Can an ice maker be turned off?

Yes, any ice maker can be turned off. A countertop or portable machine switches off at its own power button or simply by unplugging it, while a built in or refrigerator ice maker is turned off by an on off switch, a button, or by raising a wire lever that stops production. There is always a way to stop an ice maker making ice, and turning it off when you do not need ice is worth doing, since it saves energy and, by letting the machine be emptied and dried, helps keep it clean. The countertop models in our best countertop ice makers guide are the simplest of all to switch off, with a button and a plug.

Turning off a countertop ice maker

A countertop or portable ice maker is the easiest to turn off: press its power button to stop it, and unplug it from the wall if you want it fully off and are not using it for a while. Because these machines are freestanding and plug in, there is no installation to deal with, so switching one off is no different from turning off any small appliance. When turning it off for more than a short break, it is best to also empty the water from the reservoir and bin and let it dry, which both finishes the job of stopping it and prevents the standing water that leads to mold and scale.

Turning off a built in or fridge ice maker

Built in and refrigerator ice makers also have a way to stop them, though it varies by model. Many have an on off switch or button on the ice maker unit or in the fridge’s controls, and a common mechanical method is a wire or lever arm that you lift to the off position, which is the same arm the ice normally raises when the bin is full, so raising it manually tells the machine to stop. Some have a digital setting to disable ice production. Checking the appliance manual shows the exact method, but the point is that these too can be switched off when you do not want ice.

Why turn it off

There are good reasons to turn an ice maker off when it is not needed. It saves energy, since a machine left running keeps cycling to replace melting ice, especially on countertop models that do not keep the ice frozen. It helps hygiene, because turning the machine off, emptying it, and letting it dry breaks the damp conditions where mold and slime grow. It also makes sense when you are going away, so the machine is not running unattended, or when you simply will not need ice for a stretch. Turning it off is a normal part of using an ice maker, not something that harms it.

When to leave it on

There are also times to leave it running, chiefly when you want a steady supply of ice, such as during entertaining or a busy spell, where the convenience of ice on demand outweighs the small energy cost and the ice is actually being used. For everyday life, though, where you want ice now and then rather than constantly, switching the machine on to make a batch and off afterward is more efficient and keeps it cleaner. So the choice to turn it off is about matching the machine to your need: on when you are using ice steadily, off when you are not.

Turning it back on

Turning an ice maker back on is straightforward. For a countertop machine, add fresh water to the reservoir, plug it in, and switch it on, and it will start a cycle, though the first batch after a period off is best discarded if the machine has sat dry or unused for a while, to be sure the ice is fresh. For a built in or fridge unit, flip the switch back or lower the lever arm, and it resumes making ice, with the first batch again often best thrown away after a long pause. Running fresh water through after a break ensures the ice you keep is clean.

The short answer

So yes, any ice maker can be turned off: a countertop machine at its power button or by unplugging, and a built in or refrigerator unit by its on off switch or by raising the lever arm. Turning it off when you do not need ice saves energy and, with the machine emptied and dried, helps prevent mold and scale, so it is a sensible habit rather than anything harmful. Leave it on when you want a steady supply during heavy use, and off otherwise, and discard the first batch after a long pause so the ice you keep is fresh.