You are printing with a Canon Pixma printer. Suddenly, a pop-up notification appears on your computer screen. It reminds you that the ink in your cartridge is low. Now, if you want to refill an ink cartridge, what should you do? Today, I will explain the steps about how to refill a Canon Pixma ink cartridge to you.
Table of Contents
- Introduction of Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge
- Why Do You Need to Refill a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge Yourself?
- How to Refill a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge: Integrated Cartridges and Independent Ink Tanks
- How to Refill a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge: Bottled Ink
- FAQs about Refilling a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge
- Conclusion
Introduction of Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge
There are two main types of ink cartridge systems used in Canon Pixma inkjet printers. These two types of ink cartridge systems are structured, replaced, and refilled very differently:
| Systems | Models | Structure | Replace |
Ink capacity |
Cost |
| Integrated Cartridges | PG series CL series | The ink tank and printheads are integrated. | Replace the entire cartridge unit (including the printhead) |
Smaller than the other two |
The ink and the printhead |
| Independent Ink Tanks |
G series |
Ink cartridges are separated from print heads |
Just replace a new ink cartridge |
Large ink capacity |
Only the ink |
| Bottled Ink |
GI series |
Ink cartridges are separated from print heads |
Just replace a new ink cartridge |
Large ink capacity |
Only the ink |
Because the two systems are designed differently, the refilling methods also vary:
| Systems | Official design | Refilling Way | Image |
|
Integrated Cartridges |
Refilling is not supported | Use a syringe to fill the sponge or ink chamber inside the cartridge |  |
|
Independent Ink Tanks |
Insert a new ink cartridge
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Use a syringe to fill the sponge or ink chamber inside the cartridge |
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|
Bottled Ink |
Supports convenient replacement or refilling of ink cartridges |
Insert the ink bottle into the ink filling port |
 |
Why Do You Need to Refill a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge Yourself?
1. Better for the environment
Every time you replace an ink cartridge, you need to throw the old one away. And ink cartridges are made of plastic. This adds to the burden of landfills. If you refill your ink cartridges at least 3 to 4 times before buying a new one, you can reduce your environmental impact.
2. Lower cost
This is the most common reason for refilling ink cartridges. Refilling ink cartridges can save you nearly 50% compared to buying brand-new ones. This saves a lot.
How to Refill a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge: Integrated Cartridges and Independent Ink Tanks
1. Prepare materials.
You will need red, yellow, blue, and black ink and 4 syringes.
Paper towels and gloves are recommended.
2. Open the printer cover and take out the ink cartridge.
3. Remove the sticker label from the cartridge.
After removing the label, you will see a hole. The black ink cartridge has one hole, and the color ink cartridge has three holes.
4. For the black ink, first draw the ink into the syringe, then insert the ink into the hole.
5. The color ink cartridge will have three holes, one on the top and two on the bottom.
- Insert the red ink into the top hole
- Insert the yellow ink into the bottom right hole.
- Insert the blue ink into the bottom left hole.
6. Put the sticker label backs, place the cartridges back in the printer, and close the lid.
How to Refill a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge: Bottled Ink
Preparations for Refilling a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge
1. If you disable the function for notifying the remaining ink level, you must visually check the remaining ink level.
2. If the remaining ink level notification function on your printer is enabled, the printer screen will display an error message when the remaining ink level runs low.
(1)Click Check the ink tanks
(2)The color ink empty indicator (BK/C/M/Y) will be displayed on the LCD
(3)Press the OK button, then a message will appear: Do you want to refill the ink tanks?
(4)Use the <> button to select Yes, then press the OK button.
(5) Then you can refill all color ink tanks
Steps of Refilling a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge
1. Open the scanning unit/cover.
⚠️Do not touch the tubes or other parts inside the printer.
2. Open the ink tank cover.
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Open the left ink tank cover to refill the black ink tank |
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Open the right ink tank cover to refill the color ink tanks |
3. Grasp and remove the tank cap of the ink tank that needs to be refilled.
⚠️Place the removed tank cap on the upper tank cap holder.
(Some printers have a cap and cover combined. You can skip this step in this case.)
4. Take a new ink bottle out of its package.
Hold the ink bottle upright and twist the bottle cap to remove.
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5. Refill the ink tank.
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6. Put the ink tank cap back over the inlet and make sure the tank cap is fully inserted.
(Some printers have a cap and cover combined. You can skip this step in this case.)
7. Close the ink tank cover.
8. Gently close the Scanning Unit/Cover.
What to Do After Refilling Your Ink Cartridge
Refilling isn’t the last step; you need to pay attention to some settings on the Printer. If the remaining ink level notification function on your printer is enabled, then you need to reset the ink level count.
1. When you refill all ink tanks to the upper limit line, you can press the OK button. The printer screen will appear” Are all the ink tanks refilled to the upper limit line? ”
2. Use the button <> to select Yes, and then press the OK button.
3. The remaining ink level counts for all colors are reset.
FAQS about Refilling a Canon Pixma Ink Cartridge
1. Are All Three Systems Safe for Self-refilling?
For Bottled Ink, the official supports refilling the ink by yourself. However, for Integrated Cartridges and Independent Ink Tanks, refilling the ink by yourself may cause a series of problems.
- Damage to the print head: Mistakes in the ink filling process or the use of inferior ink can easily clog the print head (because the print head is on the ink cartridge). Once clogged, the entire ink cartridge is useless.
- Ink leakage: Drilling or poor sealing can cause ink leakage. Leaked ink can contaminate the inside of the printer and even damage the circuit.
- Air ingress: Improper ink filling can introduce air. This can cause print line breakage and a lack of color.
2. Where Can I Get Reliable Ink Cartridges?
If you have not yet mastered the skillful ink refilling method, you may need to purchase compatible ink cartridges.
It is not easy to find reasonably priced and reliable ink cartridges on many online platforms. I want to introduce you to True Image ink cartridges. Our toners have excellent performance and a competitive price.
Conclusion
Refilling your Canon Pixma ink cartridge isn’t an easy thing. You must have a good understanding of your printer system. You need to know which method is best suited for your printer. Even if, for some reason, you have to use an unrecommended refilling method, you still need to know the proper steps. I hope that this article can give you some guidance.
