How To Replace A Refrigerator Light Bulb (With Video!)

Is your fridge leaving you in the dark or making you squint with flickering lights? It’s time for a quick and easy fix: replacing the light bulb! Dive into our step-by-step guide, complete with a how-to video below, and learn how to brighten up your refrigerator in no time.

Need a replacement light bulb for your refrigerator or freezer? Search below using your specific fridge model number to identify the exact part needed:

If your fridge is leaving you in the dark, or the lights inside are flickering, it may be time to replace the light bulb. Once you’ve tracked down a replacement light bulb, swapping it out is quick and easy. If you aren’t sure exactly what to do, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’re walking you through how to replace the light bulbs in your refrigerator and freezer. We’ll even give you some tips on how to take care of a bulb that’s broken off in the socket. Keep reading, and don’t forget to check out our video for a visual guide to the process!

Finding The Right Replacement Part

When it comes to light bulbs, you need to get something that has both the right base and correct wattage. If either of those is incorrect, your light won’t work when the door switch is activated, or it won’t work right. So, the best thing to do is opt for a genuine OEM bulb. OEM parts are a guaranteed exact fit for compatible appliances because they’re made by the appliance’s original manufacturer. Quality standards OEM parts need to meet also ensure things like LED light bulbs are likely to last a little longer, too.

But, how do you know which bulb to buy? To start, you’re going to need your refrigerator’s model number. You can find it on a sticker somewhere on the refrigerator itself. Check the following spots:

• On the exterior door or sides of the appliance
• Inside the refrigerator door or on the door frame
• On the interior ceiling of the freezer or refrigerator compartment
• On the inside wall of either compartment
• On the fridge floor, beneath the crisper drawers
• Behind the kickplate at the bottom of the appliance

Got that number? Great! It’s time to get your part. Type your model number at the search on AppliancePartsPros.com and you’ll be presented with a list of compatible components. Our search filters will help you to narrow things down to the exact piece you need, and once you order, you’ll have your new light bulb in just a few days.

How To Replace A Refrigerator Light Bulb

In our tutorial video, we replaced all three light bulbs in a GE side-by-side refrigerator – one in the freezer and two in the fresh food compartment. Most refrigerator light bulbs are installed in basically the same way – right-y tight-y, left-y loose-y – but depending on its brand, style, and model, your fridge may have a different number of light bulbs installed in different places. Your appliance’s manual will have diagrams to help you track those bulbs down if you can’t find them.

Before you change a light bulb, you should disconnect your appliance from power. Even changing out light bulbs can potentially be dangerous in a powered appliance, particularly if the bulb breaks.

Replacing The Freezer Bulb

1. Clear off and remove any shelves in the way. In our GE freezer, the upper wire shelf blocks access to the light lens. This shelf can easily be removed by pushing up on it from the bottom.
   1. This is a quick job, and you shouldn’t need to worry about food defrosting, but if you want to be safe, move any frozen foods to the fresh food compartment while you work.
2. Remove the light shield. This is likely just held in place by a few tabs, but the light shield, or lens, on your refrigerator light may be held in place by a mounting screw.
   1. Double check for any mounting hardware first and remove those. They’ll likely be Phillips head screws.
   2. If there aren’t any screws holding the light shield in place, simply press up on it from the bottom. This should be enough to dislodge it and remove it, giving you access to the bulb.
3. Unscrew the old bulb and screw the new bulb into place. Make sure it’s not cross-threaded and don’t overtighten!
4. Put the light shield back on. Seat it on the rear supports and gently press down. It will click into place.
5. Replace the shelf, making sure it’s properly seated both in the peg holes on the left side and the clips on the right. Once it’s sturdy, you can reload it with whatever food you had to remove.

Replacing The Upper Fresh Food Compartment Bulb

1. Temporarily clear out any tall containers or food items on the top shelf if you need to. The upper light is in the back corner of the fresh food compartment.
2. Pull the light shield toward you to dislodge it. Again, this is likely only held in place by a locking tab, but check to see if yours is held in place by any mounting hardware before pulling on it too hard.
3. Unscrew the old light and install the new one. Make sure it’s not cross-threaded and don’t overtighten!
4. Slide the light shield back on. It will click into place once it’s properly seated.

Replacing The Lower Fresh Food Compartment Bulb

1. Clear off and remove any shelves or bins in the way. You will most likely need to remove the deli drawer and shelf completely. This can be done by lifting it off its hinges.
2. Remove the bottom light shield. Most likely, it is sitting on a couple of pegs. Grab it on both sides and lift up to remove.
3. Unscrew the old light and install the new one. Make sure it’s not cross-threaded and don’t overtighten!
4. Reinstall the light cover. Make sure that the upper lip of the shield goes over the two pins so that it is seated properly. The bottom groove should then go over the gasket.
5. Reinstall the shelf and drawer, and return any food you removed to the refrigerator. You’re all done!

What To Do When A Light Bulb Breaks

Don’t worry! Sometimes, the bulb breaks off in the socket – it happens! Whether it was over-tightened or just really old, light bulbs can break apart when you try to remove them. You can handle it, though, and we’ll walk you through how.

• First of all, you need to disconnect the appliance from power before you remove a broken bulb from the socket. This is an absolute must for safety. Do not attempt to pry out a light while the fridge is still receiving power. You will shock yourself–possibly seriously.
• If the bulb completely separates from the base and the base is still stuck in the socket, grab some electrical tape and a small screwdriver and try the following:
  1. Wrap the top end of the screwdriver handle once with electrical tape to secure the tape, then backtrack, wrapping the tape backwards so that it’s sticky side up. You want to create a sort of cone shape with the sticky part of the tape showing. This will add some grip of the next step.
  2. Use the screwdriver handle to remove the socket. The sticky tape should offer the needed grip, and you can turn the screwdriver counter clockwise to get the base out.
• If a bit of the filament is left in the bulb, you can use a pair of needle nose pliers to grip it and turn the socket to get it out.

Wrapping Up

Every light bulb burns out eventually, but thankfully that’s a problem you can change a light bulb just a few seconds. Ready to tackle a bigger project? Check out our other offerings at AppliancePartsPros.com to learn how to take care of your household appliances! We’ve got tips, tutorials, and genuine OEM replacement parts to help you upkeep your appliances yourself.

If you need any replacement parts for your appliances, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to locate and order them quickly. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have tons of great information in our repair help section and YouTube videos to help you troubleshoot.

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