Microwave Diagnostics

GE Microwave
Error Codes

Meanings, severity levels, safe checks you can perform, and when to call a technician.

Enter the code shown on your microwave display

Is it safe to keep using it?

Depends on code severity. Low/Medium codes often allow continued use, High severity requires immediate stop.

Can error codes be reset?

Some codes clear after power cycle. Persistent codes indicate underlying issues needing repair.

When should I stop using it?

Stop immediately for water leak codes, burning smell, or any High severity error.

Most Common Codes

F1 F2 F3 F5 F7 SENSOR PF

All Codes

F1 F2 F3 F5 F7 PF SENSOR

Error Code Directory

Click any code for detailed troubleshooting steps

Low Medium High

Code Meaning Severity Common Symptom

F1 Open thermal sensor High The turntable continues to spin and the light stays on, but the magnetron stops generating heat — food remains cold after a full timed cook. View F2 Shorted thermal sensor High A shorted sensor sends a falsely high temperature reading, causing the unit to behave as if the cavity is dangerously hot even when cooking has not started. View F3 Shorted touchpad panel Medium A specific area of the touchpad is non-responsive to deliberate presses, or touching it triggers incorrect commands — indicating a membrane key that has fused in the closed position. View F5 Shorted humidity sensor Medium Pressing Sensor Cook or any auto-humidity mode causes an immediate fault — the microwave beeps and returns to standby without beginning a cycle, because it cannot read the humidity sensor. View F7 Stuck function key Medium A specific button — commonly Start, Cook Time, or Power Level — has no tactile click when pressed and does not spring back, indicating the membrane beneath has fused closed. View PF Power failure detected Low Following a power outage or circuit trip, the microwave clock resets to 12:00 (or goes blank) and the display shows "PF" — a visible sign that the unit lost power mid-cycle. View SENSOR Sensor cook calibration error Low The microwave stops before the food appears fully cooked, displays "SENSOR," and returns to standby — the auto-sensing cycle detected an unexpected steam profile and aborted. View