Advice about restarting a moved fridge ranges from “plug it in immediately” to “wait a full day”. Those statements often refer to different appliances and transport conditions. The useful answer starts with the exact model and how it travelled.
Liebherr’s transport guide distinguishes transport orientation and appliance circumstances. Even within one manufacturer’s information, instructions can be specific to a product or situation. Use the current manual or support advice for your own model rather than transferring a waiting time from another fridge.
Make a handover note before the move
Record the model number, whether the appliance remained upright, any period spent on its side and any impact or visible damage. Ask the mover for the handling details if you did not see the journey. “It was in a van” does not answer the orientation question.
Read the instructions for disconnecting, emptying, securing doors and shelves, and positioning the appliance. Plan enough people and suitable moving equipment; a refrigerator’s weight and awkward shape make improvisation risky.
At the destination, establish a stable position with the required ventilation clearances. Check the cord and plug for damage. If refrigerant-system damage is suspected, follow the manufacturer’s safety directions and obtain qualified advice rather than testing whether the compressor still runs.
Only restart after the prescribed conditions have been met. Then allow the appliance to reach its recommended operating temperature before loading perishable food. A running motor or illuminated display does not prove that the storage compartment is cold enough.
Arrange suitable cold storage for food during the move. Do not rely on the waiting period as permission to leave perishables at room temperature. Follow local food-safety guidance if you are uncertain how long they have been outside safe storage conditions.
Keep the manual link with the moving documents. If the instruction is unclear, send the manufacturer the model and transport history and ask for a specific restart recommendation. That short exchange is more useful than averaging several contradictory waiting times found online.