Distinguish finished from interrupted
Check whether the display says End, Paused or shows an alert. Automatic programmes infer dryness, so a very small load or a mix of heavy towels and lightweight clothes can behave differently from a uniform load. Clothes that remain damp at the seams are a different observation from a completely wet load after an abrupt shutdown.
Record the selected dryness level and whether an air-only or short programme was chosen. Do not use a long timed cycle to override an overheating warning. The fact that another setting keeps running does not establish that the original stop was safe or that a sensor is defective.
Check routine maintenance for the dryer type
On a cool, switched-off dryer, clean the accessible lint filter as the manual directs. A condenser or heat-pump model may also have a user-emptyable water container and model-specific filter care. A tank-full warning on a directly drained appliance is useful information; do not disconnect hidden drainage or assume the tank itself is the cause.
For a vented model, note only visible obstructions at an accessible outlet. Do not climb onto roofs, remove ducting or open the cabinet. A clean filter does not rule out restricted airflow elsewhere. If a warning returns after normal permitted maintenance, the remaining work is an assessment, not more invasive cleaning.
If routine care does not explain the interrupted programme, take your observations to our dryer repair enquiry service.
Describe the timing and thermal clues
A machine that stops immediately has a different pattern from one that stops after warming up. Note the elapsed time from the last attempt, whether the display went dark and whether it could resume only after cooling. Do not deliberately recreate that pattern; heat-related stopping may involve a protective device.
Include the load, programme, warning and maintenance already performed in the enquiry. Tell the repairer about a cramped cupboard, stacked installation or a recently changed vent arrangement. These observations help assess operating conditions as well as appliance components, without promising that a particular part will solve the problem.