How to Silence a Microwave

Co-authored by Gevorg Grigorian and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: October 25, 2024 Fact Checked

Microwaves tend to beep a lot—every time you press a button on the keypad, when the cook cycle is complete, and then every few minutes afterward to remind you if you haven't taken your food out yet. Are all these beeps a bit much for you? Well, today's your lucky day, because we're going to show you how to silence your microwave for good. While it's true that every model has a slightly different process, there's a lot of overlap. Read on to learn the most common ways to put your microwave in mute mode and enjoy some peace and quiet.

1

Use the sound button if possible.

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Some models have a specific keypad button that controls sound. You might not have ever really paid attention to the "extra" buttons on your microwave's keypad before, so this might've escaped your notice. But if there's a button that specifically says "sound" or "mute," simply pressing it will typically get rid of that beeping for you. ^{[1]
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- Breville microwaves have a "mute" button that will silence all sounds. Just open the microwave door, then press the "mute" button to put the microwave in silent mode. ^{[2]
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2

Adjust sound through the settings menu.

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Press the "settings" button to access the sound controls. LG microwaves have a button on the keypad that you can use to adjust various settings, one of which is sound. Once you pull up the sound controls, press 2 to turn the sound off or 1 to turn it back on. ^{[3]
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Research source} This option is typically more common with higher-end microwaves than with less expensive countertop models.
- For Panasonic microwaves, use the "Prog" button to access the beep tone options. After you press the "Prog" button once (the display won't change), press the "0" twice to turn the beeps off, then press "Prog" to save your settings. ^{[4]
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- In addition to the mute button, Breville microwaves also let you adjust the volume of the beeps. You might experiment with turning them down rather than turning them off completely. ^{[5]
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3

Try pressing and holding numbers.

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Many microwaves use 0, 1, or 2 to control sound. Open your microwave door, then press each of those buttons and hold it for about 5 seconds and see what happens. If you press buttons again and there's no sound, success! Usually, some text will flash on the display to let you know you've turned the sound off. Try pressing and holding each of these buttons with the microwave door open.
- Some Insignia models use "8" to turn microwave sound off. There's also a little speaker icon under the number to remind you of this additional function. ^{[6]
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- For Whirlpool microwave/hood combination models, turn off the sounds using "2" after pressing "Clock" to get to pull up the "Sound" submenu. ^{[7]
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Marie T. Smith, Award-Winning Cookbook Author

To permanently mute the annoying beeps on your microwave, carefully consult the user manual or manufacturer's website to see if there is a dedicated Mute or Sound Off button. If no such button exists, try pressing and holding the Start or Stop button for 3-5 seconds to toggle the sound on and off.

4

Press and hold the "Start" or "Cancel" button.

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If your model doesn't use a number, try "Start" or "Cancel." Open the microwave door, then press the button and hold it for 5-10 seconds and see what happens. This works with some Frigidaire models if you press the "Start Time" button and hold it for 6 seconds. The display beeps once, then your microwave is officially in silent mode. ^{[8]
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- With some models, this will produce a sound-related text on the display. After that, you can typically just follow the display prompts to turn the microwave's sound off.

5

Open the door before time runs out.

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If your microwave doesn't have silent mode, beat the beep. If you can get to the microwave and open the door a second or two before the cycle ends, the alarm won't sound. You won't get rid of the little beeps when you enter the time, but it's at least a little quieter.
- This isn't a perfect solution, but it'll work in a pinch. For example, if you're warming up a snack late at night and don't want to wake anyone, this can do the trick.

6

Unplug the microwave for a hard reset.

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Use a hard reset if your microwave is beeping randomly. Either unplug your microwave or turn off the power at the breaker box. Wait at least 60 seconds, then plug it back in (or flip the switch to restore power). This resolves most problems that would cause your microwave to beep randomly. ^{[9]
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- If this doesn't resolve your problem and you can't mute the sounds, you might want to call a technician to come out and look at your microwave. They can diagnose the problem for you.
- It might also be time to replace your microwave. If being able to silence the tones is a big deal for you, make sure the new microwave you buy has a mute function.

7

Check your model's manual.

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Your model's manual can help you with more complicated processes. Open the door of your microwave and get the manufacturer, model number, and year from the sticker on the door frame. Searching online for those specifics along with the word "manual" will bring up the file you need. Then, you can search the document itself for the word "silent," "sound," or "beep" and see what you find.
- Some models have a fairly complicated process that you probably wouldn't just stumble on without the manual. For example, Sub-Zero microwaves have a 4-step process. ^{[10]
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8

Repeat the same process to turn the sound back on.

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Do this if you change your mind about silent mode. Silent mode can be nice, but sometimes you need to be able to hear the microwave's tone. This is usually as simple as pressing the same button sequence you did to turn them off. For example, if you have a Breville microwave, you simply press the "MUTE" button a second time to turn the beeps back on. ^{[11]
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- Some microwaves are different. For example, on some LG models, you press "2" to turn off the sound and "1" to turn it back on. ^{[12]
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Warnings

Never run your microwave completely empty—it might damage the microwave. If you're doing a test cycle to confirm that the beep is off, put at least a cup of water in there. ^{[13]
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How to Silence a Microwave

Steps

Use the sound button if possible.

Adjust sound through the settings menu.

Try pressing and holding numbers.

Press and hold the "Start" or "Cancel" button.

Open the door before time runs out.

Unplug the microwave for a hard reset.

Check your model's manual.

Repeat the same process to turn the sound back on.

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