If you’re unsure what button to use, check your owner’s manual. You could also search your oven’s model number online to find a copy of the manual.
Holding the lock button down often helps with a partially-closed door or one that otherwise appears stuck. You may need to press the button for up to 30 seconds for the unlock to happen.
Take your time opening the door. Since the motorized lock isn’t instantaneous, you could end up damaging it by forcing it open too soon.
During self-cleaning, the oven heats to a high temperature to incinerate any debris inside of it. The door cannot be opened until the oven cools. You could choose to wait for the self-cleaning cycle to end on its own. The shortest cycle takes 1 to 2 hours, so check the display panel to see how much time is left.
The lock stays engaged for safety reasons. Forcing the oven door open at this point could break the motorized lock, so wait for the lock light on the display to turn off. The amount of time you need to wait varies depending on your oven. A newer oven with a strong heater and plenty of insulation takes longer to cool down than a less efficient model.
The oven’s control system sometimes fails to reset properly, causing the lock to stay engaged. The control detects that the oven is still hot even when it isn’t.
Make sure your home has power and that the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped. Find the breaker box in your kitchen or basement and flip the breaker if it is in the off position. Remember to avoid forcing the door if it won’t open. Try pressing the lock button for as long as 30 seconds. Sometimes that helps complete the reset.
The locking mechanism is very easy to spot behind the oven. It is a small device attached to a metal bar controlling the lock and held in place by a metal plate. It usually has a few small wires attached to it. Refer to your owner’s manual for more information about reaching the lock or removing the locking mechanism. If you’re worried about damaging it or unable to get to it yourself, contact a Kenmore repair technician.
While you can disengage the lock right away, turn the oven off to protect yourself from potential burns.
Test the oven before opening the door. Make sure it no longer feels hot to the touch.
You can tell if you have a mechanical latch by understanding how your oven operates. If it unlocks slowly on its own after a self-cleaning cycle, then it has an electric motor instead of a manual one.
