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Introduction

Use this guide to remove the top panel on a 2022-present style Whirlpool top-load washer so you can access internal components. On this cabinet design, hidden metal latch tabs near the front corners keep the top from lifting free after the rear screws are removed. Model WTW5057LW is shown in the video.

What you need

Step 1 Prepare the washer

Unplug the washer and keep the cord out of the way so it cannot be plugged back in accidentally.
Turn off the water supply valves if you need to move the washer far enough to strain the hoses.
Pull the washer forward so you can comfortably reach the rear of the cabinet.
Wear work gloves to protect your hands from sharp sheet-metal edges.
Gather a 1/4 inch nut driver, a putty knife, and an optional thin flathead screwdriver.

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Step 2 Remove the rear mounting screws

Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the two 1/4 inch screws at the rear of the top panel.
Support the top with your free hand as you loosen the screws so it doesn’t shift suddenly.

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Step 3 Remove the wire harness cover plate

Use a 1/4 inch nut driver to remove the 1/4 inch screw securing the wire harness cover.
Lift off the cover plate after removing its screw.

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Step 4 Try the slide-and-lift method

Open the washer lid.
Pull the whole top panel forward and try to lift it up.
Stop if the top lifts a little but catches and won’t come free, because this cabinet uses hidden metal latch tabs.
Note that many earlier Whirlpool top-loaders (roughly 2009–2021 styles) often release after rear screws and a forward slide, but this newer style may not.

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Step 5 Release the hidden metal latch tabs

Locate the two hidden metal latch tabs near the front edge of the top, one on the left and one on the right, between the top panel and the cabinet frame.
The latch tabs sit near the front corners of the top panel, one on each side of the lid opening.
Slide a putty knife or a very thin flathead screwdriver into the seam at the front corner to reach one latch tab.
Lift the metal latch tab up and out of the way while pulling the top panel forward.
Repeat on the other side until the top panel slides forward and releases.
Do not force a thick tool into the seam, since prying can deform the metal and make future removals harder.

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Step 6 Lift the top panel safely

With the top slid forward, lift the top panel up toward the wall.
Secure the lid top to the lid chassis so it cannot swing into the console and crack the glass.
Watch for the two small fingers at the rear of the chassis that the top panel slots onto during installation.

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Step 7 Free a top panel that still catches

Check for small metal lips on each side of the chassis that can catch the top panel when you pull it forward.
If the top panel was pried previously, the metal lips may be bent and the panel may already be warped.
Push the lid and top assembly toward the rear of the cabinet before inserting a putty knife or thin screwdriver.
Use the tool to lift the top panel over the catching lip while you pull the panel forward.

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Step 8 Reinstall the top panel

Lower the top panel and align it so the rear of the top slots into the two small chassis fingers.
Slide the top panel toward the rear until it sits flush and the front latches re-engage.
Reinstall the wire harness cover plate and its 1/4 inch screw.
Reinstall the two 1/4 inch screws at the rear of the top panel.
Plug the washer back in only after all panels are secured and your hands are clear of pinch points.