We often get calls or emails from customers saying their printer shows the ink levels are full in their inkjet cartridge but nothing is printing or it is light print. This can be caused by a few things, but usually are clogged printheads on HP, Lexmark, Dell, and Canon inkjets with attached printheads. All cartridges are weighed and tested before leaving the factory so lack of ink isn’t the problem. It usually has to do with the print head of the cartridge not having any ink to feed it due to storage problems or dried ink in the print heads.
First, you should check that the blue printhead sealing tape has been pealed off. Then, you should check your printer’s software for the “printhead cleaning cycle” or “clean print cartridges” button in the printer preferences.
You can get there by pressing the Print button, not the print icon, which will bring up the printer menu. Select “Preferences” and then find a “maintenance” or “utilities” tab. The printhead cleaning should be listed as one of the options. If you don’t print at least once every few days you will have to run the print head cleaning cycle more often.
This happens because cartridges are kept flat or upside down for weeks or months before being used and the ink settles away from the print head.
The easiest remedy is to open the box and stand the cartridge upright for a few minutes before using. Then get a damp paper towel, fold it into quarters and sit the cartridge print head down onto it. Hold the cartridge down to the damp paper towel for three minutes. This will help pull the ink out of the print heads, priming them and getting them ready to print. Finally, install the cartridge into your printer and print a few test pages.
