Check whether a cycle is actually running
A lit display does not mean the motor has been commanded to turn. Delay-start, a paused programme, a full water container on some models or an unsecured door can keep a cycle from beginning. Read the displayed state and the model’s manual before treating a stationary drum as a broken drive.
Some dryers reverse direction or tumble intermittently during an anti-crease stage after drying. Those pauses should be interpreted using the programme instructions, not the sound of a different dryer. If the machine hums without turning, smells hot or repeatedly attempts to start, stop rather than waiting for it to free itself.
Consider the load without testing the drive
An overloaded drum or a large item caught in the door can interfere with operation. Once the machine is off, cool and safely accessible, look for clothing caught in the door opening. Follow the manufacturer’s load limit; do not remove guards, reach into concealed spaces or rotate internal parts to identify a fault.
A belt, motor, door signal or control problem can produce superficially similar symptoms. Even if the drum feels different, that does not identify the failed part. Do not run the dryer with panels open, bypass its door switch or try to give the drum a push while the machine is powered.
A stationary drum needs assessment rather than a guessed replacement belt; describe it through our dryer repair enquiry service.
Why a stopped drum needs attention
Normal drying depends on controlled movement and airflow. Clothing remaining still while heat is present is not a condition to continue testing. Stop use if the drum no longer turns during the active cycle, and let the appliance cool in accordance with its instructions without leaving a suspected overheating problem unattended.
For the enquiry, describe whether there was a click, hum, scrape or sudden stop, and whether the controls remained lit. State if it is a vented, condenser or heat-pump dryer and whether it is wall-mounted or stacked. Service access may be as important to arranging assessment as the initial symptom.