A Midea error code tells you which part of the system stopped the unit. On current Midea splits, EH codes cover indoor faults such as the memory chip and fan, EC codes cover the outdoor unit, PC codes are protection trips, and EL 01 means the indoor and outdoor units have lost communication.
The unit goes quiet, two letters and two digits sit on the display, and the first thing anyone does is search for them. That is sensible, as long as the list you land on is the right one for your unit. Midea has used more than one code format over the years, and plenty of lists online mix them together. For this 2026 update we rebuilt every table below from Midea's own published documents and dropped anything we could not find in them.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where does the code show? | On the indoor unit's digital display, or as a count of flashes on the operation lamp on units without one |
| Communication fault | EL 01, indoor/outdoor unit communication error |
| Refrigerant warning | EL 0C, refrigerant leakage detection |
| Indoor memory fault | EH 00 or EH 0A, indoor unit EEPROM parameter error |
| Power and compressor protection | The PC codes, for example PC 00 (IPM malfunction or IGBT OSCP) and PC 01 (over or under voltage) |
| Not a fault | dF (defrost), CL (filter cleaning reminder), AP (Wi-Fi AP mode), FP (heating while the room is under 8°C) |
Source: Midea split system installation guide, Tables 9 and 10
How Midea shows a fault
Midea's installation guide for its split systems says the indoor unit carries diagnostic code display LEDs, and that some indoor units will also display codes describing a failure in the outdoor unit. Its advice is to check the code on the indoor unit first. On a unit with a digital display you will see the code itself, such as EH 00. On a unit without one, the same fault is shown as a number of flashes on the operation lamp, sometimes with the timer lamp flashing or lit as well.
The guide labels its temperature sensors rather than describing them every time, so it helps to know the names. T1 is the room (ambient space) sensor, T2 the indoor coil, T3 the outdoor coil, T4 the outdoor ambient sensor and TP the discharge temperature sensor. When a code says "T3 is in open circuit or has short circuited", it means that sensor or its wiring has failed, not that the outdoor coil itself is broken.
Current Midea split error codes
These are the indoor unit diagnostic codes from Midea's split system installation guide, with the lamp pattern for units that have no digital display.
| Display | Operation lamp | Timer lamp | What Midea says it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| EH 00 / EH 0A | 1 flash | Off | Indoor unit EEPROM parameter error |
| EL 01 | 2 flashes | Off | Indoor/outdoor unit communication error |
| EH 02 | 3 flashes | Off | Zero-crossing signal detection error |
| EH 03 | 4 flashes | Off | Indoor fan operating outside of the normal range |
| EC 51 | 5 flashes | Off | Outdoor unit EEPROM parameter error |
| EC 52 | 5 flashes | Off | T3 sensor open or short circuit |
| EC 53 | 5 flashes | Off | T4 sensor open or short circuit |
| EC 54 | 5 flashes | Off | TP sensor open or short circuit |
| EC 56 | 5 flashes | Off | T2B sensor open or short circuit |
| EH 60 | 6 flashes | Off | T1 sensor open or short circuit |
| EH 61 | 6 flashes | Off | T2 sensor open or short circuit |
| EC 07 | 12 flashes | Off | Outdoor fan operating outside of the normal range |
| EH 0b | 9 flashes | Off | Indoor PCB/display board communication error |
| EL 0C | 8 flashes | Off | Refrigerant leakage detection |
| PC 00 | 7 flashes | Flashing | IPM malfunction or IGBT OSCP |
| PC 01 | 2 flashes | Flashing | Over voltage or over low voltage protection |
| PC 02 | 3 flashes | Flashing | Compressor or IPM high temperature/pressure protection |
| PC 04 | 5 flashes | Flashing | Inverter compressor drive error |
| PC 08 | 1 flash | Flashing | Current overload protection |
| PC 40 | 6 flashes | Flashing | Communication error between outdoor chip and compressor chip |
| PC 03 | 7 flashes | Flashing | Low pressure protection |
| -- | 1 flash | On | Indoor unit mode conflict |
Source: Midea split system installation guide, Table 9, Indoor Unit Diagnostic Codes
Two codes deserve a second look. EL 0C is the unit telling you it has detected a refrigerant leak, and that is never a reset-and-forget code. PC 01 is about the electricity coming in, so a building with a shaky supply can throw it even when the air conditioner itself is fine. If it keeps coming back, the supply needs checking as much as the unit does.
Display codes that are not faults
Midea lists a second set of codes that report what the unit is doing rather than what has gone wrong. Most of the time the right answer is to leave the unit alone for a few minutes.
| Display | What Midea says it means |
|---|---|
| dF | Defrost |
| CL | Filter cleaning reminder (on display for 15 seconds after powering on), or Active Clean on some models |
| nF | Filter replacement reminder (on display for 15 seconds after powering on) |
| FP | Heating in room temperature under 8°C |
| FC | Forced cooling |
| AP | AP mode of Wi-Fi connection |
| CP | Remote switched off |
Source: Midea split system installation guide, Table 10, Indoor Unit Functional Codes
dF is the one that catches people out in November. In heating mode the outdoor coil can ice over, and the unit pauses heating to clear it. It can look broken. It is not.
Older and commercial Midea units use a different format
If your display shows a single letter and digit, such as E1 or E0, you are looking at an older format, and the meaning depends on the range. Midea's commercial VRF indoor units are a good example. On the one-way cassette VRF indoor unit, Midea's technical manual gives E0 as a mode conflict, not a memory fault, which is why copying a meaning from a list written for a different range goes wrong.
| Code | Midea VRF one-way cassette meaning | Four-LED display |
|---|---|---|
| E0 | Mode conflict | DEF./FAN LED flashes rapidly |
| E1 | Communication error between indoor and outdoor units | TIMER LED flashes rapidly |
| E2 | Indoor ambient temperature sensor error | OPERATION LED flashes rapidly |
| E3 | Indoor heat exchanger mid-point temperature sensor error | OPERATION LED flashes rapidly |
| E4 | Indoor heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor error | OPERATION LED flashes rapidly |
| E6 | Fan error | TIMER LED flashes slowly |
| E7 | EEPROM mismatch | DEF./FAN LED flashes slowly |
| Ed | Outdoor unit error | ALARM LED flashes slowly |
| EE | Water level error | ALARM LED flashes rapidly |
| FE | Indoor unit has not been assigned an address | OPERATION and TIMER LEDs flash |
Source: Midea VRF one-way cassette technical manual, Table 4.1 Error code table (Midea defines rapid as twice a second and slow as once a second)
On a VRF system, Midea also notes that an Ed on an indoor unit is caused by an outdoor unit error, and that the outdoor units display their own code. So the code worth reading is often the one on the outdoor unit, not the cassette.
What you can check, and what you should not touch
Before calling anyone, it is worth making sure the unit has power, the remote is set to the mode you expect, and the filters are clean. Midea builds a filter cleaning reminder (CL) into the display for a reason: a clogged filter starves the unit of air. If the code is one from the "not a fault" table, give the unit time to finish what it is doing. If you have a wet ceiling or a dripping indoor unit alongside a water level code, our guide to air conditioning leaking water covers the usual causes.
Anything past that is engineer work. Opening the unit means mains voltage, and any job on the refrigerant circuit is regulated. The government's F gas guidance is blunt about it: "You must have your own qualifications to work on equipment containing F gas, even if you work for someone else." That rules out a handyman topping up gas after an EL 0C, however confident they sound.
| Code group | Reasonable first check | Needs a qualified engineer |
|---|---|---|
| dF, CL, nF, FP, FC, AP, CP | Wait, clean the filter, check the remote or Wi-Fi setup | Only if the unit never comes out of the mode |
| EL 01 | Confirm both units have power | Yes, for interconnecting cable and PCB checks |
| EH and EC sensor codes | None beyond power and filters | Yes, sensor and board testing |
| EL 0C, PC 02, PC 03 | Switch off and leave it | Yes, refrigerant circuit work under F gas rules |
| PC 00, PC 01, PC 04, PC 08, PC 40 | Note when it happens | Yes, electrical and inverter diagnosis |
Sources: code meanings from the Midea installation guide; qualification rule from GOV.UK, Qualifications to work with F gas
When to call an engineer
If the same code comes back after a power cycle, or it is anything on the refrigerant or protection side, it needs a proper diagnosis with gauges and a multimeter rather than another reset. Be Cool has been looking after air conditioning across London and the South East since 2004, with F-Gas certified engineers, and our air conditioning repair service covers all the major brands, Midea included. Tell us the code and the model number when you call and we will talk you through what happens next.
Frequently asked questions
What does EL 01 mean on a Midea air conditioner?
Midea lists EL 01 as an indoor/outdoor unit communication error. The two units have stopped exchanging signals, which usually points to the connecting cable, the power to the outdoor unit or one of the boards.
What is the EC code on my Midea unit?
EC codes in Midea's current table relate to the outdoor unit: EC 51 is the outdoor EEPROM, EC 52 to EC 56 are outdoor sensor faults and EC 07 is the outdoor fan running outside its normal range.
Is dF an error on a Midea air conditioner?
No. Midea lists dF as defrost. The unit is clearing ice from the outdoor coil in heating mode and will carry on heating once it finishes.
Why does my Midea unit show AP?
AP means the unit is in Wi-Fi AP mode, ready to pair with the app. It is not a fault.
Do these codes apply to every Midea model?
No. The tables above come from Midea's current split system guide and its VRF cassette manual. Codes vary between ranges, so always check the manual for your exact model number.
Read the code, then read the right list
Most Midea codes are specific enough to point an engineer straight at the right part, which saves time on the visit. The trouble only starts when a code is matched against the wrong range's list. Check the model number, use the table that fits it, and leave the refrigerant side to someone qualified to touch it.
For more brands, see our full list of air conditioning and refrigeration error codes, and if your unit is due a service, our air conditioning maintenance visits include a condensate drain check and clearance.
About the author: Ali Elm runs Be Cool Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, a family-run London firm that has been installing, servicing and repairing commercial refrigeration and air conditioning since 2004. His F-Gas certified team has delivered more than 2,000 projects across London and the South East.
Last updated: 2 November 2026
Written by
Ali Elm
Ali is the Head of Operations at Be Cool Refrigeration with over a decade of hands-on experience in HVAC and commercial refrigeration. He oversees every installation, repair, and maintenance project, making sure the work meets the highest standards. Ali holds full F-Gas certification and has worked across residential, commercial, and industrial refrigeration systems throughout London and the South East. When he is not on site, he writes these guides to help business owners and homeowners understand their cooling systems better.