Information Guide ·13 min read

Refrigerator Water Filter Bypass Plug: Which One Fits Your Fridge, and When You Need One

By Thomas Kwayne · October 26, 2026 · Fact-checked against manufacturer documentation and authoritative trade sources.

A refrigerator water filter housing with the cartridge removed and a bypass plug beside it, illustrating a refrigerator water filter bypass plug

You took the filter out because the house already has filtration, or the cartridge keeps running out, and now the dispenser is dry or the filter light will not quit. The parts seller asks one question you cannot answer yet: which filter does the fridge take? A refrigerator water filter bypass plug is sold by maker and by filter style, so the filter in your fridge now is the start of the lookup, and the full refrigerator model is the end of it.

The short version: some fridges need a plug to dispense, some need none, and no source supports picking one by how it looks. This page walks from the filter label to the maker’s plug, shows what each maker’s own pages list, and says plainly where the evidence is thin.

Identify the Filter, Then Confirm the Full Model

The reliable order is existing filter number, then the documented bypass, then confirmation against the complete refrigerator model. A matching cartridge shape or a shared brand does not establish compatibility, according to the maker pages the research draws on (for example GE’s model-specific guidance and Bosch’s compatibility page).

Step 1: read the cartridge label. Samsung identifies labels such as HAF-CIN, HAF-QIN and HAF-CU1 (Samsung identification), and LG also directs owners to the existing filter label (LG identification). Copy the complete identifier.

Step 2: record the refrigerator model separately. Samsung says the model number is on a label inside the unit (Samsung identification), and Bosch uses the E-Nr. on the rating plate (Bosch’s compatibility page). The research found no evidence that the appliance label routinely prints the replacement filter number, so do not expect it to.

Step 3: if the filter is missing, use the manual or a model-based finder. LG tells owners to use the refrigerator model number to find the correct replacement (LG identification), and Sears offers a model-number search for Kenmore filters (Sears Kenmore finder). Kenmore needs particular care because its catalog includes more than one bypass design.

Step 4: resolve conflicts before you order. If the cartridge in the fridge disagrees with the original model lookup, ask whether a replacement filter head was fitted. Bosch names this complication on its compatibility page.

Installation appearance is only a secondary check. GE documents different procedures for its RPWFE blue and grey holders (GE holder instructions), so push-in, twist-in or base-grille styling cannot pick a plug for you.

Refrigerator Water Filter Bypass Plug: The Chart

Each row below pairs a filter or documented configuration with the bypass the cited page states. Where the sources do not say whether the plug carries an RFID chip, the table says “not found”, which is not the same as “no RFID”.

Maker	Filter or configuration	Bypass plug	RFID	Source
GE	XWFE	WR17X33825	Yes, per GE	GE XWFE support
GE	RPWFE	WR01X29059 (replaces WR17X23645)	See note below	GE parts diagram, GYE22KMHGES
GE	MWF	WR17X22070; confirm the refrigerator model	Not found	GE MWF bypass
LG	LT700P on SRSXB2622S	ABN73019101	Not found	LG accessory guide, p. 5
LG	LT500P on LRTLS2403S	ABN75058701	Not found	LG accessory guide, p. 6
Samsung	RF29BB8600** and other models on Samsung’s list	HAF-DIN/EXP	Not found	Samsung HAF-DIN specification sheet
Samsung	DA29-00003G (older pairing)	DA67-02270A	Not found	Lowe’s parts listing
Whirlpool group	everydrop Filter 4 / EDR4RXD1	W11395888 (replaces WP12664501)	Not found	Whirlpool parts: W11395888
Frigidaire	PureSource 2 / WF2CB	242227702	Not found	Frigidaire 2017 catalog, p. 37
Electrolux	PureAdvantage / EWF01	242227701	Not found	Frigidaire Canada support
Frigidaire	PureSource Ultra / ULTRAWF	242294402 (see WF3CB note)	Not found	Frigidaire 242294402
Frigidaire	PurePour PWF-1 / FPPWFU01	A15601102	Not found	Frigidaire A15601102
Frigidaire	PurePour PWF-2 / FPPWFU02	A15601108 (a separate part from PWF-1)	Not found	Frigidaire A15601108
Bosch	UltraClarityPro BORPLFTR50/55 (11032531) on B36CL80ENS/06	10013297; confirm the full E-Nr.	Not found	Bosch model accessories

Found your filter in a row above? Confirm the exact plug against the maker's page and your full refrigerator model before you buy, because a matching cartridge shape does not decide it:

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Four points the table cannot show:

LG’s pairings are model-specific. LG’s accessory guide supports the LT700P pairing on that exact refrigerator. It does not establish fit across every LT700P installation.
Samsung’s pairing runs through the refrigerator model. Samsung’s HAF-DIN/EXP specification sheet lists compatible refrigerator models, such as RF29BB8600**, and names no filter numbers (Samsung HAF-DIN specification sheet). Keep the older DA29-00003G pairing separate.
Sears lists W11395888 across brands. Sears lists applications across Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Amana, Jenn-Air, Kenmore and Kenmore Elite (Sears applications). Treat that as model-by-model, not a brand-wide rule.
WF3CB is unsettled. Frigidaire’s 242294402 page names both ULTRAWF and WF3CB, and a separate 242294502 page names WF3CB specifically (Frigidaire 242294502). Neither page proves the two parts are interchangeable or that one replaces the other. If your fridge takes WF3CB, check both numbers against your model.

GE: where the RFID chip matters

For the XWFE system, GE’s own support page identifies WR17X33825 as the bypass and states that it has RFID. GE says that bypass lacks leak-detect capability. GE’s training bulletin describes an older bypass that can fit mechanically without enabling flow (GE training bulletin), so a plug that seats is not proof that it works.

According to GE’s parts diagram for model GSE25GSHPCSS, an older XWF system lists original bypass WR17X30044, with XWFE and WR17X33825 as the substitutes (GE diagram). That is a single-source finding for confirmed models. Do not read it backwards, and do not put an old bypass in a refrigerator that needs RFID.

An unbranded marketplace listing words WR17X33825 as lacking RFID. A marketplace listing is not evidence about genuine GE hardware, so that claim is left out here. For RPWFE, DiscountFilters describes WR01X29059 as containing a communicating microchip (DiscountFilters listing). The research did not find the chip status of the earlier WR17X13068.

Other GE chains appear in a single source each: RPWF / WR17X13068 to WR01X29059 (GE parts diagram, PFE29PSDASS), GSWF / WR02X11613 to WR17X22073 (GE part WR02X11613), and MSWF to WR17X22064 (GE MSWF bypass). They are separate replacement chains, not interchangeable options.

Which Fridges Need No Plug

Whether a plug fits and whether one is needed are separate questions. Samsung’s HAF-DIN/EXP specification sheet lists RF28T5101 (not to be confused with RF28T5F01, a separate entry) among its compatible models, next to RF28T5001 and RF28T5021 (Samsung HAF-DIN specification sheet). Separately, an AppliancePartsPros answer says the RF28T5101SR/AA “does not require a bypass plug” (AppliancePartsPros answers). So an accessory existing for a model does not prove an empty housing stops the fridge.

The firm limits run the other way. GE requires the appropriate filter or bypass for its documented internal-filter systems, and XWFE additionally needs electronic recognition. Whirlpool’s bypass guidance specifically excepts EDR4RXD1, which needs a cap or a filter (Whirlpool filters page). Neither brand supports “just remove the filter.”

Some automatic-bypass examples come from one source each, so read them as narrow:

Filter or model	What the source says
everydrop Filter 1 (EDR1RXD1) / WRF560SEHZ	AppliancePartsPros, answering a WRF560SEHZ owner: “There is no bypass plug needed when removing the filter from the unit” (answer)
everydrop Filter 2 (EDR2RXD1) / WRF767SDHZ04	AppliancePartsPros says it dispenses without a bypass cartridge, and the reminder can stay lit (answer)
everydrop Filter 3 (EDR3RXD1) / Kenmore 106.59592933	AppliancePartsPros identifies automatic bypass after removal (answer)
LG LT1000P on LRMVC2306S, LRFXS2503S, LRDCS2603S	LG’s accessory guide identifies built-in bypass for these examples
Samsung RF260BEAESR/AA and RF28T5101SR/AA	AppliancePartsPros says no cap is required; the answers do not set a rule for the whole filter family (answers)

An older Whirlpool manual describes a third arrangement: remove the cartridge, detach its reusable cap, and reinstall that cap in the base grille for unfiltered operation (Whirlpool manual). No purchased plug, but the original cap is part of the procedure.

LG’s guidance conflicts with itself. LG’s general support page says units from 2017 onward have a built-in bypass (LG support page), yet its model-specific guide assigns a separate bypass to the LRTLS2403S. Go by the documentation for your model, not the year. Samsung Australia also warns against operating without a cartridge, but limits that to Australian products (Samsung Australia). It does not settle the question for U.S. models.

Getting the Plug: Free Request or Retail

GE publishes a no-charge route when a bypass was not supplied or was misplaced: call 1-800-GECARES, or 1-800-561-3344 in Canada (GE free-plug policy). The research found no one-year eligibility restriction in the published policy. It found no equivalent published free-on-request policy for LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, Frigidaire/Electrolux or Bosch. That means “policy not found”, not “assistance unavailable”. Samsung and Bosch publish bypass accessories for sale.

If you buy, one October 14, 2026 price check recorded these U.S. item-price ranges for OEM parts, excluding shipping and tax:

OEM part	Observed range	Endpoints
GE WR17X33825	$35.42 to $46.04	GE, Home Depot
GE WR01X29059	$36.98 to $57.10	GE, Lowe’s
Whirlpool W11395888	$29.63 to $48.46	Lowe’s, AppliancePartsPros
Frigidaire 242294402	$59.99 to $79.95	Frigidaire, Home Depot

Prices move, so treat these as a snapshot. GE marks the older WR17X22064 as no longer manufactured, so a displayed price for it is not a guarantee of stock.

One marketplace listing advertises a Parts Master replacement for WR01X29059 with an integrated RFID chip (Parts Master listing). Its actual manufacturer was not established and no independent testing was found, so that compatibility is the listing’s claim, not an endorsement.

When a Plug Is Not the Answer, and Prep Before You Swap

A bypass enables the water path. It does not give you the filter’s treatment. GE describes RPWFE bypass operation as “Not Filtering” or “Unfiltered Water” (GE bypass status). One retailer’s copy promises “filtered water and ice” for WR01X29059, which contradicts GE, and GE is the stronger authority. Bosch’s SCRNFLTR10 is an exception: Bosch describes it as screening particles while leaving chlorine and other chemicals untreated (Bosch SCRNFLTR10).

If you removed the filter because of upstream treatment, ask whether that system actually feeds the refrigerator and what it is certified to reduce. NSF explains that whole-house and point-of-use treatment differ and that contaminant reductions vary (NSF home water treatment).

Dispenser stopped? GE says an expired RPWFE filter does not itself shut off water, so do not diagnose a dry dispenser from the reminder light alone (GE RPWFE troubleshooting). Whirlpool’s troubleshooting manual says improved flow after bypassing can implicate the filter, through clogging or incorrect installation (Whirlpool manual). Persistently poor flow does not prove the plug is wrong. One iFixit owner with a Kenmore Elite 78333801 reported restoring water and ice by replacing the water-tank and filter-head assembly (iFixit thread). That is one owner’s outcome, not a diagnosis for your fridge.

On reminders and warranty, GE says the RPWFE reminder resets automatically when a new recognized filter or bypass goes in. The research found no manufacturer statement that correct use of a specified bypass cancels a warranty, and none guaranteeing it. Check your own warranty terms.

Prep. Procedures differ by maker, and no single sequence is correct. GE permits the described changes with the supply on. LG recommends closing the supply, dispensing the remaining water and positioning a towel or cup, while acknowledging that some models allow replacement without shutoff (LG preparation). Samsung Canada tells HAF-CIN and HAF-QIN owners to close the supply and dispense until flow stops (Samsung Canada). Opinions on shutoff vary, so follow the instructions for your exact model.

GE says in-line accessory filters attach to the water supply line to the refrigerator (GE inline filters). Because an inline filter sits on that supply line, outside the fridge’s internal filter slot, a plug in the slot does not take it out of the water path.

If You Still Cannot Tell Which Plug

When the label is gone and the model lookup returns more than one bypass, stop and gather three things: the full refrigerator model, any text left on the cartridge or housing, and a photo of the housing with the filter out. Bring them to the maker’s parts line or a parts seller who asks for the model, not just the brand.

Do not choose by look. No source we found supports picking a plug solely from “push-in”, “twist-in” or “base-grille” appearance. If the choice is between a maker’s page and a forum fix, take the maker’s page: an accepted Samsung Community answer describes modifying the filter block and tubing, and acceptance does not make that a manufacturer-approved procedure.

What to Do Next

Write down the filter label and the full refrigerator model, then match both to your maker’s page before you order. For the wider picture on fixing what is behind your walls and under your sinks, start at the Plumbing By The Book home page.

Do all refrigerators need a bypass plug when the filter is removed?

No. GE says you must use the bypass plug designed for your model when a water filter is not installed (GE guidance), and Whirlpool says the Filter 4 (EDR4RXD1) needs a cap or filter (Whirlpool filters page). Retailer answers on AppliancePartsPros say some models need no plug, including a WRF560SEHZ on everydrop Filter 1, a Kenmore on everydrop Filter 3 and the Samsung RF28T5101SR/AA (Filter 1 answer, Filter 3 answer, Samsung answers). Check your exact model.

Does a GE bypass plug have an RFID chip?

For the XWFE system, GE states that WR17X33825 has RFID. For other GE filters the research did not find a clear statement, so confirm on GE’s page for your model.

Is a bypass plug the same as filtered water?

No. GE describes RPWFE bypass operation as “Not Filtering” or “Unfiltered Water”. Bosch’s SCRNFLTR10 screens particles only.

Can I get a bypass plug for free?

GE publishes a no-charge route at 1-800-GECARES if a bypass was not supplied or was misplaced. The research found no equivalent published policy for the other makers.

Is the WF3CB plug 242294402 or 242294502?

Frigidaire lists WF3CB on both pages, and neither page says the parts are interchangeable. Confirm both numbers against your refrigerator model.

Why does my fridge still show a filter light after I add a plug?

It may be a model behavior. GE says the RPWFE reminder resets automatically with a recognized filter or bypass, and a retailer answer says the everydrop Filter 2 reminder can stay lit. Check your manual.

Sources

Educational content only. Not a substitute for licensed professional advice. Local plumbing codes vary by jurisdiction. Use of any guidance from this guide is at your own risk.

Parts for this repair

As an Amazon Associate, plumbingbythebook earns from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra.

GE WR17X33825 Bypass Plug (search by part number) — GE's support page identifies WR17X33825 as the bypass that carries RFID for the XWFE filter system. Confirm your refrigerator model on GE's page before you order, because GE's older XWF bypass is a different part.
Whirlpool W11395888 Bypass Cap (search by part number) — Whirlpool's parts page pairs W11395888 with the everydrop Filter 4 (EDR4RXD1), which needs a filter or a cap to dispense. Sears lists applications across several Whirlpool-group brands, so confirm your model before you order.

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