Whirlpool Refrigerator PO Error Code - Causes & Fix

Whirlpool Refrigerator PO Error Code — What It Means

PO stands for power outage. Your refrigerator detected that power was lost long enough for the freezer to rise to about 18F or warmer, then return.

It is an alert, not a hardware failure. The control wants you to acknowledge it so you can check whether food stayed safe.

Jump to Fix

Common Causes

• Utility power outage The home lost power long enough for the freezer to warm past the safe threshold.
• Tripped breaker or GFCI A tripped breaker or outlet cut power to the fridge without you noticing.
• Loose outlet connection A worn outlet or loose plug caused an intermittent power interruption.
• Extension cord or shared circuit Sharing the circuit with a heavy appliance can drop voltage and trigger the alert.
• Control board glitch Rarely the main board logs a false power event and needs a reset.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Press the blinking Confirm button (Measured Fill on many models) to acknowledge the outage and clear PO.
2. If the code stays, unplug the refrigerator for at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
3. Verify the outlet has steady power and the breaker is not tripped.
4. Plug the fridge into its own grounded outlet rather than an extension cord or shared circuit.
5. Set a thermometer in the freezer and let it run 24 hours to confirm it returns near 0F.
6. Inspect food for thaw and refreeze before trusting it.
7. If PO returns with no power loss, have the control board checked.

Parts Often Needed

When to Call a Pro

PO is usually a homeowner fix. Call a technician only if the code returns repeatedly while the home power is steady, since that points to a failing main control board rather than a real outage.