The child lock is an important safety feature designed to prevent unauthorized or accidental changes to the washing machine program, especially to protect children from interfering with the appliance cycle. When this lock is engaged, the machine ignores input attempts.
The primary indication that the child lock is active and preventing changes is the flashing of the [ON] indicator light (often associated with the Start/Stop function).
This flashing is specifically triggered when the child lock is activated and an attempt is made to change the currently selected wash program or settings within a three-minute window of the attempted input. The machine flashes the light to alert the user that the program settings cannot be altered because the safety feature is overriding the controls.
To resolve this issue and regain full control over your appliance, you must deactivate the child lock.
Before proceeding, confirm that the child lock is indeed enabled. Depending on your Miele model, this is often indicated by a padlock icon, a key symbol, or a specific indicator light illuminated on the control panel display.
The method for activating and deactivating the child lock varies significantly across different Miele washing machine models (e.g., specific button combinations, holding down a key for several seconds, or via a submenu on electronic displays).
It is essential to consult the user manual specifically for your model. Locate the section detailing “Safety Features,” “Operation,” or “Child Lock” for the precise sequence required to turn the lock off. Successfully performing this sequence should stop the flashing [ON] light and restore normal functionality.
If you have thoroughly followed the deactivation instructions provided in your user manual, but the [ON] light continues to flash when you attempt to change the program, or if the child lock immediately reactivates itself, the issue may be beyond user intervention.
If normal function cannot be restored, please contact Miele customer service or an authorized Miele technician for further diagnosis and repair assistance.