Written by
Marcus Delaney Appliance Care EditorPublished October 26, 2026
VERIFIED
Error codeF1
ApplianceMicrowave
Reading F1
The thermal sensor is open, and GE ties this to excessive heat inside the microwave cavity. The code is listed for every GE microwave oven and for the 120V Advantium.
Which response applies
Microwave ovens: GE says a trained service technician should diagnose and correct a displayed fault code.
120V Advantium: GE gives a sequence to try beforehand.
Press Clear/Off or Cancel.
Enter the cooking program once more.
Should F1 reappear, take power off the oven for a minute or two.
Put power back and set the cooking function again.
Other thermal sensor code
F2 describes the same sensor as shorted instead of open. F3 is a touch pad panel fault.
Microwave service in San Francisco
San Francisco and Bay Area owners can phone (415) 729-2045 about an F1. Say whether the appliance is a standard microwave or an Advantium, and give the model number. The microwave repair page has more on what we handle.
Model compatibility: GE reuses codes across series and model years, so F1 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
F1 indicates an open thermal sensor caused by excessive heat in the microwave cavity.
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your GE appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
You submit a request with your appliance model and symptom, we confirm an appointment window, and a technician performs an on-site diagnosis. You then receive a clear estimate and decide whether to proceed before any repair begins.
Yes. We provide an upfront estimate after diagnosis. No parts are ordered or installed until you approve the work, so there are no surprise charges.
Replacement parts are selected for the exact model and confirmed with you before ordering or installation.
Service areas are listed on the Locations page. Contact us with your ZIP code to confirm current coverage for your address.
Ready to get your GE appliance working again?
Book a repair online or call us — clear estimates and approval before any repair work begins.
