How to Replace the Water Filter on a Bosch Refrigerator

Bosch refrigerators use one of four filter families: UltraClarity, UltraClarity Pro, BORPLFTR20 or the older 00640565. Most sit in the upper-right interior corner or behind the base grille and lock with a quarter turn. After replacing, flush the water and discard the first bin of ice. Replace every 6 months.

Which Water Filter Does My Bosch Refrigerator Use?

Your Bosch refrigerator's filter depends on which of four current and legacy families it takes, and the part number on the old cartridge confirms it fastest. Bosch's naming has changed as the lineup has grown, so a filter that looks similar to another in a product photo can still belong to an entirely different family with its own dimensions, install motion and location, which is exactly why matching the exact part number, not the general "UltraClarity" name, is the reliable way to order the right one.

Find your model number (E-Nr)

Bosch identifies each refrigerator by an E-Nr (model number) printed on its rating plate. Use Bosch's own "how to find your model number" page to locate the plate on your specific model, then confirm your filter with the Bosch Water Filter Finder.

Bosch filter families

Bosch currently sells UltraClarity, UltraClarity Pro and BORPLFTR20, alongside the older 00640565 still found in some refrigerators.

Table 1 lists each family with its part numbers, aliases and what it replaces, verified against Bosch's own product pages.

Table 1. Bosch Filter Families

UltraClarity Pro is a current filter, not a replacement for UltraClarity. Bosch states it reduces chlorine, chloramines, lead and pharmaceuticals and is NSF certified. Match your model to the exact family in Table 1 rather than assuming "most Bosch refrigerators use UltraClarity," since that's no longer accurate across the current lineup. A refrigerator sold new today is just as likely to specify UltraClarity Pro or BORPLFTR20 as it is UltraClarity, so treating UltraClarity as the default choice for every Bosch fridge is the single most common way to order the wrong filter.

If your filter head was replaced

A filter head replaced during a repair can require a different filter than your refrigerator originally shipped with, according to Bosch. If a technician has serviced your water system, check the Bosch Water Filter Finder again rather than assuming your original filter family still applies.

Where Is the Water Filter in a Bosch Refrigerator?

Bosch filters sit in one of three places: the upper-right interior corner, behind the base grille, or behind a tray or cover, depending on the exact filter. None of these three locations is universal across the whole Bosch lineup, so confirming which one applies to your specific filter family, using Table 1 above, is a faster route to the right spot than searching the entire refrigerator interior.

Upper-right corner inside the fridge

UltraClarity, UltraClarity Pro and BORPLFTR20 all install in the upper-right corner of the fresh-food compartment. On French 4-door models, this is where the BORPLFTR20 specifically sits.

Behind the base grille

The 00644845 filter sits behind the base grille on bottom-freezer and French 3-door models, and inside the top-right corner on side-by-side models, according to Sears PartsDirect. Move the decorative cap from the old filter to the new one when replacing a grille-mounted filter.

Behind a tray or cover

00640565 and 00740570 install behind a tray or cover on side-by-side models, inside the top-right corner of the fresh-food compartment.

Table 2. Fridge Style, Location and Motion

How to Replace a Bosch Refrigerator Water Filter

Replacement motion depends on your filter family: a quarter-turn twist for current filters, or a release-tab-and-twist motion for the older tray-mounted 00640565. Forcing the wrong motion onto the wrong filter type, twisting a tray filter without releasing its tab first, for example, is a common way to damage either the cartridge or the housing, so confirming your filter type from Table 1 before you start pays off.

Before you start

• Keep a towel handy for minor drips.

• Unwrap the new filter before you start.

• On 800 Series models, turn off the ice maker and door alarm first, per iFixit's documented procedure for the B36CL80SNS, and turn both back on after you finish.

• Bosch does not state a water-shutoff rule either way, so this guide doesn't tell you to shut off the water.

Twist-in filters (UltraClarity, UltraClarity Pro, BORPLFTR20)

1. Turn the old filter counterclockwise to remove it.

2. Slide the new filter in.

3. Rotate it clockwise until it stops.

Tray filters (00640565 / 00740570)

1. Release the locking tab.

2. Lower the cover.

3. Twist the old filter to the left to remove it.

4. Insert the new filter and twist right to lock it.

5. Close the cover.

Base-grille filters

1. Remove the grille cap.

2. Twist the old filter out.

3. Move the decorative cap from the old filter to the new one.

4. Twist the new filter in.

Table 3. Replacement Quick Reference

After Replacing: Flush and Reset

Flush a new Bosch filter with 2 to 3 gallons of water over about 5 minutes, and discard the first bin of ice. Skipping either step doesn't damage the filter, but it does mean carbon fines and trapped air reach your first several glasses of water, and stale ice made before the flush completes ends up mixed in with fresh, properly filtered ice.

Flush the new filter

Bosch's how-to page specifies running 2 to 3 gallons through the dispenser, and its FAQ page adds dispensing about 5 minutes of water and discarding the first bin of ice. Combined, that means: run 2 to 3 gallons, about 5 minutes, and throw away the first bin of ice.

Table 4. After-Care Checklist

Reset the filter indicator

Bosch's per-panel reset steps aren't verified for every model, so reset the filter counter from your control panel's filter or settings menu, and check your owner's manual for the exact sequence. No single button combination applies across every Bosch refrigerator, so this guide doesn't invent one. The iFixit procedure for the B36CL80SNS documents a counter reset through the display menu specifically for that model; if you own a different model, your owner's manual is the reliable source.

How Often to Replace It, and Troubleshooting

Replace a Bosch water filter every 6 months, or when the appliance indicates, whichever comes first. Since Bosch ties its replacement guidance to the appliance's own indicator rather than a published gallon figure for every filter, the indicator is the more reliable signal to watch for day to day, with the 6-month mark as the outer limit if the indicator hasn't triggered yet.

Every 6 months, or when the indicator says

Bosch's own rule is every 6 months or when the appliance indicates, and Bosch does not publish a gallon capacity for UltraClarity, so this guide doesn't state one. Some retailers list figures for UltraClarity and UltraClarity Pro, but since Bosch's own documentation doesn't confirm a number for either, follow the 6-month interval instead of a specific gallon count.

No water, leaks, slow flow or indicator won't reset

Most post-replacement issues come down to a filter that isn't fully seated or rotated.

Table 5. Troubleshooting

If flow stays slow after flushing, see our guide to a slow dispenser after a filter change. For trapped air specifically, see how to clear an air lock in the water line.

Bosch Filters in Thermador Refrigerators

Some Thermador refrigerators use the same UltraClarity filter (11034152) as Bosch, since the two brands share filtration hardware on select models. This is worth knowing specifically because Thermador and Bosch are related brands under the same parent company, and a Thermador owner searching for a Thermador-branded filter may not realize the correct part is actually sold under the Bosch UltraClarity name.

Thermador models that use Bosch filters

Sears PartsDirect lists 11034152 (UltraClarity) for Thermador models including T36IT70NNP, T18IF70NSP and T24IF70PSS. If you own one of these models, the UltraClarity family in Table 1 applies to your refrigerator too.

Checking cross-brand fit

Always confirm cross-brand fit with your exact model number and the Bosch Water Filter Finder rather than assuming every Thermador model shares a Bosch filter. Gaggenau fit is not confirmed by any source in this guide, so it isn't included here. For the full Thermador replacement walkthrough, see our Thermador refrigerator water filter guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between UltraClarity and UltraClarity Pro?

UltraClarity Pro is a separate, current filter family from UltraClarity, not an upgraded version of the same part. Bosch states UltraClarity Pro (11032531) reduces chlorine, chloramines, lead and pharmaceuticals and is NSF certified. Match your model to the specific family in Table 1, since the two aren't interchangeable.

Do I need to turn off the water to change a Bosch filter?

Bosch doesn't state a water-shutoff requirement either way for its current filters. A small amount of water may drip when the old filter comes out, so keep a towel handy regardless of whether you shut off the supply.

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

Run 2 to 3 gallons, about 5 minutes, and discard the first bin of ice. This combines Bosch's how-to page guidance (2–3 gallons) with its FAQ guidance (about 5 minutes, plus the first bin of ice), both of which apply to a newly installed filter.

Is BORPLFTR10 the same as REPLFLTR10?

Yes. Both are aliases for the same UltraClarity filter, part number 11034152, along with BORPLFTR30, RA450010, RA450021 and REPLFLTR30. All refer to the identical physical cartridge under different retail listings.

How often should a Bosch refrigerator water filter be changed?

Every 6 months, or when the appliance's indicator says to, whichever comes first. Bosch doesn't publish a gallon capacity for UltraClarity, so the interval, not a gallon count, is the reliable guide for that family.

Why is my Bosch dispenser slow after a filter change?

The most common cause is a filter that wasn't rotated fully into the locked position, leaving the water valve partially closed. Remove the filter and reinstall it, pushing in firmly and rotating until it stops, rather than assuming a defective cartridge.

Sources

• Bosch-home.com/us product pages: 11034152, 11048053, 11032531, 12004484, 00640565

• Bosch-home.com/us: UltraClarity Pro page

• Bosch-home.com/us: replace-water-filter page

• Bosch-home.com/us: refrigerator FAQs page

• Bosch-home.com/us: find-your-water-filter (Bosch Water Filter Finder)

• Sears PartsDirect: 00740570 part page, and refrigerator filter types article

• iFixit guide 158123 (B36CL80SNS), cited as a procedure reference for that specific model, not as manufacturer documentation