How to Replace the Water Filter on an LG Refrigerator (and Find the Right Filter by Model)

Most current LG refrigerators use the LT1000P, LT700P, or LT800P filter. Your fridge's model number decides which one. Filters sit in one of three housings — ceiling, left-door bin, or side wall — install with a pull-down/twist or a twist-in motion, and are flushed with 2.5 gallons of water. Replace every 6 months.

Which Water Filter Does My LG Refrigerator Use?

The filter your LG refrigerator takes depends on your exact model number, not your refrigerator's age or general style. Checking the full model number, including any trailing suffix, is the reliable way to confirm it, since neither the refrigerator's release year nor its general category (French door, side-by-side, InstaView) reliably predicts which of LG's seven filter models it actually uses.

How to find your LG model number

On newer LG refrigerators, the model number label is on the left liner of the fresh food (or top-freezer) compartment; on older models, check the right liner instead. This is LG's own guidance for locating the label if it isn't immediately visible.

LG model → filter lookup

The table below maps confirmed LG refrigerator models to their filter, sourced from LG's own Filter Finder.

Not seeing your exact model above? Use the LG Filter Finder directly, or our Fridge Filter Finder, rather than assuming based on a similar model number.

Why the full model number matters

The same base model number can take a different filter depending on its production revision, which is exactly what happened with the LFDS22520S above. LG's Filter Finder maps the base LFDS22520S to LT700P, but the current LFDS22520S.ASTCNA0 owner's manual lists LT1000P instead. Always check your complete model number, suffix included, rather than stopping at the base number. This distinction matters because the two filters have different housing dimensions and install differently; a filter that "looks close enough" to the wrong number can fail to seat correctly, produce a leak, or block water flow entirely, which is a more frustrating outcome than spending an extra minute confirming the full number up front.

Shop LG replacement filters →

LG Refrigerator Water Filters Compared

LG has sold seven distinct filter models across its current and older refrigerator lineup, and they are not interchangeable with each other. Knowing which of the seven your refrigerator takes matters more than knowing your refrigerator's general age or style, since two refrigerators from around the same period can still require different filters depending on the specific model.

Current filters: LT1000P, LT700P and LT800P

LT1000P, LT700P, and LT800P are LG's current interior twist-in filters, each built for a specific set of refrigerator models rather than one universal fit. All three share a similar twist-in installation motion, but they are not physically interchangeable with each other; the housing dimensions differ enough that the wrong one won't seat correctly even though the general mechanism looks the same.

Older and discontinued filters: LT600P, LT500P and LT900X3

LT600P and LT500P remain available for older LG and LG-built Kenmore models, while LT900X3 is discontinued and fits only the LPXS30886D.

Alternate cartridge codes

LT1000PC and LT1000PCS are alternate part codes for the LT1000P family, and LT700PC and LT700PCS are alternate codes for the LT700P family, referring to the same physical cartridges rather than separate filter types.

Where Is the Water Filter in an LG Refrigerator?

LG places the water filter in one of three housings: the ceiling above the top shelf, a left-door bin, or a right-side wall on older models. Which one your refrigerator uses depends on the specific model and filter it takes, not a single standard location across the entire LG lineup — a real gap in most other guides to this topic, which tend to describe only the ceiling location and treat it as universal.

Ceiling housing above the top shelf

Most LT1000P and LT700P models place the filter in the ceiling of the fresh food compartment, above the top shelf, and on the left side of side-by-side configurations.

Left-door bin

Some models place the filter inside a bin built into the refrigerator door itself, rather than the ceiling. This includes the LT800P on the LMXS30776S and the LT1000P on the InstaView LRMVS3006S.

Right-side wall

Older LT500P models place the filter on the right side of the fresh food compartment wall, a distinctly different location from the ceiling and door-bin housings on newer models.

How to Replace an LG Refrigerator Water Filter

Replacement steps depend on your housing type: pull-down and twist for ceiling filters, rotate-and-swing for door-bin filters, or a quarter-turn knob for older twist-in models. Confirming your housing type first, using Table 3 above, means you follow the correct sequence on the first attempt rather than guessing based on a generic set of steps that may not match your specific refrigerator.

Before you start

• Current LG models don't require shutting off the water supply first. The older LT500P is the exception: LG's manual for this model specifies turning off the household water supply before replacing it.

• About 1 ounce (25 cc) of water drains when the old filter is removed, so keep a towel handy.

• No tools are needed for any current LG filter type.

Ceiling housing (LT1000P / LT700P)

1. Pinch the cover release and pull it down to open the housing.

2. Turn the old filter counterclockwise to unlock it, then pull it out.

3. Insert the new filter with its tabs horizontal.

4. Turn the new filter clockwise until it locks.

5. Close the cover until it clicks shut.

Door-bin housing

1. Remove the door bin housing the filter.

2. Rotate the old filter until the arrows align, then pull it free.

3. Insert the new filter and rotate until the arrows align again.

4. Swing the bin back into place in the door.

Twist-in wall and knob filters (LT600P / LT500P)

1. Turn the knob a quarter turn to unlock the old filter.

2. Remove the old filter.

3. Insert the new filter; on the LT500P, the lock symbol should face you.

4. Twist a quarter turn clockwise to lock it in place.

5. Keep the substitute cap that comes with the LT500P for any future period the system runs without a filter installed.

After Replacing: Flush and Reset

Flush a new LG filter with 2.5 gallons of water, then reset the indicator with a single 3-second button press. Both steps matter: skipping the flush leaves trapped air and carbon fines in your first several glasses of water, and skipping the reset means the indicator light will trigger a false reminder well before your new filter actually needs changing.

How to flush a new LG filter

LG specifies flushing with 2.5 gallons (about 10 liters) of water, dispensed in cycles of 30 seconds on and 60 seconds off, over roughly 5 minutes total. On models without a dispenser, discard the first full bin of ice instead. Sputtering during the first cycle is trapped air clearing from the line, not a sign of a problem, and it typically settles within the first minute or two of flushing.

Reset the filter indicator

On current LG models, hold the Water Filter button for 3 seconds to clear the indicator. For the complete reset walkthrough, including models with different control panel layouts, see our full LG filter-light reset guide.

LG Water Filter Troubleshooting

Most post-replacement issues trace back to the filter not being fully seated or locked. Before assuming a defective part or a plumbing problem, work through the seating and alignment checks below, since they resolve the large majority of post-replacement complaints on their own.

The filter won't come out or won't lock

Confirm you're turning in the correct direction for your housing type, and that any tabs or arrows are aligned before forcing the motion. A filter that won't lock is usually misaligned, not defective.

No water, slow flow or leaking after replacement

A filter that isn't fully locked into position is the most common cause of no water flow or a leak at the housing.

If flow stays slow well after flushing, see our guide to a slow dispenser after a filter change for further steps.

How Often to Replace, and Genuine vs. Compatible Filters

Replace your LG filter every 6 months or at its rated gallon capacity, whichever comes first. Households with heavier daily water and ice use often reach the gallon limit before the 6-month mark arrives, in which case the gallon rating is the one that actually applies.

Replacement interval

LG rates the LT1000P, LT700P, and LT800P for 200 gallons and the LT600P for 300 gallons, both within a 6-month window. An unused filter kept dry doesn't expire on the shelf, according to LG, so a spare kept in its original packaging remains usable even if you don't install it right away.

Genuine LG vs. compatible filters

Whether a compatible filter is the right choice depends on its certification and your own comfort with non-OEM parts, not a blanket rule either way.

Confirm the NSF certification for the specific product you're considering, avoid unverified counterfeit listings, and check your LG warranty terms directly, since LG's own manual states that damage caused by an unauthorized filter may not be covered. Neither an automatic "always buy genuine" nor an automatic "any compatible filter is fine" is an accurate answer here; the responsible approach is checking the specific product's certification against your specific filter's requirements each time you buy.

For more on what NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 401 each actually certify, see our guide on decoding fridge filter certifications.

If your refrigerator is a Kenmore model built by LG, see our Kenmore refrigerator filter guide for model-specific fitment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to turn off the water to change an LG filter?

No, for current LG models. The older LT500P is the exception: LG's manual for this specific model instructs turning off the household water supply before replacing it.

Can I run my LG refrigerator without a water filter?

It depends on the model. Some LG manuals, including the LSXS26326S, state a filter isn't required for the refrigerator to operate. Check your specific model's manual rather than assuming this applies universally.

How much water should I run through a new LG filter?

LG specifies 2.5 gallons, dispensed in cycles of 30 seconds on and 60 seconds off, over about 5 minutes. Models without a dispenser should have the first full bin of ice discarded instead.

Does the LT1000P replace the LT700P?

Only if your specific model's documentation lists it as a valid replacement. The LFDS22520S is one confirmed example, where LG's Filter Finder shows LT700P but the current owner's manual lists LT1000P instead. Check your own model's documentation before assuming this applies to your unit.

Where is the model number on an LG refrigerator?

On newer models, check the left liner of the fresh food or top-freezer compartment. On older models, check the right liner instead.

Does my LG fridge have an air filter too?

Some models do. The LT120F is a separate air filter, distinct from the water filter, and is reset by holding the Fresh Air Filter button for 3 seconds.

Sources

• LG.com: LT1000P product page

• LG.com: LT700P product page

• LG.com: LT600P product page