White Knight E01 tumble dryer: what it means & what to check

What E01 actually means

The machine can't confirm the door is shut and locked, so it won't start or it has halted mid-cycle.

Before the drum turns, the control board waits for the door lock to report that it has engaged. If that confirmation doesn't arrive — or it disappears partway through a programme, which the manufacturer lists as the same code — the machine stops and shows E01. So you'll either see it the moment you press start, or several minutes into a cycle with the load still damp.

What E01 looks like on a White Knight tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a White Knight tumble dryer, E01 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
Very noisy on spin
Banging or knocking
Moving across the floor

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

Door not pushed fully home, or laundry caught in the seal holding it a fraction open
Worn or broken door catch so the latch no longer bites
Failed door interlock, which stops confirming it is locked even when the door feels shut
Vibration during the cycle briefly breaking the lock signal
Damaged or loose wiring to the interlock, or a fault on the control board

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Open the door and close it again firmly, listening for the catch to click.
Check nothing is trapped in the seal or hanging over the door edge — a towel corner is enough to do it.
Look at the catch and the striker plate for obvious wear, cracks or play; if the door feels loose when shut, that's your answer.
Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and retry — clears a one-off glitch.
Make sure the machine is sitting level and not rocking, as movement can unsettle the lock mid-cycle.

Which White Knight models show E01

E01 means the same thing on all 4 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

WK-AT75WDW · WK-AT7WM148W · WK-AT8CW · WK-ATBIWM814W

Common questions about White Knight E01

What does E01 mean on a White Knight tumble dryer?

The machine can't confirm the door is shut and locked, so it won't start or it has halted mid-cycle. Before the drum turns, the control board waits for the door lock to report that it has engaged. If that confirmation doesn't arrive — or it disappears partway through a programme, which the manufacturer lists as the same code — the machine stops and shows E01. So you'll either see it the moment you press start, or several minutes into a cycle with the load still damp.

Can I fix White Knight E01 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Open the door and close it again firmly, listening for the catch to click.
Check nothing is trapped in the seal or hanging over the door edge — a towel corner is enough to do it.
Look at the catch and the striker plate for obvious wear, cracks or play; if the door feels loose when shut, that's your answer.
Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and retry — clears a one-off glitch.
Make sure the machine is sitting level and not rocking, as movement can unsettle the lock mid-cycle.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair White Knight E01?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E01?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most tumble dryer faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other White Knight tumble dryer codes

All White Knight fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

tumble dryer drum not turning

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

White Knight E01 error — tumble dryer