How To Silence A Microwave? 3 DIY Ways [That’s Works!]

Reheating some leftovers in the microwaves or prepping a microwavable meal is appealing when getting home late at night. But what if you don’t want to wake up your family or roommates? Can you put your microwave on silent mode?

It depends.

To mute a microwave with silent mode, simply press the mute button. If your microwave doesn’t have a specific button, try pressing the digit number 8 on the control panel for at least three seconds. This is how you can silence a Toshiba, COMFEE’, GE, or Samsung microwave.

If the methods above didn’t work, check the user manual for your specific microwave model. Some brands, such as Panasonic, don’t include silent modes in their microwaves at all.

Why Do Microwaves Create Noise?

The beeping sound at the end of a cooking cycle can be all so annoying when cooking in a microwave. However, that sound can be the least of your worries if the unit is loud otherwise.

Microwaves are loud machines due to the technologies used.

In fact, a microwave oven uses a magnetron to generate microwaves and cook food. Magnetrons tend to overheat quickly, especially if too much energy is reflected back into the device – this can happen if you’re using improper cookware.

Most brands equip their microwave ovens with cooling fans to prevent overheating and risk of starting a fire.

These fans blow cool air onto the internal components and can be as loud as noisy computer coolers.

Other internal components, such as capacitors, transformers, and diodes, can also make white noises while running and become even louder when they are faulty.

Typically, abnormal noise in a silent microwave may come from the following parts:

Cooling Fan

The cooling fan is one of the most important parts of a microwave oven; its role is that of preventing the internal components from overheating.

However, dust and grime can accumulate over time. The fan pulls in dust particles in the air, and grease can also build up. Grime can block the fan from turning properly, jamming it. The fan can also become dislodged.

Another common problem is the fan motor, which can wear out with time. A buzzing noise from the rear of the unit is usually a fan motor problem sign.

Magnetron

The high-frequency electromagnetic waves needed to cook your food are generated by an internal component called a magnetron.

Depending on the microwave type, the magnetron switches on and off constantly, and it can become faulty.

A high-pitched noise is generally an indicator of a faulty magnetron. Typically, a burnt smell accompanies this noise.

Capacitor

Buzzing noise in the microwave, especially when running at low wattage, could also be a sign of a faulty capacitor.

This internal component aids the magnetron and makes sure your food reaches the right temperature.

Many people don’t know that the capacitor can store high amounts of electricity even when the oven is unplugged, and it can electrocute you. If you suspect the capacitor, contact a service center.

Transformer

A transformer’s role is simple. This device transforms the electricity received from the grid and adjusts its power to ensure proper operation.

Like everything else, a faulty transformer can generate unusual and loud noises.

Diode

Part of the high-voltage circuit alongside the magnetron and capacitor, the diode ensures that your food is cooked properly.

The broken part typically generates a humming noise.

Turntable Motor

Loud clicking or grinding sounds coming from the microwave could be concerning, but they are typically generated by a faulty turntable motor.

This issue is easy to identify; simply look at the turntable when the oven is running. If it turns smoothly, the problem could be its motor or another faulty component.

If the turntable doesn’t turn as it should, the most likely problem is a faulty turntable motor.

Stirrer Motor

Another component microwave ovens have is a stirrer. This part is responsible for distributing the microwaves uniformly inside the cavity.

Like the turntable motor, a faulty stirrer motor generally produces clicking or grinding sounds.

Does It Make Sense to Silence A Microwave?

Silencing a microwave makes sense, but it depends on what you understand by silencing it.

If you want to turn off the acoustic alarm that signals the end of a cooking cycle or the sound of the keyboard, you might be able to do this if your microwave oven has silence mode.

Read Next: Why My Microwave Making loud Popping Sound and How Do I Fix It??

Not all microwaves have a specific button. However, some brands still allow you to enable the silent mode by pressing a specific combination of keys.

To find out how to mute a microwave regardless of the brand, read the specific user manual for the model.

You should keep in mind that some microwaves don’t have a silent mode at all. Panasonic is one of the brands that doesn’t include silent modes in most of its microwaves due to safety concerns.

However, on selected models, Panasonic does include a silent mode that turns off the keyboard sound as well as the final beeping. To enable this mode, you must press the Start button three times, then the Timer/Clock button once.

The sound will be disabled as long as the microwave is plugged in. If you unplug the unit or, in the event of a blackout, you’ll have to enable the silent mode again.

Things To Do Before Silencing the Microwave

Silencing a microwave in units that allow it isn’t hard. However, there are a few things to do before silencing it.

Check how the Microwave is Beeping

The unit might be beeping in a microwave with silent mode because the sound is turned on. Even if you turned off the sound, consider that someone in your household might have accidentally turned the sound back on.

It could also be that the sound turned back on due to a blackout or accidental unplugging since most models don’t have a memory function that saves the settings in these events.

If you turned off the sound, but the microwave is still beeping, check the setting again and make sure the sound is truly turned off.

Open and Close the Microwave Door

If you don’t know how to check the settings, open and close the microwave door.

When the beeping is the normal sound at the end of a cycle, it will be disabled as soon as you open the door.

Close the door and restart a cycle. If you hear the sound again while the microwave is running, you must troubleshoot the unit and find the faulty component.

Check to See If your Microwave is Getting Enough Power

A common mistake with microwave ovens is plugging them into a low-voltage or overloaded outlet.

If the unit doesn’t get sufficient power, the motor and other internal parts may struggle to function. They could become louder, hum, or buzz even if they are not broken yet.

Continuing to use the microwave in an overloaded outlet, however, might lead to malfunctions and breakages.

3 Quick Hacks to Silence Your Microwave

Silencing a microwave can be done in different ways, depending on the model. Generally speaking, here’s how to put your microwave on silent mode.

Engaging the silent mode

Engaging the microwave in silent mode can be done in a number of ways, depending on your microwave brand and model.

1. Check the keypad and look for a [Sound On/Off] or [Mute] button. If there is none, check the microwave frame behind the door. Some manufacturers place their mute buttons here. If you find a mute button, press it to enable or disable the silent mode.
2. Press the [8] button for three seconds if there is no specific mute button. This should enable the silent mode. Alternatively, press the [ON/OFF] button or [START] button for three seconds. Some manufacturers allow you to enable silent mode with these keys.
3. Read the user manual for your specific microwave model. Brands like Panasonic include ways to silence some of their microwaves, but you’ll have to press a specific key combination to do that. If that’s possible, your user manual will show you the steps to follow.

How to Check if a Microwave Has Silent Mode?

If your microwave oven doesn’t have a specific silent mode, the easiest way to check whether you can silence your unit is by reading the user manual.

Refreshing the Sensors

Some microwaves have sensors that could jeopardize proper operation if they are dirty. Typically, cleaning the cavity properly should fix the issue.

Hard Resetting the Microwave

If the above doesn’t work, you can unplug the unit and wait for 30 seconds. This will do a hard reset of the software and allow you to set everything again from scratch.

Other technical solutions you can follow to silence your microwave

Everything above explains how to silence your microwave’s keypad and final beeping. If the unit is loud when running, try the following.

• Replace the motor drive
• Clean or replace the drive coupler
• Replace the magnetron
• Replace the high-voltage diode
• Repair the cooling fan

Working on a microwave is only recommended if you are a trained technician. Improper repair of the unit could lead to fires starting during operation or the microwave exploding. You should never fix the microwave oven yourself. Instead, call the service center to have it checked and fixed by a technician.

How to Silence Your Microwave Permanently?

Unfortunately, there is no way to silence your microwave permanently.

Beeping sounds don’t only alert you that cooking is over, but many brands see them as a safety feature – some microwaves can start inadvertently due to age. If food is still in the oven when this happens, it could set the microwave – and possibly your entire kitchen – on fire.

The internal components of a microwave oven are also noisy, and there is nothing you can do to make them more silent.

If you don’t like loud noises, invest in modern microwaves that could be slightly less loud than older models. However, they still aren’t completely silent.

Microwave Silent Mode Related FAQs

Can I turn off the microwave beep?

You can turn off the beep on the microwave as long as your model has a mute or silent mode. Check your user manual or contact the service center to see if this is possible for your specific model.

Keep in mind that things can vary from model to model for the same brand, and not all units are equipped with silent modes.

What microwaves have a silent mode?

Most brands include silent modes in selected models. Examples include Toshiba, GE Microwave, Sharp, COMFEE’, and even Panasonic.

How to silence a microwave without a sound button?

You can press Start or the number 8 button for three seconds and see if it works. Otherwise, check your user manual for specific instructions. If there are none, you can’t turn off the sound.

Is there any way to check if the microwave has silence?

Yes. You can see if there is a mute or sound-off button on the keypad or on the internal frame behind the door. Otherwise, follow the steps above to check if the microwave silence mode is present.

To End

Silencing a microwave can be as easy as pressing a button or as complicated as pressing a specific sequence on your keypad. Some microwaves can’t be silenced at all.

If your unit is loud and you want to make it quieter, check if everything is functioning correctly. More often, you’ll have to call the help center and have your unit serviced.