SAMSUNG · SPIN / BALANCE CLUE
Samsung UE / Ub washer code: the load is unbalanced in the tub.
IMMEDIATE ACTION
Untangle and spread out the laundry
Next stepClose the door and press Start
Keeps happening: level the washer, then service
THE SHORT ANSWER
Samsung says UE, Ub, U6 and similar codes mean the load is unbalanced in the tub and the cycle will not finish. Untangle and spread out the laundry, close the door and press Start. If it keeps happening, Samsung points to its spin guides: check load size, level the washer, clean the pump filter and check the drain hose. A Ur code is different: the washer is rebalancing and retrying the spin, which is not a fault.
Based on Samsung’s US support pages for washer error codes and for a washer that spins poorly, checked October 10, 2026.
What UE / Ub means
Samsung’s code list groups dc (on some models), Ub, U6, Ur, UE, 1 Ub and 1U6 as unbalanced-load codes: the load is unbalanced in the tub. For Ur, the washer adds water, rebalances and retries the spin. That lengthens the cycle, and Samsung says it does not mean there is an issue with your washer. For the other codes, the cycle does not complete.
How it appears: UE or Ub on the display; some models show U6, 1 Ub or 1U6, and dC on some models.
Fix it in three steps
- Untangle and spread out the laundry. Pull apart tangled items so the load is not bunched on one side.
- Close the door and press Start. This restarts the cycle with the rebalanced load.
- If it recurs, work through Samsung’s spin checks. Samsung’s spin guide says small loads (3 to 5 lb, about 1/3 full) bunch to one side, so spread items evenly; large loads are 6 to 16 lb (about 3/4 full). For bulky items such as sheets or blankets, redistribute them by hand or lower the spin speed, and do not wash floor mats or pillows. Rock the washer to check for wobble, keep at least 1 inch of space around it, keep the legs as short as possible, and on a front-load washer loosen the locking nuts with a flat-blade screwdriver before you adjust a leg, then retighten them.
If UE / Ub keeps coming back
Samsung’s spin guide also lists cleaning the pump filter (front-load washers), checking the drain hose, and running Calibration Mode if your manual describes it; if the tub does not spin during Calibration Mode, request service through the Samsung Support Center. Tell them:
- The model number (where to find it).
- The exact code (UE, Ub, U6 or Ur) and what the load was.
- That the washer is level, the load is evenly spread, and whether it happens with a small test load.
Ur, UE and dC compared
| Code | What Samsung says | Owner steps |
|---|---|---|
| Ur | The washer is retrying the spin after rebalancing; not a fault | None needed; the cycle just takes longer |
| UE, Ub, U6, 1 Ub, 1U6 | The load is unbalanced and the cycle will not finish | Untangle and spread out the laundry, close the door, press Start |
| dC (some models) | Unbalanced load on some models; a door error on others | Spread out the laundry, or see the dC / dE door page |
OFFICIAL MANUFACTURER SOURCE
Where these steps come from.
The code meanings and the first steps come from Samsung’s code list. The load-size, leveling and pump-filter checks come from Samsung’s spin guides, which do not name the UE codes themselves but are where Samsung’s code list sends you.
Samsung: Washing machine information and error codes →
KEEP THE ROUTE SPECIFIC
Use the code, model, and matching symptom together.
Use the Samsung code hub for nearby codes, confirm the exact model, or open the vibration symptom guide.