How to Fix a Microwave Door Latch (in 4 Steps)

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Flamingo
February 2, 2022
Microwave Repair

If your microwave door latch isn’t working correctly, this 4-step guide will help you find the cause of the problem and fix it. Simply follow each step below and you should be able to get your microwave door working again.

Since every microwave make and model is made slightly differently, it’s a good idea to find your microwave’s user manual before attempting these repairs as you’ll be able to find specific instructions for some of the steps in this guide.

Step 1 – Make sure the latch isn’t stuck

When your microwave door latch stops working, the first thing you need to do is check that the latch isn’t stuck and unable to connect and disconnect from the microwave door correctly.

Here’s how to rule out that the door latch is stuck:

  1. Press the door button to try and open the door and at the same time try and manually pull the door open.
  2. If the door can open when you pull on it, try to find what is causing the door to not open without being pulled and remove it.
  3. If you cannot find any loose debris causing the door to stay stuck or if giving the door latch a good clean doesn’t solve the problem, proceed to step 2.

Step 2 – Check the door latch button

The next step is to check the door latch button. This only applies if your microwave has a button that you press to open the door. If your microwave has a handle that you pull, you can move on to step 3.

Here’s how to check the door latch button:

  1. Press the door latch button and check if you can feel some resistance (like you normally would) when you press it in.
  2. If the button can be pressed in without any resistance, this is a good sign the button is defective and needs to be reattached to the door mechanism or replaced. If you can hear a clicking sound when you press the button, this indicates that the button isn’t coming into contact with the door release mechanism, so it will need to be repaired or replaced.
  3. To repair the button, start by turning the power off to the microwave. Be very careful when repairing microwaves as there is a risk of electrical shocks occurring.
  4. Next, un-attach the control panel from your microwave and then try and repair the door button by reattaching it into the correct position or if you find a broken component within the door button unit, the whole unit will need to be replaced.
  5. Once you repair or replace the door button, re-attach the control panel, turn the power back on, and then check if the door latch now works correctly. If not, proceed to the next step.

Step 3 – Check the door latch lever

The next step is to check the door latch lever for any signs of damage. When you press the door button, the door latch lever releases the microwave door and allows you to open it. If the latch becomes defective or breaks, the whole door latch component in your microwave will become faulty.

Here’s how to check, and if necessary, replace the door latch lever:

  1. Make sure the power to your microwave is turned off.
  2. If you haven’t already, remove the control panel from your microwave so you can access the latch lever.
  3. Find the latch lever (it’s a small plastic object within the door latch) and then check if it is stuck, broken, or has come out of place. If the door latch lever is fine, proceed to the next step.
  4. If possible, repair the door latch lever. If this isn’t possible, replace it.
  5. To replace the door latch lever, you will need to get a new part and then attach it to your microwave door latch system. If this isn’t possible, replace the whole door latch unit.
  6. Once you’ve replaced the door latch lever, check if your microwave door latch is functioning correctly. If not, proceed to the next step.

Step 4 – Check the door spring, door hinge, and door-side latch

If you still haven’t managed to fix the door latch, the next step is to check all of the components that are located within the microwave door that are part of the door latch unit. These include the door hinges, latch spring, and the door-side latch. When these components become defective, your door latch will stop working correctly.

Here’s how to check, and if necessary, replace the door spring, hinges, and door-side latch:

  1. Make sure the power is switched off to your microwave.
  2. Next, remove the microwave door so you can access the internal components. The door can be removed by first taking the internal panel off the door, and then releasing the door hinges (please consult your microwave’s user manual if you’re not sure how to do this).
  3. Next, check the door spring, hinges, and the door-side latch to check if any of these components are defective, stuck, or otherwise worn out.
  4. If any of the components need to be replaced, replace them with new parts or replace the entire door latch unit.
  5. Once the components have been repaired or replaced, put your microwave back together and then check if your microwave door can now open and close correctly. If not, you should consider taking your microwave into a repair shop for them to have a look at it, or you might decide the best option is to purchase a brand new microwave.
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