How do I pause or stop ice production using the refrigerator’s controls?

Start by identifying the refrigerator’s exact model, then consult that model’s owner’s manual for the ice-maker shutoff procedure. Controls differ between refrigerators. For example, a specific Whirlpool model described in its manual uses a wire shutoff arm, while certain GE bottom-freezer models with an external dispenser use an icemaker-off button on the dispenser panel. These examples aren’t universal procedures, so don’t assume your refrigerator uses either one. [S1] [S2]

Copy the model number exactly, including any letters or suffixes, and use it to find the matching manual. If you can’t confirm that a button or arm is the ice-maker control, don’t experiment with it.

Not necessarily. On the Whirlpool model covered by its manual, the dispenser lock disables dispenser controls, not the ice maker. [S1] A locked dispenser is therefore not proof that ice production has stopped. Check your exact model’s manual for a control specifically identified as the ice-maker or icemaker shutoff.

A dispenser lock concerns using the dispenser; an ice-maker shutoff concerns making ice. Labels and layouts vary, so don’t infer what a control does from its location alone. If the manual is unclear, note the model number and control label, then ask the manufacturer or a qualified appliance professional to identify the approved setting.

Use the confirmation specified in the matching manual. For the applicable GE models it covers, GE’s guidance says to check the control’s displayed state or other model-specific confirmation. [S2] The cited Whirlpool manual’s arm-style example says to raise the arm to OFF and listen for a click. That check applies to the described model, not every refrigerator. [S1]

Don’t substitute a guessed indicator or physical adjustment for the manufacturer’s stated check. Compare the display or control position with the manual’s wording or illustration. If they still don’t match, record what you see and consult model-specific support rather than forcing the control.

Use this worksheet, filling in the details from your refrigerator and its manual:

1. Model: [exact model number]
2. Manual instruction: [page or section and stated ice-maker shutoff steps]
3. Control identified: [button, switch, arm, or other control named in the manual]
4. Action taken: [the manual’s stated action—no improvised adjustment]
5. Confirmation required: [displayed state, click, or other check specified for this model]
6. Result: [confirmation observed / not observed]
7. If unclear: [manual section or model-specific support to consult]

Keep the dispenser-lock setting separate from the ice-maker setting unless your own manual explains their relationship. The examples show that controls and confirmations vary; they don’t establish the procedure for an unidentified refrigerator or every model from either brand. [S1] [S2]