How to Fix an Ice Maker in a Whirlpool Refrigerator

Troubleshoot and repair your Whirlpool refrigerator’s ice maker

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: August 23, 2025 Fact Checked

Is your Whirlpool ice maker not making ice, leaking, or otherwise not working? It can be incredibly frustrating when your ice maker stops working, especially when you want to enjoy a cold, refreshing beverage. Luckily, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take before calling for repair. This wikiHow article teaches you how to troubleshoot and fix your Whirlpool ice maker when it's not working.

Things You Should know

Ensure your ice maker is turned on and the control arm isn't obstructed. Also, make sure the door switch isn't malfunctioning.
Set your freezer temperature to 0 °F (−18 °C). Make sure the fill tube or ice dispenser isn't clogged or there aren't any frozen mechanical parts.
Check the water line for leaks and clogs, and replace your filter.

1

Make sure the control arm is lowered and isn't obstructed.

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The control arm is a long metal bar that spans the length. When the ice tray is full, the control arm raises, and the ice maker shuts off. Make sure the control arm is lowered and there isn't any ice obstructing it and preventing it from lowering.
- The ice maker compartment is generally in the upper-left corner of most Whirlpool refrigerators. Press the release button and remove the ice tray to access the ice maker compartment.
- The ice maker may be located in a different location on a few Whirlpool refrigerator models. On some models, it may be located in the door.

2

Set the freezer temperature to 0 °F (−18 °C).

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Check the inside of the ice compartment to make sure it is no higher than 10 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is too warm, the ice maker may shut off automatically. If it is too cold, components of the ice maker may freeze over and stop working.

3

Make sure the ice tray is inserted properly.

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If you cannot slide it all the way in, check to ensure there is no ice obstructing it.

4

Look for a missing shelf or misplaced shelf.

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If this shelf is missing or placed at the wrong level, the control arm won't be able to function properly, and the ice maker may stop working or produce too much ice.

5

Ensure the refrigerator is level.

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This will result in a leaky ice maker. Use a level to make sure your refrigerator is balanced.

6

Unclog ice obstructing the ice maker.

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Check for large ice clumps inside the ice tray. If ice clumps are blocking the auger or clocking the chute, it can prevent ice from dropping. Also, make sure there is no ice blocking the ejector arm.
- You can clear out any ice clumps using plastic utensils or by allowing the ice maker to defrost.

7

Make sure the fill tube isn't frozen.

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If the freezer is too cold, the fill tube may freeze over and prevent water from filling your Whirlpool ice maker's ice mold. You will need to remove the ice tray and the ice maker to access it. You can thaw it with warm water or by using a hair dryer.^{[1]
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8

Make sure the door switch isn't malfunctioning.

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The switch is usually a shaft above the door or on the side. Press the door switch and make sure the lights turn off. If they do not, the door switch may need replacement. The ice maker will not turn on if the door switch is malfunctioning.

9

Check the water line for damage, kinks, or clogs.

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The water line is a small plastic or copper tube that connects the water faucet to the water valve on the back of the refrigerator. Make sure it has no leaks, kinks, or clogs. Water leaking inside the freezer could be a sign of a water line leak, which would cause your ice maker to stop working.^{[2]
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- Also, make sure the faucet the water line is connected to is turned on and there is no leak where the hose connects to the spigot.

10

Check that the fill valve and fill cup are correctly aligned.

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Check to make sure the fill valve is properly aligned with the fill cup. If they are misaligned, the fill cup may not be receiving water needed to make ice.^{[3]
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11

Replace the water filter.

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You should change your Whirlpool water filter every 6 months. Otherwise, sediment may build up and restrict water to the ice maker. It can also make your ice taste funny. If the water pressure is low or your ice tastes weird, it may be time to change the filter.^{[4]
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- Check the documentation that came with your refrigerator to learn where the water filter is located and how to change it. Some after-market filters may not work as well as the ones that came with your refrigerator. Make sure you get a water filter that is right for your refrigerator model.

12

Call for ice maker repair.

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If you can figure out what is wrong with the ice maker, you may need to contact a repair person to fix your ice maker. It may be less expensive to replace the ice maker. You can contact a local appliance repair service or the retailer you bought the refrigerator from for a repair. You can also contact Whirlpool and schedule a repair at https://www.whirlpool.com/repair-or-replace/service.html.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do you prevent bottom-drawer freezers with ice makers from spilling ice all over the back of the freezer drawer?

Justin

Top Answerer

There are a couple of things you can do. Be sure you don't have anything that's falling into the ice storage bin causing the ice to fall in other places. Also, monitor how fast your bin fills up, and turn off your icemaker once you have a full bin by raising the actuator arm.

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Question

The control arm on my Whirlpool ice maker is stuck in the upper position and will not make ice.

Justin

Top Answerer

If this is the case, your icemaker module and/or entire icemaker likely needs to be replaced.

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Question

I changed the filter, and the icemaker quit working. What can I do?

Justin

Top Answerer

Make sure the filter is properly seated and secured. Then purge two gallons of water from the water dispenser. Purging the water gets rid of air pockets in the line.

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