How to Find Your Appliance Model Number and Manual

Quick answer

Your appliance model number is printed on a rating label (a sticker or metal plate with the model number, serial number and electrical details). It’s usually somewhere you can see with the door or lid open, such as the inside of a door frame, the side wall of a fridge or under a washer lid. Once you have it, you can download the right owner’s manual and look up error codes on the manufacturer’s support site. This guide is for anyone who needs that number before troubleshooting or contacting support.

Safety first

• Look for the label only in places you can see without tools. Never remove panels, back covers or kick plates to search for it.
• Don’t pull out a refrigerator, range or washer by yourself just to check the back. Gas ranges especially should not be moved, because that can strain the gas connection.
• If you need to reach inside an oven or microwave door frame, make sure the appliance is off and cool first.
• If you smell gas, see smoke, or notice sparks while looking, stop. Leave the area if you smell gas and contact your gas utility or 911 from outside.
• Use a flashlight, not a lighter or candle, to see into dark spaces.

Before you begin

Know what you’re looking for. The model number identifies the product line and version, and it’s what manuals and parts are listed by. The serial number identifies your individual unit and is often used for warranty records. Both are usually on the same label, sometimes marked “MOD” and “SER” or “M/N” and “S/N.”

Check your paperwork first. The model number may already be on your purchase receipt, the original box, the energy guide label (the yellow sticker on new appliances), or in a welcome email from the store. Renters can ask the landlord or property manager, who may keep appliance records.

Possible causes

Sometimes the label is hard to find or read. Here’s why, and what you can do.

Things you can check yourself:

• The label is in a spot you haven’t looked yet, like the edge of a dishwasher door or behind a storage drawer.
• It’s covered by grease, dust or frost; a gentle wipe often makes it readable.
• It’s hidden by food, shelves or bins that you can move or lift out.
• You’re reading a different number, such as a parts or production code, instead of the model number.
• The appliance is built in, and the label is on the visible edge of the frame.

Problems that need a technician:

• The label is missing or fully unreadable, and you’d need to remove panels to find any other markings.
• The appliance would have to be moved away from a gas connection, water line or tight built-in space to see the label.

Where to look on each appliance

Locations vary by brand and model, but these spots are common. Use your flashlight and take a clear photo of the label once you find it.

1. Refrigerators and freezers. Check the inside side walls of the fresh food section, near the top, or the ceiling of the compartment. Some are behind a crisper drawer or on the frame by the door hinge. Chest freezers often have the label on the outside back or side. Found it? Write it down. If not, move on to your paperwork.
2. Washing machines. On top-load washers, look under the lid or on the back of the control panel. On front-load washers, check around the door opening or inside the small door that covers the pump filter, if your model has one.
3. Dryers. Open the door and look around the door frame or on the inside of the door. Some are on the back near the vent connection; look only if you can see it without moving the dryer.
4. Dishwashers. Open the door and check the edge of the door or the sides of the tub opening. Still nothing? The label may be on the side of the tub, visible only when the unit is out; use your paperwork instead.
5. Ovens and ranges. With the oven off and cool, open the door and check the frame around the opening. On many ranges, it’s on the frame behind the storage or warming drawer. Pull the drawer out gently, without moving the range itself.
6. Microwaves. Look inside the door frame or on the back or side of countertop models. For over-the-range models, check inside the door frame. Never open the microwave’s cabinet.
7. Room air conditioners. Check the side or top of the cabinet, or behind the front grille if your manual says it lifts off for filter cleaning.

Using the number to find your manual

1. Write down the full number exactly. Include letters, dashes and slashes. Some letters look like numbers (O and 0, I and 1), so compare with your photo. Does it match a product when you search? If not, double-check those look-alike characters.
2. Go to the manufacturer’s support site. Search the model number there for owner’s manuals, installation guides and troubleshooting pages. Downloading manuals from the brand’s own site is the most reliable source.
3. Save a copy. Keep the PDF on your phone or in a shared family folder, along with the photo of the label. Next time you need to look up an error code or a filter part, you’ll have it ready.

With the manual in hand, you can follow guides like refrigerator not cooling or work through an appliance maintenance checklist for your specific model.

When to stop and call a qualified technician

Contact the manufacturer’s support line or a qualified appliance technician if:

• The label is missing or unreadable, and the only way to look further is to remove panels or move a heavy or gas appliance.
• You find the model number but the manual’s steps involve parts you can’t reach without tools.
• An error code keeps returning even after you follow the manual.
• You notice any warning signs such as burning smells, sparks, or water near electrical parts while you’re looking.

When you contact support, have the model number, serial number, purchase date if you know it, and a short description of the problem ready.

FAQ

Is the model number the same as the serial number?

No. The model number describes the product type and version, while the serial number is unique to your unit. Manuals and parts are usually listed by model number. Support and warranty records often ask for both.

What if the rating label has worn off?

Check your receipt, the original box, your store account, or the energy guide sticker if you kept it. Manufacturer support may be able to help if you describe the appliance and send photos. Don’t remove panels to search for other markings.

Can I find the manual without the model number?

Sometimes you can browse by product type on the manufacturer’s site, but similar-looking models can have different instructions. It’s best to confirm the exact model number first so the steps match your appliance.

Why does the manual matter so much?

Settings, error codes, filter locations and maintenance steps vary by brand and model. The owner’s manual tells you exactly what’s safe for an owner to do on your appliance and what should be left to a technician.