In the past, Earth experienced snowball events, where its surface became completely covered with ice. Previous studies used general circulation models to investigate the onset and climate of such snowball events. Using the MIROC4m coupled atmosphere-ocean climate model, this study examined the changes in the oceanic circulation during the onset of a modern snowball Earth and elucidated their evolution to steady states under the snowball climate. Abruptly changing the solar constant to 94 % of its present-day value caused the modern Earth climate to turn into a snowball state after 1300 years and initiated rapid increase in sea ice thickness. During onset of the snowball event, extensive sea ice formation and melting of sea ice in the mid-latitudes caused substantial freshening of surface waters and salinity stratification. By contrast, such salinity stratification was absent if the duration necessary for snowball onset was short because of stronger solar constant forcing. After snowball onset, the global sea ice cover reduced air–sea fluxes and caused drastic weakening in the deep ocean circulation. However, as the ocean temperature and salinity fields approached near constant states, the meridional overturning circulation resumed in the steady-state snowball climate. Although the evolution of the oceanic circulation would depend on model setting, particularly regarding the treatment of air–sea fluxes and the continental distribution, our results highlight the importance of the oceanic circulation and associated biogeochemical changes in the climate system feedback and sequence of snowball events.