Fridge filter finder · checked October 13, 2026
GE XWFE Water Filter: GE vs Chipped Copies, Checked for Certification
For a fridge that needs the GE XWFE, GE's own filter is the only one we found that is in stock and certified for lead, cysts and PFAS. The cheaper chipped copies are certified for taste and odor only, or not at all.
IAPMO R&T lists this exact model code, XWFE, for lead and cysts, PFOA/PFOS, traces of medicines. Pack: 1 filter.
Check price on AmazonAmazon prices as of October 20, 2026 at 2:01 PM ET. Prices can change; the price on Amazon is the one that counts. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; some links are affiliate links and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure.
Every GE XWFE filter we checked, side by side
"Certified for" comes from the certifier's own listing for that exact model code, not from the box or the Amazon page. Per year = 2 filters, because GE says to change it every 6 months. Prices as of October 20, 2026 at 2:01 PM ET. Certification listings checked October 13, 2026.
| Filter | Certified for | Who certified it | Per filter | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE XWFE (GE's own filter) Model XWFE · chip · 1 filter | Lead and cysts, PFOA/PFOS, traces of medicines | IAPMO R&T 42, 53, 401, P473 | $49.98 | $99.96 | Amazon → |
| GE XWFE, 2-pack Model XWFE · chip · 2 filters | Lead and cysts, PFOA/PFOS, traces of medicines | IAPMO R&T 42, 53, 401, P473 | $49.98 | $99.96 | Amazon → |
| Waterdrop Plus WDP-F48C (chip) Model WDP-F48C · chip · 1 filter | Lead and cysts, traces of medicines | NSF 42, 53, 401 | — | — | — |
| Maxblue MB-F48C (chip) Model MB-F48C · chip · 1 filter | Taste and odor only | NSF 42 | $26.59 | $53.18 | Amazon → |
| AQUA CREST AQF-FF48C (chip) Model AQF-FF48C · chip · 1 filter | Taste and odor only | NSF 42 | $26.99 | $53.98 | Amazon → |
| Waterdrop WD-F48C (chip, not the Plus) Model WD-F48C · chip · 1 filter | Taste and odor only | NSF 42 | $27.99 | $55.98 | Amazon → |
Taste-and-odor-only filters (NSF/ANSI 42) are fine if your water is safe and you only want it to taste better. They are not tested for lead or cysts. If you are not sure what is in your water, look up your water system.
Look at the model code, not the brand
Waterdrop sells two chipped XWFE copies that look alike. NSF lists the plain WD-F48C for taste and odor only. It lists the Waterdrop Plus WDP-F48C for lead, cysts and traces of medicines too. Neither is listed for PFAS. The AQUA CREST and Maxblue chipped copies are taste and odor only.
The code is in the Amazon listing's details (model or part number) and on the filter's label. Check it before you buy.
On October 13, 2026, Amazon's top 8 results for "GE XWFE refrigerator water filter" held 5 copies. None of them had a lead certification we could confirm.
The GE XWFE has a chip
GE says the XWFE has an RFID sensor (sellers call it a chip) that talks to the fridge. With no filter, a bad filter, the wrong filter or a non-GE filter, the fridge shows "ERR" and shuts off water and ice. Copies sold "with chip" are made to get past this; GE does not say they work, and we have not tested them. GE support page.
GE says the XWFE fits fridges that take the older XWF, but an XWF does not work in a fridge made for the XWFE.
About the GE filter
IAPMO R&T lists the GE XWFE for NSF/ANSI 42 (certificate W-9755), 53 (W-9756), 401 (W-9758) and the PFAS standard P473 for PFOA and PFOS (W-11362), all active on October 13, 2026.
Older fridge that takes the XWF (no chip)?
If your fridge was made for the XWF, you do not need a chip. These XWF copies were checked the same way.
Popular copies we could not confirm
- GLACIER FRESH XWFE (GF-XWF-N): No NSF, IAPMO or WQA listing found for Glacier Fresh.
- Crystala Filters XWFE (Z031X): No NSF, IAPMO or WQA listing found for Z031X.
A seller's "NSF certified" or "tested to NSF standards" line is not a listing. We count a filter as certified only when the certifier lists that exact model code.
Questions people ask
Can I use an XWF filter instead of an XWFE?
Only if your fridge was made for the XWF. GE says the XWFE works in XWF fridges, but the XWF does not work in fridges made for the XWFE, because those fridges read a sensor in the filter.
Do XWFE copies with a chip work?
GE says a non-GE filter makes the fridge show "ERR" and shut off water and ice. Copies sold "with chip" are built to avoid that. We have not tested them in a fridge, and GE does not approve them. Buy from a seller with easy returns.
Is the GE XWFE certified for PFAS?
Yes. IAPMO R&T lists the XWFE under NSF P473 for PFOA and PFOS (certificate W-11362), plus NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401. None of the chipped copies we checked is listed for PFAS.
What is the XWFE bypass plug?
GE part WR17X33825. It replaces the filter so the fridge gives water and ice with no filter at all. It does not clean the water.
How often should I change the XWFE?
GE rates the XWFE for 6 months or 170 gallons, whichever comes first. That is 2 filters a year.
Sources, and what we did and did not check
- NSF certified drinking water listings for NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401: info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU, read October 13, 2026. Each "NSF" link above opens the listing for that model code.
- IAPMO R&T product listings: pld.iapmo.org, read October 13, 2026.
- WQA Gold Seal listings: find.wqa.org, searched October 13, 2026.
- GE support, XWFE RFID sensor and bypass plug: geappliances.com, read October 13, 2026.
- Amazon listings and prices: read through Amazon's product API. We match each listing to the certified model code using Amazon's model and part fields. We show a price only if we read it in the last 24 hours.
- We did not: test any filter, test whether chipped copies work in a fridge, or check every copy sold. Certification covers the model code the certifier lists, for its rated gallons.
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