How to Refill Canon Printer Ink Cartridges 2022

Are you looking for cheap but eco-friendly ink cartridges? Then you should try to refill Canon ink cartridges instead of buying the pricey original one! Read on to know more.

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If you want to save money and the environment simultaneously, refilling your ink cartridges is the best option for you. As long as you replace an empty original Canon cartridge, have the right tools, and have a manual with clear instructions, refilling will be as easy as pie.

How to Refill Canon Ink Cartridges?

Before refilling the cartridge, you should first clean the printhead. This is crucial because dried ink residue can clog nozzles when a cartridge has been sitting around, left empty, or kept in storage for a long time. Once the cartridge's printhead has been cleaned, you can refill Canon printer ink cartridges by following the steps below:

Tools needed:

• Refill ink kit (CompAndSave's refill kit comes with free tools and a manual.)
• Syringe and injection needles (The smaller the needle, the better.)
• Pair of plastic gloves
• Paper towel

How to Refill Canon BC-01, BC-02, BX-2, BC-20, BC-05, IH-205, and IH-055 Cartridges

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1. Wear a pair of plastic gloves and place the empty original Canon cartridge on a piece of tissue or another absorbent material just in case of excess ink.
2. To reveal the filling hole, screw into the vent hole. Avoid touching the printhead. (The BC-01, 02, 05, 06, and IH-055BX-2 plugs are on the cartridge's side. On the top of the cartridge is the plug for the IH-205 BC-20, 23, 22, and 22e.)
3. Pull the plug out next by using the screw. You can insert a toothpick to identify the ink color for each color chamber when filling a tricolor cartridge.
4. For tricolor cartridges, tape over the two holes you're not currently filling to avoid accidentally mixing ink color. Also, use a different syringe for each color for the same reason.
5. Fill the syringe with ink, then slowly inject it into the appropriate hole without letting the needle touch the cartridge's bottom. Only fill the cartridge nearly to the top of its capacity to prevent leaks. (If the syringe is filled with ink too quickly, air gaps may be created that will prohibit your ink cartridge from functioning properly.)
6. After you have refilled the cartridge, take a piece of paper towel and wipe the area around the fill hole. Make sure that it is spotless and dry. (If you are refilling a cartridge that uses all three colors, repeat steps 4, 5, and 6.)
7. As a precaution against drips, place on a paper towel for an hour. Keep the printhead away from the paper towel to as not to draw all the ink out. There will probably be a few drips; if not, the ink isn't ready for printing. Apart from lengthy storage and transportation, there is no need to close the filling hole.
8. Lastly, install your newly refilled original Canon cartridge into the printer and run the "head cleaning" cycle 2–3 times. Once done, do a test print.

Tip: Allow the cartridge to sit in the printer for 8 hours after refilling to allow the ink to soak up the entire sponge.

How to Refill CANON BC-03 and BX-03 Cartridges

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1. Wear a pair of plastic gloves and put the cartridge on a paper towel in case of excess ink.
2. To expose the cartridge’s filling hole, insert the drill tool into the vent hole, turn it, and then remove the plug.
3. Fill the syringe with ink, then slowly inject it into the appropriate hole without letting the needle touch the cartridge's bottom. Only fill the cartridge nearly to the top of its capacity to prevent leaks. (If you inject ink into the syringe too quickly, air gaps may form, preventing your ink cartridge from working properly.)
4. Using a tissue, remove any ink traces on the surface of the filling hole.
5. Cut enough aluminum tape to seal the filling hole. To create an airtight seal, press the sealing tape firmly against the cartridge, as the cartridge may leak if the filling hole is not securely sealed.
6. Place on a paper towel for an hour as a precaution against drips. Also, keep the printhead away from the paper towel to not to draw all the ink out. Before moving on, wait for a few drips, which indicate that the cartridge is prepared for printing.
7. Install your newly refilled original Canon cartridge into the printer and run the "head cleaning" cycle 2–3 times. Once done, do a test print.

Tip: Allow the cartridge to sit in the printer for 8 hours after refilling to allow the ink to soak up the entire sponge.

How to Refill CANON BCI-3, BCI-6M, PGI-5BK, CLI-8, PGI-520BK, CLI-521, PGI- 525BK, and CLI-526 Cartridges

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1. With gloves on, tape the outlet hole and set the cartridge on a paper towel or other absorbent surface in case of any excess ink leaks. Ensure that the outlet hole is facing downward.
2. Look for the filling hole. Once found, use the tool included in your refill kit to push the sealing ball into the cartridge (Tap the ball if stuck using the tool you have). Peel the top label on the cartridge side to reveal the sealing ball if you can't see the filling hole. (Another option is to drill a small hole into the cartridge side.)
3. Fill the syringe with the correct ink color, then slowly inject it into the right hole without letting the needle hit the cartridge's bottom. Only load the cartridge almost to the top of its capacity to avoid leaks. (If you fill the syringe with ink too quickly, air gaps may prevent your ink cartridge from functioning properly.)
4. Seal the filling hole with the rubber stopper/plug and then use a tissue to wipe any residues of ink from the surface of the filling hole.
5. As a precaution against drips, place for an hour on a paper towel. Also, keep the printhead away from the paper towel to avoid drawing all of the ink out. Wait for a few drips to show before proceeding.
6. Install your newly refilled original Canon cartridge in the printer and do two or three head cleaning cycles. Finish by printing a test page.

Tip: After refilling the cartridge, leave it in the printer for eight hours to give the ink time to soak up the entire sponge.

Drill a hole (or burn a hole with a hot paper clip) through the top of the sponge side of the cartridge if you're having difficulties getting it to print and the sponge side appears to be dry. Fill the sponge with ink by inserting the syringe needle there. This hole doesn't need to be sealed.

How to Refill CANON BCI-10BK, BCI-11BK, BCI-11C, BCI-15BK, BCI-15C, BCI-16C, PGI-35, and CLI-36 Cartridges

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1. In case of excess ink, place your empty original Canon cartridge on a paper towel or other absorbent material while wearing gloves.
2. Remove the cartridge label to see the filling holes (see figure above), and then drill a hole.
3. For tricolor cartridges, tape over the two holes you're not currently filling to avoid accidental ink color mixing. Also, use a different syringe for each color for the same reason. (To identify the ink color for each color chamber when filling a tricolor cartridge, you can insert a toothpick.)
4. Use the appropriate ink color to fill the syringe. Without letting the needle touch the cartridge's bottom, slowly and deeply push the needle into the drilled filling hole. (If the ink is drawn into the syringe too quickly, air gaps may form which will prevent the ink cartridge from functioning properly.)
5. Once the cartridge has been refilled, clean the areas surrounding the fill hole with a piece of paper towel. Ensure that it is dry and spotless. (If you are refilling a cartridge that uses all three colors, repeat steps 3, 4, and 5.)
6. To prevent leaks, place on a paper towel for an hour. Additionally, avoid drawing all the ink out by keeping the printhead away from the paper towel. Before continuing, there should be a few drops to show that the cartridge is ready for printing.
7. After installing your newly refilled original Canon cartridge into the printer, make sure to run the "head cleaning" cycle twice. Once done, do a test print.

Tip: After refilling, leave the cartridge in the printer for eight hours to give the ink time to soak the sponge completely.

How to Refill CANON PG-40, PG-50, CL-41, and CL-51 Cartridges

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1. Put on a pair of gloves, and then put the cartridge on a paper towel or another absorbent material in case of an ink spill. Ensure that the nozzle is placed downwards.
2. Put the label away for future use after carefully removing it from the cartridge. Decide which color's filling hole (ink) you wish to drill a hole into, as shown in the above illustration.
3. To prevent unintentional mixing of ink color, tape over the two holes you don't intend to refill. For the same reason, use a new syringe for each color as well. (Tip: When filling a tricolor cartridge, insert a toothpick to know the ink color for each ink chamber.)
4. Use the appropriate ink color to fill the syringe. Without letting the needle touch the cartridge's bottom, slowly and deeply push the needle into the drilled filling hole. Remove the syringe and needle after slowly and carefully pressing the plunger in until the ink tank is filled. Don't overfill as it will cause leakage. (Air gaps might form if the syringe is filled with ink too quickly. If this happens, it will prevent your ink cartridge from working properly.)
5. After refilling the cartridge, clean the areas around the cartridge filling hole with a piece of paper towel. Make sure it is clean and dry. (If you are refilling a cartridge that uses all three colors, repeat steps 3, 4, and 5.)
6. As a precaution against drips, reapply the label that you set aside and place the cartridge on a paper towel for an hour. Keep the printhead away from the paper towel so that it does not absorb all the ink. Wait for a few drips, which indicate that the cartridge is ready for printing, before proceeding.
7. Install the newly refilled original Canon cartridge in the printer, then do two or three head cleaning cycles. Once finished, print a test page.

Tip: To give the ink enough time to completely soak the sponge after refilling, keep the cartridge in the printer for eight hours.

In addition, when the cartridge is removed from the printer, an "empty cartridge" message appears, and the printer's amber light blinks. You can override this error by holding down the paper feed (or stop/reset) button for 3–5 seconds.

Now you know how to refill Canon printer ink cartridges to get the most out of them. Remember only to refill the original ones and that you can only refill it up to five times as some of its parts will wear out with time, eventually affecting its performance. If your ink cartridge wasn't listed above, you could use the universal ink refill guide we prepared just for you.

Want to save money on printer ink but don't want to deal with the trouble of refilling ink cartridges? You've come to the right place, as CompAndSave offers an extensive selection of reasonably priced, premium-quality remanufactured, and compatible printer ink cartridges.

We hope you find this article helpful. Enjoy printing, and happy saving!

Thanks for reading! Leave a comment if you have any questions. Are you looking to save money on your printing projects? Check out www.compandsave.com for some fantastic deals on printer ink and accessories! Remember to follow our blog for more interesting printing-related tips and guides.

About the Author

Showerly Sumaylo is a researcher and copywriter for Compandsave.com Inc. CompAndSave is one of the biggest online stores in the US and Canada that sells printing and office supplies. She writes articles that teach people about printer ink cartridges, toner cartridges, photo papers, printers, and more.