. What you do next depends on whether the code is an issue, a normal status/test message, or a model-dependent interpretation. 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 **A3**. Search normalization stores it as **A3** while preserving the characters a homeowner actually sees.
Signs
Symptoms you may notice
A symptom that fits A3 is that the display appears while the appliance is otherwise able to respond normally.
When the A3 condition is present, the message may be tied to a mode, test, reminder, setup state, or protective condition rather than a failed part.
A symptom that fits A3 is that normal operation can resume after the documented mode or condition is cleared.
While A3 is active, a3 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.
Before requesting service for A3, confirm the exact display characters and appliance model before treating the message as an issue.
A safe owner-level check is to verify the user-facing setting, mode, door, filter, container, or setup condition named by Samsung for this display.
Before requesting service for A3, use the model-specific manual to clear the status; avoid repeated resets if the message reappears unexpectedly.
As an external check for A3, record the code and the cycle stage where it appears.
With A3 recorded, verify owner-accessible water supply, drain hose/filter, load balance, door, detergent, or power only when relevant.
With A3 recorded, 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. Do not bypass a safety device merely to see whether A3 disappears.
Get help
When to request repair service
Service is not automatically required. Request diagnosis only if the status cannot be cleared as designed or normal operation does not resume. In a service visit for A3, model-specific testing should follow the factory test mode is active circuit rather than treating the code as proof of one failed part.
Book your repair
Seeing this code on your Samsung appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
You can try the one reset Samsung documents for the model, but **A3** returning afterward means the condition still exists. Note the operating stage instead of cycling power repeatedly.
The display can be normal in the documented context. If **A3** appears unexpectedly, cannot be cleared, or prevents normal operation, then the issue deserves diagnosis.
The code alone is not enough to justify a part. **A3** should narrow testing to the affected function; the final cause still has to be verified on the exact model.
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 A3** separate from same-looking codes used by other Samsung appliance families.
