Whirlpool Dryer PF Error — Power Failure Restart Fix

What it means

Whirlpool dryer PF is the Power Failure code.
Whirlpool's exact wording: 'A PF (Power Failure) error code indicates that a power failure has interrupted the drying cycle.'
The fix is one of the simplest of any code on the Whirlpool dryer list: a single button press resumes or clears the cycle.

Affected Models

Whirlpool WED4815 / WED4850 / WED5000 series electric dryers
Whirlpool WED7120 / WED8120 / WED9620 Cabrio series
Whirlpool WGD4815 / WGD5000 / WGD7120 series gas dryers
Whirlpool Compact Heat Pump dryers (WHD862, WHD560)
Same F+E codes appear on Maytag, KitchenAid, and Amana dryers (shared platform)

Common Causes

Brief household power outage during a drying cycle
Breaker tripped on the dryer's circuit and was reset
Voltage spike or 'noise' the control read as incorrect voltage
Buttons pressed within 10 seconds of power restoration (which the control interprets as a fault state)
Loose plug or damaged power cord (rare)

How to Fix It

Touch and hold START to resume.

Whirlpool's exact step: 'Touch and hold START to restart the dryer cycle or press POWER to clear the display.'
If you'd rather pick up where the cycle stopped, hold START for about 3 seconds and the cycle resumes from where it paused.
Or press POWER to start fresh.

If you'd rather restart with a new cycle (or if you'd rather just run a Time Dry to finish whatever was left), press POWER.
The display clears and you can pick any cycle from the panel.
Reset the breaker if there was an outage.

Whirlpool: 'If a recent power outage occurred, turn off the household circuit breaker for one minute, then reset it and monitor the dryer for one minute to ensure the error doesn't reappear.'
This is the cleanest way to recover after a confirmed outage.
Wait at least 10 seconds after power restoration.

Whirlpool specifically calls out this gotcha: 'buttons were pressed within 10 seconds of power restoration' is a documented PF cause.
After power comes back on (or after you reset the breaker), wait at least 10 seconds before pressing anything on the dryer panel.

When to Call a Professional

PF clears with a button press.
Schedule service only if PF appears repeatedly with no actual power interruption — that would suggest a control board misreading voltage events.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm getting PF but my power didn't actually go out — what's happening?

Whirlpool's documented cause: 'the control may display this code if there was unexpected noise in the power supply that the control detected as incorrect voltage.'
Common sources: a large appliance (electric oven, HVAC unit) starting on the same circuit, a brief brownout, or a power-strip getting bumped.
If PF appears repeatedly with no obvious cause, an electrician with a power-quality logger can confirm whether your home supply is unstable.