How To Replace & Reset GE Refrigerator Water Filters

Want quick, step-by-step instructions for replacing your GE refrigerator water filter and resetting the water filter indicator light?

In this article, we’ve shared exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll find different mini guides for replacing a GE fridge water filter, depending on the filter type and the fridge model you own, as well as instructions on how to reset the filter status light.

1️⃣ How To Replace GE RPWFE Refrigerator Water Filter

If your GE refrigerator is compatible with the RPWFE water filter, first check whether you have a grey or a blue filter holder.

If your fridge has a grey filter holder, follow these instructions to replace the filter:

1. Locate the filter cartridge holder. This should be inside the left refrigerator door.
2. Open the filter door and pull the bottom of the old cartridge so it swings outward.
3. Once it’s swung as far as it’ll go, pull the filter out of the cartridge holder. Have a cloth prepared to catch any water that leaks out of the housing.
4. Remove the new filter from the packaging.
5. Place the filter central with the cartridge holder, making sure that the word “FRONT” is pointing outward.
6. Push the cartridge into the housing until it’s seated and properly aligned, then swing the filter inward until it reaches the correct position.
7. Dispense up to 2 gallons of water from the dispenser to remove trapped air and dislodged filter debris.

If your fridge has a blue filter holder, replace the water filter following these steps:

1. Locate the filter holder. This should be on the top left-hand corner of the food interior.
2. Open the filter door and pull the bottom of the cartridge. This will remove it from the filter clips.
3. Swing the cartridge holder outward until it clicks.
4. Remove the cartridge by twisting it counter-clockwise (a one-quarter turn should do it) and pulling it away from the holder.
5. Catch any leaking water with a clean cloth or towel.
6. Remove the replacement filter from its packaging.
7. Insert the filter into the cartridge holder, with the label “FRONT” facing upwards, then push the cartridge towards the back of the fridge until it’s seated.
8. Following the opposite approach to removing the old filter, twist the new filter a one-quarter turn clockwise. The label “FRONT” should now be facing outward.
9. Swing the cartridge inward until it clicks in place. Check that the RED indicators aren’t visible.
10. Dispense up to 2 gallons of water from the dispenser to remove trapped air and dislodged filter debris.

2️⃣ How To Replace GE MWF or XWF Refrigerator Water Filter

If your GE refrigerator is compatible with the MWF or XWF water filters, follow these instructions to replace the filter:

1. Place a cloth beneath the filter housing to catch any residual water that may leak out of the compartment when you remove the filter.
2. Twist the filter to the left, while pulling it gently downwards from the filter head.
3. Remove the new filter from the packaging and take off the plastic cap.
4. Hold the filter under running water from your faucet to fill the top.
5. Insert the filter into the filter compartment and push it gently upward, so the top of the cartridge is engaged in the filter head. Make sure that the arrow is aligned with the holder. If your filter cartridge doesn’t have an arrow, check that it’s facing forward while you insert the filter.
6. Twist the filter to the right to screw it in place. Stop when the filter stops turning (no need to over-tighten).
7. Press the dispenser pad to remove trapped air and dislodged filter debris. Continue to dispense up to 2 gallons of water.

3️⃣ How To Replace GE GSWF Refrigerator Water Filter

If you have a top-and-bottom freezer refrigerator that uses a horizontal GSWF water filter, here’s how to replace the filter:

1. Locate the filter in your fridge. It should be in the top right corner of the fridge interior.
2. Push the “push” button on the filter housing. This will cause the compartment door to drop down, revealing the filter cartridge.
3. Gently turn the filter counter-clockwise (approximately one-quarter of a turn) until it comes loose. If you can’t get the filter loose, remove the top shelf in your fridge and try again.
4. Remove the replacement water filter from its packaging and put it into the filter head.
5. Turn the filter clockwise (about one-quarter of a turn) until it locks into place.
6. Close the filter cover.
7. Run 2.5 gallons of water through the water dispenser to flush the new filter before its first use.

4️⃣ How To Replace GE MSWF Refrigerator Water Filter

If you have a GE refrigerator that uses a vertical MSWF water filter, here’s how to replace the filter:

1. Locate the filter inside your fridge. It should be suspended vertically from the refrigerator ceiling on the right-hand side.
2. Remove the old filter by turning it counterclockwise to the left until it releases.
3. Remove the replacement water filter from its packaging.
4. Insert the new filter into the housing and turn it clockwise to the right until it locks into place.
5. Run 2.5 gallons of water through the water dispenser to flush the new filter before its first use.

🔂 How To Reset GE Filter Indicator Light

Most GE refrigerators have a water filter indicator light that will turn from green to red or switch on when you need to replace the refrigerator filter. The filter status light is on a 6-month timer and will turn on automatically, ensuring that you replace the filter regularly.

To reset the GE water filter indicator light, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the RESET WATER FILTER button on your fridge’s control panel.
2. Wait for 3 seconds or until the light goes off or turns green, which tells you that the reset process is complete.

Note: Make sure to hold the pad in to properly reset the water filter. But don’t hold the pad in for too long! This may cause the water filter light to switch off, then come back on again.

Some GE bottom freezer refrigerators that use the RPWFE filter use radio frequency identification to monitor the status of the filter. In this case, the filter will automatically reset water filter light when you install the new filter – you can’t manually reset it.

If the Replace Water Filter message won’t go away after you’ve replaced the filter, make sure the filter is installed correctly, and make sure it’s a genuine filter with a chip that can be read by your refrigerator.

📖 Our Top Tips For Replacing GE Refrigerator Water Filters

Below, we’ve shared our top tips for replacing the water filter in your GE fridge.

Use A Filter Bypass Plug If You Remove The Filter

GE fridges don’t automatically bypass the filter compartment if you remove the filter and don’t replace it with a new one. That means water would leak out of the compartment if you try to dispense water or ice with no filter in the slot. To stop this from happening, the fridge system will prevent the dispenser and ice maker from operating.

You’ll need to insert the filter bypass plug if you no longer want to use a filter in your GE refrigerator or if you’re still waiting for the new filter to be delivered.

Find Your Replacement Filter Online

GE sells 5 different filters for refrigerators (at the time of writing this article), all with abstract names that don’t tell you much about which refrigerators they’re intended for.

If you’re not sure what water filter cartridge is compatible with your GE refrigerator, now is not the time to guess – the wrong cartridge size won’t fit in your fridge’s filter slot, so you’ll only have to send it back.

You can use GE’s Find Your Water Filter Guide to quickly find the compatible water filter for your fridge. Just enter the first eight digits of your refrigerator model number and click the search icon to bring up the compatible filter.

You can also check your user manual for this information, or, if your fridge already contains a filter, remove this filter and check the writing on the cartridge to learn more about its intended use.

Check The Water Filter Label

All new filters sold by GE have replacement instructions on the filter, on an insert inside the packaging, or on the packaging itself.

That means you can quickly replace the filter without having to consult instructions online – as long as you know which filter you need to replace!

If you can’t find filter replacement instructions on your new filter or packaging, you might have an old filter that was made before GE started adding these instructions to its products. In that case, you can check out guides like this one to confirm that you’re replacing the filter properly.

Release Trapped Air If Necessary

GE refrigerator water filters can sometimes be difficult to remove due to trapped air inside the filter. You can address this issue by relieving the pressure inside the water system.

To do this, push the water dispenser in. The trapped air should escape from the dispenser and the filter should drop out.

You should also flush the filter by dispensing 1-2 gallons of water to remove trapped air after the filter has been installed. The water may sputter as you do this – that’s normal, and the sputtering should stop when all trapped air is released.

📑 Final Word

You should hopefully now be equipped with the knowledge you need to replace the water filter in your GE fridge, depending on your refrigerator model and the filter it needs.

If you’re still uncertain or the written instructions don’t provide the answers you’re looking for, consult your user manual or reach out to the manufacturer for individual support.