The Samsung washing machine 4C error means the machine has detected a problem with its water supply: water is not coming in with enough force, or it has stopped altogether. Samsung treats 4C and 4E as the same code, and in most homes it is fixed in a few minutes without an engineer.
Quick answer: 4C (also shown as 4E) means your Samsung washing machine is not getting enough water. It is safe to clear yourself: open the tap fully, straighten the inlet hose, clean the inlet mesh filter and the detergent drawer, then restart. If the code returns after these checks, book Samsung or a qualified technician.
What Does the Samsung 4C Error Code Mean?
4C is a water supply warning: the machine expected to fill and did not receive enough water. According to Samsung UK’s own 4E and 4C support page, the water feeding the machine is either not flowing with enough force or has been interrupted completely, and the most common reason is a blocked or kinked supply hose.
The code is not a sign that the machine is broken. It is the control board telling you that the fill stage could not finish, so it has paused the programme rather than wash with too little water.
4C, 4E and the 4C2 variant
Samsung uses 4C and 4E for the same fault, depending on the model and display. Some models also show a longer code. Samsung UK’s code table lists 4C2, 4E1, 4E2 and 4Ed as a water temperature issue instead, where the hose is connected to a hot supply rather than a cold one. If your display shows one of those, check that the inlet hose runs to the cold tap, which is usually marked blue.
What Causes the 4C Error?
Most 4C errors come from something between the tap and the machine, not from the machine itself. Samsung UK’s support pages point to these causes, starting with the one Samsung calls the most common:
- A kinked, bent or squashed inlet hose, often after the machine has been pushed back against the wall.
- The water tap not fully open, or the supply turned off for plumbing work.
- Blocked mesh filters where the inlet hose joins the machine, usually from limescale or grit.
- Low water pressure or low flow from the mains. Samsung UK says pressure must be between 0.5 bar and 8 bar, and the tap should deliver at least 4 litres a minute.
- A blocked detergent drawer, which Samsung says can occasionally trigger 4C.
- A drain hose fitted at the wrong height. Samsung’s code table asks you to check that the drain hose is secured at the right height.
- Less often, a fault inside the machine, such as the water inlet valve or its wiring, which needs a technician.
How Do You Fix the 4C Error Yourself?
Work through these steps in order and restart a short programme after each one. Samsung’s guidance covers every step below.
- Switch off and unplug the machine at the wall socket before you touch any hose.
- Check the tap. Make sure the tap feeding the washing machine is turned fully open. If other cold taps in the home are weak too, the problem may be the mains supply rather than the machine.
- Check the inlet hose. Carefully slide the machine forward and look along the hose for kinks, bends, pinches or damage. Straighten it, and replace it if it is split or crushed.
- Clean the inlet mesh filters. Turn the water supply off, disconnect the inlet hose from the tap and from the machine, then gently pull out the small mesh filters with pliers. Rinse them under running water until clean, refit them, reconnect the hose firmly so it is watertight and turn the water back on.
- Clean the detergent drawer. Remove the drawer, clear any detergent build up or blockage, and push it firmly back into place.
- Check the hose connections. Confirm the inlet hose is on the cold supply and that the drain hose is fixed at the height shown in your installation manual.
- Plug back in and restart. Run a rinse or short programme and watch that water starts to flow into the drum.
Safety: Always unplug the machine and turn off the water before disconnecting a hose, and keep a towel ready for drips. Stop at the hoses, filters and drawer. Do not remove the casing or test the inlet valve or wiring yourself: that work needs Samsung’s service team or a qualified appliance technician.
When Should You Call an Engineer?
Call for a repair if 4C returns after you have checked the tap, hose, filters and drawer and you are confident the supply pressure is normal. Samsung UK says a machine that still shows 4E or 4C after these checks may need a service, and you can book one through Samsung Support. Other signs that point to a fault inside the machine include:
- No water enters the drum at all even though the tap and hose are fine.
- You hear a click or hum at the start of the fill but no water flows.
- Water is leaking from under the machine or from a hose connection that will not seal.
- Other codes appear alongside 4C.
If your machine is still under warranty, check the warranty terms before booking an independent repairer. Have the model number ready; it is on the label inside the door or on the back of the machine.
4C Error: Cause, Check and Who Fixes It
| Likely cause | What to check | Who fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Tap partly closed | Turn the washing machine tap fully open | You |
| Kinked or crushed hose | Pull the machine forward and straighten or replace the hose | You |
| Blocked inlet mesh filter | Remove, rinse and refit the filters (tap off, machine unplugged) | You |
| Blocked detergent drawer | Remove and clean the drawer | You |
| Low mains pressure | Compare with other cold taps; Samsung needs 0.5 to 8 bar and at least 4 litres a minute | Your water supplier or a plumber |
| Drain hose at the wrong height | Check the height in your installation manual | You or a plumber |
| Hot supply connected (4C2, 4E1, 4E2, 4Ed) | Move the inlet hose to the cold tap | You or a plumber |
| Faulty inlet valve or wiring | Code returns with a good supply | Samsung service or a qualified technician |
How Can You Stop the 4C Error Coming Back?
The simplest habit is to clean the inlet mesh filters at least twice a year, which is Samsung UK’s own recommendation, and more often if you live in a hard water area.
- Leave a little space behind the machine so the hose is not crushed when you push it back.
- Turn the tap fully open after any plumbing work in the kitchen or utility room.
- Rinse the detergent drawer every few weeks and use the dose shown on the detergent pack.
- Replace a hose that is stiff, cracked or bulging before it causes a fill fault or a leak.
Every restarted cycle uses more electricity, so it pays to fix the cause first time. You can work out what a wash costs with our electricity cost calculator, using the wattage on your machine’s rating label and your unit rate. If you want to see how we build and check our estimates, read how our calculators work, or browse more home calculators.
Samsung Washing Machine 4c Error FAQs
Is the 4C error the same as 4E on a Samsung washing machine?
Yes. Samsung uses 4C and 4E for the same water supply problem, depending on the model and display. The checks are identical: open the tap fully, straighten the inlet hose, clean the mesh filters and the detergent drawer, then restart.
Can I still use my Samsung washing machine with a 4C error?
Not until the cause is cleared. The machine stops because it cannot fill properly, so it will not complete a wash. Once the tap, hose and filters are sorted, the code clears and the machine works normally again.
What water pressure does a Samsung washing machine need?
Samsung UK says the water pressure must be between 0.5 bar and 8 bar, and the tap should deliver at least 4 litres of water a minute. If several taps in your home are weak, contact your water supplier or a plumber.
Where is the filter that causes the 4C error?
The filters that matter for 4C are small mesh screens where the inlet hose connects, not the drain pump filter at the front. Unplug the machine, turn off the tap, unscrew the hose and pull the mesh out gently with pliers to rinse it.
Why does my Samsung show 4C after moving it?
Moving the machine often kinks or squashes the inlet hose behind it, or leaves the tap partly closed. Pull the machine forward, straighten the hose, check the tap is fully open and leave a gap at the back when you push it home.
How do I reset a Samsung washing machine after a 4C error?
Fix the cause first, then switch the machine off, unplug it briefly, plug it back in and start a new programme. Simply resetting without clearing the supply problem will bring the code straight back during the next fill.
Checked October 2026. Sources: Samsung UK: How to resolve a 4E or 4C error code on a washing machine, Samsung UK: What do the codes on my washing machine mean?.
