GE XWF and XWFE Refrigerator Water Filters: Which GE Refrigerators Take Each, the 6 Month Interval, the Chip in the XWFE, and Which Cross-Fits Carry One
GE XWFE replaces the XWF and fits any GE fridge that names either; GE says 6 months, no gallon figure. Which cross-fits carry the chip.
- Verified
- Updated
- 10 min read
- 9 sources
Shop links on this page are affiliate links: a purchase may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
OwnerSpec compares published manufacturer specifications, certification listings and sourced technical documents. Unless a page explicitly states otherwise, OwnerSpec has not laboratory-tested or used the products it compares. Editorial policy
Short answer
GE’s XWFE is the current genuine cartridge for GE refrigerators that call for an XWF or an XWFE: GE’s XWFE product page states that the XWFE has replaced the XWF and will fit and work anywhere an XWF is called for. GE recommends replacing the XWFE every 6 months and publishes no gallon capacity for it. The letter E marks the chip, which GE describes as leak-detect technology that lets the cartridge communicate with the refrigerator, and GE publishes no statement that a chip-free XWF is accepted by a refrigerator built for the XWFE. GE says the XWFE is tested to meet NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and P473, a claim no NSF database row confirmed this session. The cross-fits split on the chip: Waterdrop and Glacier Fresh each sell a chip-free XWF cartridge and a separate chip version, Icepure prints Not XWFE on both of its parts, and the aftermarket body NSF lists is rated 200 gallons at 0.5 gpm.
Fact sheet
- Answer
- GE’s XWFE is the current cartridge for any GE refrigerator that calls for an XWF or an XWFE, per GE’s XWFE product page, which recommends replacement every 6 months and publishes no gallon capacity. The E marks the chip GE calls leak-detect technology; GE says the XWFE is tested to meet NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and P473. Chip-free cross-fits fit the socket; only Waterdrop and Glacier Fresh sell chip versions.
- Applies to
- XWF
- XWFE
- Compatibility basis
- GE’s XWFE product page on geapplianceparts.com (XWF superseded by XWFE, 6 month interval, leak-detect chip, ’tested to meet’ NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and P473) and NSF’s DWTU listing for trade name XWF (aftermarket body rated 200 gallons at 0.5 gpm, standards per suffix)
- Assumptions
- GE’s NSF/ANSI standards are GE’s own claim: a search of NSF’s DWTU database for XWF, XWFE, GE and General Electric returned no genuine-GE row this session.
- GE publishes no gallon capacity, micron rating or flow rate for the XWF or XWFE on either GE page reached; the 200 gallon and 0.5 gpm figures belong to the aftermarket cartridge body NSF lists, not to GE’s part.
- GE confirms only that an XWFE fits where an XWF is called for. No GE page reached states whether a chip-free XWF is accepted by a refrigerator built for the XWFE; the chip behaviour of cross-fits is each maker’s claim.
- GE prints no refrigerator model list on the pages reached; every model series on this page comes from a cross-fit maker’s page.
- Method
- Interval, supersession, chip description and standards read from GE’s XWFE product page and GE’s refrigerator filters page; aftermarket capacity, flow and standards read from NSF’s DWTU listing; cross-fit micron, capacity, interval and chip claims read from each maker’s own product page; ASINs and pack sizes read from each Amazon listing title. Every figure is the maker’s published spec; nothing was tested.
- Primary source
- GE Appliances Parts, XWFE Refrigerator Water Filter product page (XWF superseded, 6 month interval, leak-detect chip, NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and P473 'tested to meet') (manufacturer or vendor document)
- Facts verified
- Last updated
- Cite as
- OwnerSpec, "GE XWF and XWFE Refrigerator Water Filters: Which GE Refrigerators Take Each, the 6 Month Interval, the Chip in the XWFE, and Which Cross-Fits Carry One", https://ownerspec.com/water/parts/ge-xwf-xwfe-refrigerator-filter/, facts verified 13 September 2026.
Every figure above also appears, with its source, in the page below. All sources ยท How OwnerSpec verifies numbers
The picks
Any GE refrigerator that names XWF or XWFE
GE XWFE genuine (1-pack)
GE's current part; 6 months per GE; NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401, P473 per GE's page; chip built in; no capacity published
XWF refrigerator, wants an NSF 53 and 401 listing
Waterdrop Plus XWF, no chip (4-pack)
NSF DWTU lists WDP-XWF to 42, 53, 401 on a 200 gallon, 0.5 gpm body; 0.5 micron per Waterdrop; no chip
XWFE refrigerator, chip needed, chlorine only
Waterdrop XWFE, built-in chip (4-pack)
NSF 42 and 372 per Waterdrop's page, narrower than the Plus; chip built in per the listing; capacity not published
XWF refrigerator, cheapest chip-free fit
Glacier Fresh GF-XWF, no chip (3-pack)
6 months or 200 gallons and 0.5 micron per Glacier Fresh; 'IAPMO and ISO' with no standard number
XWFE refrigerator, chip needed, wants an NSF 53 claim
Glacier Fresh XWFE, built-in chip (2-pack)
6 months or 300 gallons and 0.5 micron per Glacier Fresh; NSF 53 per its page, disputed in a buyer review; RFID chip 'like the OEM'
What fits
Any GE refrigerator that names XWF or XWFE
GE XWFE genuine (1-pack)
GE's current part; 6 months per GE; NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401, P473 per GE's page; chip built in; no capacity published
XWF refrigerator, wants an NSF 53 and 401 listing
Waterdrop Plus XWF, no chip (4-pack)
NSF DWTU lists WDP-XWF to 42, 53, 401 on a 200 gallon, 0.5 gpm body; 0.5 micron per Waterdrop; no chip
XWFE refrigerator, chip needed, chlorine only
Waterdrop XWFE, built-in chip (4-pack)
NSF 42 and 372 per Waterdrop's page, narrower than the Plus; chip built in per the listing; capacity not published
XWF refrigerator, cheapest chip-free fit
Glacier Fresh GF-XWF, no chip (3-pack)
6 months or 200 gallons and 0.5 micron per Glacier Fresh; 'IAPMO and ISO' with no standard number
XWFE refrigerator, chip needed, wants an NSF 53 claim
Glacier Fresh XWFE, built-in chip (2-pack)
6 months or 300 gallons and 0.5 micron per Glacier Fresh; NSF 53 per its page, disputed in a buyer review; RFID chip 'like the OEM'
The number people get wrong here is not a gallon figure, which GE does not publish, but the letter E: a chip-free cartridge fits the socket of an XWFE refrigerator, and GE has never said the refrigerator will accept it.
Which GE refrigerators take the XWF or XWFE, and what is the E for?
GE’s XWFE page prints no refrigerator model list and states only the supersession: the XWFE has replaced the XWF, and any refrigerator that calls for an XWF takes the XWFE. The number to trust is on the old cartridge or the sticker inside the door; if it reads MWF or RPWFE, this is the wrong page.
| Number or name | Where it appears | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| XWFE | GE’s XWFE product page | The current genuine cartridge , chip built in, sold as a 1-pack per the listing title |
| XWF | GE’s XWFE product page | The chip-free predecessor GE says the XWFE has replaced; no GE-branded XWF listing was found on Amazon this session |
| WR17X30702 | Waterdrop’s and Icepure’s cross-fit listings | The GE parts number the cross-fit makers print beside XWF; cross-fit data, not read from a GE page |
| GNE27, GFE26, GDE25, GSS25, PSE25 series | Waterdrop’s chip product page | Series Waterdrop lists as taking the XWFE; the maker’s claim, not GE’s |
| PSE25, GZS22, GYE18, GWE19, GSS, GSE, GNE, GFE, GDE, GBE21, QNE27, CZS22, CFE26, XFE26, CWE19 | Icepure’s two XWF product pages | Series Icepure lists as taking the chip-free XWF; the maker’s claim, not GE’s |
GE’s page describes the E as leak detect technology: the filter communicates with the refrigerator if a leak is detected. Glacier Fresh calls the same part an RFID authentication chip, and the RPWFE page covers the same chip story on GE’s French-door line.
GE’s page says the XWFE is tested to meet NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and P473, listed here per the maker’s page: NSF’s DWTU database returned no genuine-GE row for XWF or XWFE this session, so NSF/ANSI 42, 53 for lead and P473 for PFAS rest on GE’s word.
What else fits the same socket, and how does each handle the chip?
Every figure below is the maker’s published spec or NSF’s listing, not tested here. NSF’s DWTU listing for trade name XWF puts every AQUA CREST and Waterdrop suffix on one cartridge body, EFF-6048S, rated 200 gallons at 0.5 gpm; the standards differ by suffix.
| Cartridge | Capacity and interval | Micron and flow | Certification, as stated | Chip handling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE XWFE (genuine) | Not published; 6 months per GE | Not published | NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401, P473 per GE’s page | Built-in; GE: leak detect |
| AQUA CREST AQF-XWF, AQF-XWF-P, AQF-XWF-D | 200 gallons per NSF; interval not published | Micron not published; 0.5 gpm per NSF | NSF DWTU: 42 for AQF-XWF, 42 and 53 for -P, 42, 53 and 401 for -D | No chip on any suffix; no -P or -D listing on Amazon, so not linked |
| Waterdrop Plus XWF (WDP-F48, 4-pack) | 200 gallons per NSF; Waterdrop’s page prints 36 months, which this page does not use | 0.5 micron per Waterdrop; 0.5 gpm per NSF | NSF DWTU: WD-XWF to 42, WDP-XWF to 42, 53, 401; listing title adds 372 | No chip, stated in the listing title |
| Waterdrop XWFE (WD-F48C, 4-pack) | Not published | Not published | NSF 42 and 372 per Waterdrop’s page, narrower than the Plus | Built-in chip per the listing |
| Icepure RWF5200A and Icepure Plus IPP-RWF5200B | Not published | Not published | 42 and 372; the Plus adds 53, per Icepure’s pages | No chip; both print Not XWFE; no Amazon listing found, so not linked |
| Glacier Fresh GF-XWF (3-pack) | 200 gallons or 6 months per Glacier Fresh | 0.5 micron; flow not published | “IAPMO and ISO” with no standard number, per its page | No chip |
| Glacier Fresh XWFE (2-pack) | 300 gallons or 6 months per Glacier Fresh | 0.5 micron; flow not published | “NSF 53 certified” per its page; a verified-purchase review on the listing disputes it | Built-in RFID chip, “like the OEM”, per its page |
For an XWF refrigerator, the Waterdrop Plus is the only linked cross-fit with an NSF/ANSI 53 and 401 row in NSF’s database, and the Glacier Fresh GF-XWF claims no numbered standard at all.
For an XWFE refrigerator, the Waterdrop XWFE claims 42 and 372 only, and the Glacier Fresh XWFE claims NSF 53 on its own page, which a buyer review on the listing disputes. Neither is a GE-qualified part.
How often does it need replacing?
GE’s XWFE page gives one figure: replace every 6 months.
| Figure | GE’s published value | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Time interval | 6 months | GE’s XWFE product page |
| Capacity | Not published on either GE page reached | No GE document |
| Micron rating and flow | Not published | No GE document |
| Aftermarket body capacity | 200 gallons at 0.5 gpm | NSF DWTU listing, EFF-6048S |
Any gallon figure retail pages repeat for the XWF appears on no GE document reached this session, so none is printed here as GE’s.
How do you spot a counterfeit XWFE?
GE’s two pages carry the only GE-published check, and it is a warning, not a test.
- GE states that imitation or counterfeit water filters can damage the water filter system and are not guaranteed to reduce the impurities in the water.
- GE’s XWFE page adds that such filters may damage the refrigerator and, if used, are not covered by the GE Appliances warranty.
- No serial, hologram or QR check was found on any GE page reached.
The seller is therefore the check: the linked XWFE listing is titled as a genuine GE filter, 1-pack.
Which one to buy
The genuine GE XWFE publishes no capacity and no independent NSF row, so what the extra money buys is the chip and GE’s warranty position, nothing this page can measure.
If the old cartridge or door sticker reads XWFE, buy the genuine part, or a cross-fit whose maker states it ships with its own chip, and accept that GE has not qualified it. If it reads XWF and the refrigerator has never shown a filter error, the chip buys nothing, and the Waterdrop Plus carries the NSF/ANSI 53 and 401 row the genuine part cannot show.
Read the letter before buying anything: it decides the purchase, and the 6 month interval is the same either way.
Frequently asked questions
Will a GE XWFE filter work in a refrigerator that originally called for an XWF?
Yes, on GE's own statement. GE's XWFE product page says its XWFE water filters have replaced the XWF, so if the refrigerator calls for an XWF the XWFE will fit and work as it should. GE now sells only the XWFE as the genuine part, and no GE-branded XWF listing was found on Amazon this session.
Will a chip-free XWF or cross-fit work in a refrigerator built for the XWFE?
GE does not say. Its XWFE page confirms only the forward direction, XWFE into an XWF refrigerator, and describes the chip as leak-detect technology that communicates with the refrigerator. The cross-fit makers answer by their product lines: Icepure prints Not XWFE on both chip-free parts, and Waterdrop and Glacier Fresh sell separate chip versions for XWFE refrigerators.
How often does GE say to replace the XWFE, and how many gallons is it rated for?
GE's XWFE product page recommends replacing the filter every 6 months and prints no gallon capacity, micron rating or flow rate. Any gallon figure repeated on retail pages for the XWF appears on no GE document reached this session, so this page does not use one. The aftermarket XWF body that NSF lists is rated 200 gallons at 0.5 gpm.
Which NSF/ANSI standards does GE say the XWFE is tested to?
GE's XWFE product page says the filter is tested to meet NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401 and P473, and conforms to NSF/ANSI 53 for VOC reduction. That wording is GE's own claim: a search of NSF's DWTU database for XWF, XWFE, GE, General Electric and GE Appliances returned no genuine-GE row this session, so no independent listing is cited here.
Are the Waterdrop and AQUA CREST replacements for the GE XWF actually NSF listed?
Yes, by suffix. NSF's DWTU listing for trade name XWF carries AQUA CREST AQF-XWF for NSF/ANSI 42, AQF-XWF-P for 42 and 53, AQF-XWF-D for 42, 53 and 401, Waterdrop WD-XWF for 42 and Waterdrop WDP-XWF for 42, 53 and 401, all on the same 200 gallon, 0.5 gpm cartridge body. Waterdrop's chip version claims only 42 and 372 on its own page.
Sources
- GE Appliances Parts, XWFE Refrigerator Water Filter product page (XWF superseded, 6 month interval, leak-detect chip, NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and P473 'tested to meet') (manufacturer or vendor document)
- GE Appliances, Refrigerator and Icemaker Replacement Filters page (imitation and counterfeit filter warning) (manufacturer or vendor document)
- NSF, Certified Drinking Water Treatment Units listing, trade name XWF (AQUA CREST and Waterdrop suffixes, EFF-6048S body, 200 gallons at 0.5 gpm) (standards or certification body)
- Waterdrop, GE XWF replacement refrigerator water filter product page (0.5 micron, 36 month replacement text) (manufacturer or vendor document)
- Waterdrop, XWFE water filter replacement with built-in chip product page (NSF 42 and 372, compatible series) (manufacturer or vendor document)
- Icepure, RWF5200A replacement for GE XWF (Not XWFE) product page (NSF/ANSI 42 and 372) (manufacturer or vendor document)
- Icepure, Icepure Plus IPP-RWF5200B (NOT XWFE) product page (NSF/ANSI 53, 42 and 372) (manufacturer or vendor document)
- Glacier Fresh, GF-XWF 3-pack replacement for GE XWF product page (6 months or 200 gallons, 0.5 micron) (manufacturer or vendor document)
- Glacier Fresh, XWFE water filter with chip product page (6 months or 300 gallons, 0.5 micron, RFID chip, NSF 53 claim) (manufacturer or vendor document)