GE Dryer Stuck on Sensing? Try these FIXES!

Is your GE dryer stuck on Sensing and not showing a time?

You start a load, the display says Sensing, and it just stays there. Sometimes the dryer runs the whole time and sometimes it won't really start.

I understand how confusing that is. Luckily, it's often a sensor or load problem you can fix in a few minutes.

How to Fix a GE Dryer Stuck on Sensing

When a GE dryer is stuck on sensing, clean the moisture sensor bars, adjust the load size, and reset the dryer. Then check that it heats and that the drum is turning.

First, it helps to know what Sensing means. On GE dryers with sensor dry cycles, the dryer spends the first part of the cycle measuring how wet the clothes are, and then it works out how much time is left.

If it can't get a good reading, it may stay on Sensing much longer than normal. The same checks help when sensor dry is not working and the cycle ends too early or too late.

Clean the Moisture Sensor Bars

The sensor bars are two metal strips inside the drum, usually on the front near the lint screen. Wet clothes touch them as they tumble, and that tells the dryer how much moisture is left.

Fabric softener and dryer sheets leave an invisible coating on these bars that can confuse them. Here's how to clean them:

1. Unplug the dryer.
2. Locate the two metal strips near the lint screen.
3. Scrub them gently with a cloth and rubbing alcohol, or a soft pad with a little white vinegar.
4. Wipe them dry and plug the dryer back in.

I would clean them every few month if you use dryer sheets regularly.

Adjust the Load Size

The sensor needs clothes to touch the bars. With a very small load, like one or two items, the clothes may not touch the bars enough, and the dryer struggles to get a reading.

With a very large load, the clothes can't tumbles freely. Try a medium load that fills the drum about halfway. For a single item or two, use a timed dry cycle instead of sensor dry.

Reset Your GE Dryer

Sometimes the control board simply gets confused and hangs on one screen, including Sensing.

Unplug the dryer or switch off its breaker, wait five minutes, then restore power and start a new cycle. If Sensing clears and the time appears normally, it was likely just a one time glitch only.

Check That the Dryer Is Heating

If the dryer isn't heating, the clothes stay wet and the sensor keeps reading them as wet. On some models this looks like the dryer is stuck on Sensing, or the time keeps going up.

Feel the air inside the drum after about five minutes. If it's cold, read our guide about a GE dryer that is not heating. And if your dryer keeps running for hours without finishing, see our guide on a GE dryer that won't stop running.

Make Sure the Drum Is Turning

If the display is stuck but you don't hear the drum tumbling, the motor may not be running or the belt may be broken. Without the drum turning, the clothes never touches the sensor bars.

Open the door and look. If the drum is still, the problem is not the sensor at all. Our guide about a GE dryer that is not spinning will help you check the belt and pulley.

Conclusion

A GE dryer stuck on this screen is usually a dirty sensor or the wrong load size. Try these checks in order:

• Clean the moisture sensor bars
• Adjust the load size
• Reset your GE dryer
• Check that the dryer is heating
• Make sure the drum is turning

If Sensing still won't clear, the control board or the sensor wiring may be at fault, and a technician can test them for you.