Bosch Dishwasher Buttons Not Working? Here's Why

Have you gone to choose a cycle on your Bosch dishwasher only for the buttons not to respond? Or perhaps you find they’re responding one moment but not the next?

Whatever the situation, it’s frustrating and annoying when an appliance isn’t working properly, particularly when it’s a high-end brand like Bosch which is known for its reliability. In this guide, we dive into the most common reasons for a Bosch dishwasher to have unresponsive buttons and break down some simple solutions.

This guide applies to most popular Bosch dishwasher models, including:

GM926710

SHE43P25UC/64

SHE45M05UC/50

SHE45M06UC/50

SHE4AP06UC/06

SHE55M12UC/64

SHE55M15UC/64

SHE55M16UC/64

SHE58C05UC/48

SHI4302

SHI4306

SHI6802

Your Dishwasher Needs To Be Reset

With any software issue on any appliance, resetting is a great first step. Sometimes something like a power surge or glitch can cause your dishwasher to freeze, making it become unresponsive. In many cases, resetting clears these errors from your dishwasher and restores normal function. Here’s what to do:

Disconnect your dishwasher from the power source, either by unplugging it or turning off the corresponding circuit breaker.
Leave the dishwasher unplugged or without power for at least five minutes in order to allow it to fully reset.
Reconnect your dishwasher to its power source.
Try to select a new cycle on the touchpad. If the reset worked, you should be able to tell immediately. If the touchpad is still not responding, move on to the next step in this guide.

The Touchpad Needs Cleaning

Touchpads work by sensing electrical signals from your finger when you press the symbol you want. If the touchpad is dirty, greasy, or wet, it hampers its ability to sense electrical signals, which can lead to it being unresponsive. Here’s what to do:

Turn the dishwasher off so you don’t accidentally select a wash cycle while you’re cleaning the touchpad.
Make a gentle cleaning solution composed of warm water with a few drops of mild dish detergent.
Take a soft cloth (like a microfiber towel or similar) and dip it in the water, ensuring any excess water is removed and the cloth is just slightly damp.
Carefully and thoroughly wipe the entire touchpad, ensuring you pay attention to all the buttons and the edges.
Use a dry cloth to get rid of any moisture, ensuring it doesn’t leave behind any lint.
Restore power to the dishwasher and then test to see if the touchpad is now responding as it should.

The Child Lock Is Turned On

Most dishwashers come with a child lock option to prevent small fingers from accidentally starting the dishwasher or changing the settings. If you’ve activated the child lock accidentally, the touchpad won’t respond until the lock has been deactivated. Deactivating the child lock can differ between models of Bosch dishwasher, but this is the most common method to deactivate it:

Locate the child lock button. It will be illustrated by either a padlock or a key icon.
Press your finger on the child lock button for up to five seconds. It will then beep and the lock or key symbol will disappear.
Test to see if the touchpad is now functioning.
For future use, if you want to reactivate the child lock, simply press the same button for five seconds and the lock will reactivate.

The Door Switch Is Faulty

Bosch dishwashers have door switches that make sure the door is closed tightly before a wash cycle starts. If the door switch is faulty or obstructed in some way, your dishwasher may sense that the door is open even when it’s closed and prevent you from choosing or starting a cycle on the touchpad. Here’s what to do:

Open the dishwasher door and locate the door switch mechanism. It’s usually at the top, but you can check your Bosch manual for the exact location for your model.
Check if anything is obstructing the latch, such as spilled food or other debris.
If the latch is dirty or obstructed, clean it thoroughly and then test to see if the touchpad issue is resolved.
If the touchpad is still not functioning, the door switch itself might be faulty. Use a multimeter to test if the switch has continuity. If not, it will need replacing.
Source a replacement door switch, ensuring it’s compatible with your dishwasher.
Disconnect the dishwasher from the power supply and then remove the old faulty latch. Make a note of how the screws and wires are placed as you’ll need to know this when installing the new latch.
Once the new latch is in place, close the door firmly and then restore power. Afterwards, check if the touchpad is now responding.

The Touchpad Needs Replacing

If you’ve tried all the other fixes on this list and the touchpad is still not responding, it’s possible that the touchpad itself may be faulty and needs replacing. This is a relatively complex job, so only attempt this task if you feel confident performing electrical DIY.

If you have any reservations, we recommend getting an experienced technician in to inspect your dishwasher and confirm that the touchpad is indeed the source of the problem before you proceed.

If you do decide to do the repair yourself, here’s what to do:

Before you begin, source a replacement touchpad that’s compatible with your dishwasher model.
Disconnect your dishwasher from its power source.
Consulting your Bosch manual, access the control panel. Remove any screws holding it in place and remove it.
Detach the touchpad from the control panel by disconnecting the ribbon cable.
Connect the new touchpad to the cable, then return the control panel and touchpad to their correct location, securing them with screws.
Once everything is back together, restore power to your dishwasher and test the touchpad to see if it’s now functioning correctly.

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