Kenmore Microwave Reset! (A Complete Guide)

By - Ron Singh

Updated -

Microwaves help the kitchen and must be in perfect condition when needed. However, it’s not always smooth sailing when using a microwave.

The touchpads can frustrate you, and the appliance might refuse to heat up. Thankfully, there are some ways to make the microwave function as it should.

Unfortunately, Kenmore microwave doesn’t have a button you can press to reset the appliance. The easiest way of resetting a Kenmore microwave is by pressing the stop/clear button. You can also reset it by disconnecting it from the wall. Once disconnected, the microwave hard resets and reverts to its original settings.

Below, you’ll read how to reset your Kenmore microwave so it continues proper operation.

Additionally, you’ll learn why the microwave misbehaves and what issues need technical assistance.  

How to Reset a Kenmore Microwave?

Kenmore Microwave Reset

The Kenmore microwave doesn’t have a reset button. However, there are ways to reset the appliance anytime it’s malfunctioning.

#1. Soft Reset

You might need to soft reset your microwave when it’s not heating correctly or failing to display the timer.

Since the Kenmore microwave is missing a reset button, you can attempt resetting by pressing the clear/stop button

At the press of this button, any previously entered command wipes off. The memory refreshes, and you can input new commands to see if the appliance will behave accordingly.

Also, a microwave won’t operate if you have used the appliance’s child lock feature. The feature prevents any unwanted party from using the appliance. 

You might have activated this feature to prevent the kids from toying with the microwave.

Hold the Stop/Clear button for about three seconds to deactivate the feature. You’ll hear a long beep indicating that you’ve disengaged the feature.

#2. Hard Reset

Hard resetting can help solve some problems you might be experiencing with the microwave. To hard reset, disconnect the microwave from the power source. 

You can as well turn off the socket to cut the power. Let the microwave stay without power for about 30 minutes. After this, plug back the power cord and turn the microwave on.

At this point, all the settings will revert to factory settings. Next, you’ll have to set the time on the microwave. Begin by holding down the Stop/Clear button for over 3 seconds.

Next, tap the ‘Clock’ key, then input the time with the keypad. For instance, tap ‘0, 7, 0, 1’ to set 7:01 A.M or P.M.

You can tap the ‘Start’ key twice to select PM and tap it once for A.M. The time will show every time unless the microwave is in use.

Is There a Reset Button On a Kenmore Microwave?

You won’t find a reset button on the Kenmore microwave. Instead, you can only clear the settings on the microwave using the ‘Stop/Clear’ key. 

Sometimes the microwave might not turn on; in this case, you should check the power source. 

Remove the power cable of the microwave and connect a phone charger to the power source. If the charger charges your phone, there may be a fault somewhere else.

Also, check if it’s in child lock mode when you can’t operate your microwave. The screen displays ‘Locked’ when this feature is on.

Hold the “Stop/Clear ” key for over 3 seconds to disengage this feature. If this doesn’t solve your problem, try hard resetting the microwave. 

Disconnect the microwave, wait for thirty minutes, then connect it back. Then, switch on the appliance and try using it. 

If these solutions don’t solve your problem, the microwave might have more profound problems.

Other issues that might affect a Kenmore microwave include; 

IssuesCauses
The microwave isn’t heating up.Damaged thermal fuse, burnt diode.
The microwave shuts off by itself.A faulty door switch and trippedThermal protector
Faulty Turn table.Broken coupling, faulty motor.

#1. Microwave Isn’t Heating Up

There’s a thermal fuse in the microwave. This fuse disrupts power any time it senses overheating in the microwave. 

The fuse will damage anytime there’s overheating in the appliance. Also, the diode is another component that can get damaged. 

It changes the transformer’s A/C electricity output to D/C, amplifying the voltage. The high electricity charges the magnetron and results in heat. 

A burnt diode won’t produce the energy to heat the oven. Visible burnt marks cover a damaged diode. 

#2. Microwave Shutting Off By Itself

A microwave going off mid-operation can be due to a faulty door switch. Door switches can burn and overheat, which interrupts the microwave systems.

Another reason for the unexpected shutdown is the electrical flow disruption by the Thermo protector. A Thermo protector is a safety unit that stops overheating in the microwave.

Once the microwave gets too hot for its safety, the thermal protector will trip off.

#3. Faulty Turn Table

Your turntable can also have problems of its own. The turntable is the tray that spins when the microwave is cooking. 

This component can stop operating if there’s a broken drive connecter. The reason is that the drive connector/coupling helps rotate the turntable.

Without repairs, the turntable won’t work again. A turn table can also stop working when the motor doesn’t receive power. The reason is that the turntable mechanism needs electricity to function.

This absence of electricity can be due to defective user control. This unit will need replacing so the turn table can continue operating.

Note that replacing these items in the microwave is a job for the technician. The microwave stores a high amount of electricity; therefore, you must leave the work to the professionals. 

How to Reset a Kenmore Microwave Touchpad?

Unfortunately, you can’t press a button to reset the touchpad of a Kenmore microwave. Faulty microwave touchpads are common, often resulting from defective internal components.

The only way to try resetting the touchpad is by disconnecting the microwave from its power source. Wait after 30 seconds and then connect it back.

Put on the microwave and check if all the buttons on the touchpad are working. If this solution doesn’t work out, the cause could be a faulty component in the appliance.

The following are some issues that might cause a Kenmore microwave touchpad to misbehave.

#1. Defective Control Panel 

Usually, a damaged control panel is the culprit for touchpad issues. The panel is faulty when some of the buttons on your microwave are working and others aren’t.

You might need a new control panel frame. Additionally, the frame comes with its keypad, so the entire touchpad assembly will need replacing.

#2. Faulty Membrane Control

Another reason for a lousy touchpad is faulty membrane control. This control features many tiny switches. 

The switches are electrical and have two coatings: Mylar plastic and conductive crust. These layers face one another; the layers contact anytime you press a key.

This contact then creates a circuit. When someone presses the keypad’s buttons, the switch transmits a signal to the board. 

The conductive crust on these switches can wear off with time, causing problems with the touchpad.

#3. Defective Central Control Board

If your microwave’s touchpad isn’t performing input commands but lighting up, the problem can be from the central control board.

The purpose of this component is to direct electricity into the membrane control. When you press a button on the keypad, the voltage indicator will switch to the central control board. 

The central control board identifies these signals from the touchpads and executes these commands. The commands translate to output transmissions to components in the appliance.

The turntable mechanisms, as well as the magnetron, are such components receiving transmissions. If the central control board fails to produce the low current signal, output operations will not occur. 

Therefore, pressing the buttons won’t affect the microwave if the central control board is bad.

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