How to Use Delay Start on a Samsung Washing Machine

Samsung's delay start is called "Delay End" and that confuses almost everyone the first time. Instead of telling the machine when to start, you tell it when you want the wash finished. Here's the exact sequence for every Samsung washer from the last 10 years.

Samsung's "Delay End" function explained

Samsung washing machines do not have a button called "Delay Start". They use a feature called Delay End. The difference sounds subtle but changes how you set the timer completely.

Delay Start: you set the number of hours before the machine begins running.

Delay End: you set the time at which you want the wash to be finished.

Samsung's approach is actually more intuitive once you understand it. You want clean clothes by 6am. You tell the machine "end by 6am". The machine works backward using its cycle duration to calculate when to start. You do not need to know how long the cycle takes.

This integrates naturally with the Octopus Agile workflow. Check AgileAlert's live dashboard to see tonight's cheapest window, note when it ends (for example 5am), and set Delay End to 5am. Samsung handles the rest.

How to set Delay End: step by step

The process is the same on virtually all Samsung washing machines made since 2015, including the WW, WF, and AddWash series.

Load the machine as normal. Add detergent to the drawer.
Turn the machine on and select your wash programme using the dial or programme buttons.
Adjust temperature and spin settings if needed.
Press the Delay End button. It is usually labelled "Delay End" or shows a clock icon, typically positioned in the top-right area of the control panel. On some models it is part of a multi-function button labelled "Time Delay" or just a clock symbol.
Press Delay End repeatedly to scroll through the hours. Each press adds one hour. The display shows the end time incrementing (for example: 1h, 2h, 3h... or a specific clock time like 05:00).
Set the end time to match the end of tonight's cheapest window. If the cheap window runs 3am to 5am, set Delay End to 5am.
Press Start/Pause to confirm. The display shows a countdown. The machine waits and starts automatically at the calculated start time.

Do not open the door after pressing Start or the delay will be cancelled on most models. The door locks once the programme begins running.

Calculating the right end time from AgileAlert's window

Open AgileAlert's live price dashboard and look at tomorrow night's prices for your region. Prices are published from approximately 4pm each day.

Find the cheapest consecutive block that covers your cycle time. A standard 40°C cotton cycle on a Samsung takes 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. A quick wash takes 30-60 minutes.

Example calculation:

Tonight's cheapest window: 3am to 5am (prices around 4p/kWh)
Cycle duration: 1h 30m
Best end time: 5am (the machine starts at 3:30am, finishes at 5am)
Set Samsung Delay End to 5:00

At 4p/kWh, a 2kWh 40°C cycle costs 8p. Compare that to running the same machine at 7pm during Agile peak pricing at 38p/kWh, which costs 76p. Over four washes per week, that timing difference saves around £65 per year.

Run time	Agile rate	Cost (2kWh cycle)	Annual cost (4x/week)
Evening peak (6-8pm)	38p/kWh	76p	£158
Overnight (2am-6am)	4p/kWh	8p	£17
Plunge pricing event	0-1p/kWh	0-2p	Under £5

Using the SmartThings app for remote scheduling

Samsung washing machines with Wi-Fi connectivity (most models from 2019 onward) integrate with the SmartThings app (available on iOS and Android).

Once your machine is connected to SmartThings, you can:

Start, pause, or schedule a wash from your phone.
Set Delay End remotely without touching the machine.
Receive a notification when the wash is finished.
Monitor cycle progress from anywhere.

To schedule remotely: open SmartThings, tap your washing machine, tap the schedule or delay icon, and set the end time. This is ideal if you check AgileAlert prices at work in the afternoon and want to pre-schedule your overnight wash before you get home.

To connect a Samsung machine to SmartThings for the first time: press and hold the Smart Control button on the machine (usually labelled with a Wi-Fi or phone icon) for 3 seconds until the Wi-Fi indicator flashes. Open SmartThings, tap the plus icon, select "Device", then follow the on-screen instructions.

What to do if your model has neither button

Very old Samsung machines (pre-2012) may not have Delay End. Check the control panel for any clock or time icon. Check the manual under "Delay End" or "Timer".

If the feature genuinely does not exist on your model, a plug-in mechanical or digital timer (available from hardware shops for around £10) can switch the machine's power on at a set time. Load the machine, set the timer to switch on at the start of the cheap window, and press the machine's Start button before you go to bed. When the power comes on, the machine begins its cycle.

For the full picture of washing machine timing strategies across all brands, see the complete guide to washing machine timing on Octopus Agile.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Samsung call it Delay End instead of Delay Start?

Samsung's design philosophy is that you care about when your clothes are ready, not when the machine starts. Delay End lets you say "I want the wash finished by 6am" and the machine calculates its own start time based on the selected programme's duration. This is more convenient once you are used to it, though it confuses users who expect "Delay Start" language.

Can I set Samsung delay start from my phone?

Yes, on Wi-Fi-enabled Samsung models (most machines from 2019 onward). Download the Samsung SmartThings app, connect your machine to your home Wi-Fi, and you can set Delay End remotely. This is useful for scheduling an overnight wash from the AgileAlert dashboard while you are away from home.

My Samsung does not have a Delay button. Does it have the feature?

Check for a clock icon on the control panel. On some Samsung models the Delay End function is accessed by pressing a multi-function button labelled "Time Delay" or by holding the temperature or spin button for 3 seconds. Consult your model's manual (available on Samsung's website by entering your model number) under "Delay End" or "Delay Start".

What happens if I open the door after setting Delay End?

Opening the door cancels the delay on most Samsung models and resets the machine. Close the door, reselect your programme, and reset the Delay End timer. Once the countdown is running and the cycle begins, the door locks automatically.