Samsung Bespoke Water Filter Guide: Finding, Fitting and Changing the HAF-QIN Cartridge

Samsung’s Bespoke refrigerators are bought for how they look — clean panels, custom colours, nothing cluttering the front. That design hides the water filter so well that many owners reach the six-month mark, see the filter light come on, and genuinely do not know where the cartridge is or which one to buy. This guide fixes that: which cartridge every Bespoke model uses, where it hides, how to confirm yours in under a minute, how to change it, and an honest word about the cartridge we sell for it — because for this slot, honesty matters.

Which Filter Does a Samsung Bespoke Refrigerator Use?

Every current Bespoke French door and Bespoke 4-Door Flex model uses the same cartridge: the square HAF-QIN, part number DA97-17376B. If your old cartridge or manual shows DA97-08006C, DA97-08006A or HAF-QIN/EXP, those are earlier numbers for the same square filter — DA97-17376B is the current replacement.

Treat the table as a shortcut, not a verdict. The label on the cartridge you pull out outranks any model list, including this one — which is exactly why the next section matters. For the full HAF-QIN reference — every part number, the complete model list and the counterfeit problem — see our dedicated Samsung HAF-QIN (DA97-17376B) guide.

Where the Filter Hides in a Bespoke Model

There is no filter in the door, none in the base grille, and nothing to unscrew underneath. On Bespoke French door and 4-Door Flex models the housing is inside the fresh food compartment, in a slot at the top — usually top-right or top-centre, behind a small cover with a push button or tab. Open both doors fully, look up, and you will see the cover. The cartridge slides into that square slot horizontally.

Confirming you have the right filter takes one look at what comes out:

• Square cartridge, labelled HAF-QIN, DA97-17376B or DA97-08006C — this is your filter.
• Round cartridge — that is the older HAF-CIN family. It will not fit a Bespoke housing; do not force it, and do not order the square one by mistake either. The two families are not interchangeable.

What the Cartridge in Our Store Is — Stated Plainly

The DA97-17376B cartridge we sell is a premium compatible replacement, not a Samsung OEM product — the product page says so itself, and so do we. What it is certified to do is a matter of record:

• Certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53, with coconut-shell activated carbon as the filter media
• Tested reduction rates listed on the product page: 97.5% of chlorine, 99.6% of lead, 89.3% of mercury, 99.9% of cysts and 99% of particles and sediment
• 0.5 micron rating, 0.5 GPM flow, rated for 6 months or 300 gallons
• Made from BPA-free, food-grade plastic, and it does not strip the calcium and magnesium from your water

It replaces DA97-17376B, DA97-08006C, HAF-QIN, HAF-QIN/EXP and DA97-08006A, among other cross-reference numbers listed in full on the product page.

Genuine Samsung vs This Compatible: The Honest Difference

A genuine Samsung DA97-17376B carries Samsung’s holographic authentication tag — scan the QR code and Samsung confirms the cartridge is real. No compatible cartridge has that tag, ours included, and counterfeiters fake everything else about the packaging, so the tag is the single most reliable genuineness check there is.

So why would anyone buy the compatible? Price and certification. Our listing runs $33.99–$120.99 depending on pack size (1 to 4 packs), and the cartridge carries the same NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 certification that covers chlorine, lead, mercury and cysts. If your fridge is under a Samsung warranty you want to keep beyond dispute, genuine is the conservative choice. If you want certified filtration for the square slot at a lower price, a certified compatible like this one is a rational one. What you should never buy is an uncertified cartridge at any price — it may fit the slot while filtering almost nothing.

How to Change the Filter in a Bespoke Model

The swap takes about a minute once you know where the slot is. Have a cloth ready for drips.

1. Open both doors fully and find the filter cover at the top of the fresh food compartment.
2. Remove the old cartridge. Press the cover’s button or tab if your model has one; turn the old cartridge counterclockwise and pull it straight out.
3. Prep the new cartridge. Remove the protective cap and check the seals are clean and undamaged.
4. Seat it. Push the new cartridge straight into the square slot and twist it 90 degrees clockwise until it locks with a click.
5. Flush. Run water through the dispenser for 3 to 5 minutes and discard it. This clears trapped air and loose carbon — skip it and the first glasses will sputter and taste off.
6. Reset the light (next section) and throw away the first batch of ice if it looks cloudy.

Resetting the Filter Light

A new cartridge does not reset the indicator by itself. On most Bespoke French door (RF) models, hold Ice Type and Child Lock together for about 3 seconds until the filter light resets. Menus vary slightly by model year, so if that combination does nothing, check the filter-reset entry in your fridge’s settings panel — but the two-button hold covers the great majority of Bespoke French door models.

Bespoke Care Notes That Actually Affect the Filter

Three small habits, all filter-specific:

• Wipe the housing mouth at every change. A quick pass with a clean damp cloth where the cartridge seats keeps grit out of the seal — the seal is what stands between you and a slow drip inside a fridge whose panels you would rather not soak.
• Change on schedule, not on taste. By the time water tastes off, the carbon has been saturated for weeks. Six months or 300 gallons, whichever arrives first.
• Keep one spare. Bespoke models hide the filter so well that “I’ll order one when the light comes on” usually means two weeks of drinking through an exhausted cartridge while shipping catches up. A multi-pack in the cupboard ends that.

Price, Shipping and Returns

The DA97-17376B cartridge is $33.99–$120.99 at Discounted Filter Store depending on pack size (1, 2, 3 or 4 packs — the per-filter price drops as the pack grows). Orders are processed within 1–2 business days and delivered in 3–5 business days via USPS, with free US shipping on any order amount — no minimum basket. Ordered the wrong cartridge? Unopened filters can be returned within 30 days, free, with a prepaid label.

Ready when you are: order the DA97-17376B (HAF-QIN) cartridge — and if your pulled cartridge says something unexpected, send us the part number before ordering and we will confirm the fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which water filter does my Samsung Bespoke fridge take? The square HAF-QIN cartridge, part number DA97-17376B. That covers Bespoke French door models (RF23, RF29, RF30 families) and Bespoke 4-Door Flex models (RF32/RF34 families). Confirm against the label on your old cartridge before ordering.

Where is the filter located on a Bespoke refrigerator? Inside the fresh food compartment, in a slot at the top — usually top-right or top-centre behind a small cover. It is not in the door and not in the base grille.

Is the DA97-17376B you sell a genuine Samsung filter? No — and we say so on the product page. It is a premium compatible replacement, certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53, tested to reduce 99.6% of lead and 99.9% of cysts. Genuine Samsung cartridges are the ones with the holographic authentication tag.

How do I reset the filter light on my Bespoke model? On most Bespoke French door models, hold Ice Type and Child Lock together for about 3 seconds. If your model uses an on-screen menu instead, the reset option is in the fridge settings.

How often should I change the Bespoke water filter? Every 6 months or 300 gallons, whichever comes first — sooner if flow slows or the taste changes.

What if I order the square filter but my cartridge turns out to be round? Then your fridge uses the HAF-CIN family, not the HAF-QIN. Unopened filters can be returned within 30 days, free, with a prepaid label — and checking the shape of the old cartridge before ordering avoids the round trip entirely.