If you press Start and nothing happens, first separate “no power” from “has power but will not run.” That one observation narrows the problem quickly.
See whether the control panel is alive
If the display and lights are dead, check the plug and electrical panel. Full-size electric dryers often use a high-voltage double-pole circuit. Reset a tripped breaker once; if it trips again, stop rather than repeatedly resetting it.
If the panel works, check the door and controls
The door must close far enough to operate its safety switch. Remove clothing caught in the opening and make sure the latch engages. Also look for Control Lock, Child Lock, Delay Start, or another setting that can prevent an immediate start.
Some dryers require a deliberate Start press
On certain models you must hold Start for a second or two rather than tap it. Follow the panel or manual. If the dryer hums but the drum does not begin moving, you have moved beyond a simple setting issue.
Do not bypass a safety switch
A door switch, thermal fuse, motor, belt switch, or control can prevent operation. Diagnosing those parts requires cabinet access and electrical testing; gas dryers add fuel-system hazards. Do not defeat an interlock just to see whether the machine will run.
Stop using it when the symptoms are electrical
Unplug the dryer and arrange service if you smell burning insulation, see heat damage at the receptacle, hear electrical arcing, find a damaged cord, or the breaker trips again. If the controls look normal but the machine simply will not start, tell the technician exactly what the panel does and whether you hear a click or hum.
A useful order is power, door, controls, then motor response. Once those external checks are exhausted, internal diagnosis is the next level.
Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — Clothes Dryer Safety — Dryer fire prevention, lint removal, venting, and safe operation.