How to Refill Ink Cartridge: Universal Ink Refill Guide

Refilling your empty printer ink cartridges is one of the most eco-friendly and cost-effective alternatives to buying expensive original cartridges every time, plus it's pretty easy to do. Read on to learn more about how to refill printer ink cartridges.

Published in

CompAndSave

5 min readNov 5, 2022

Isn’t it nice to know that refilling ink cartridges rather than throwing them away can help us save money and the environment? Any small act of protection for our environment will have a major impact later on, especially now that global warming is becoming increasingly obvious. With that said, let us dive right in to start your sustainable living journey.

So, how to refill ink cartridges?

First things first, double-check that the cartridge you want to refill is an original cartridge. After that, we strongly recommend that you clean the printhead of the cartridge before refilling it.

This is especially important if the cartridge has been unused, left empty, or stored for a lengthy period of time since any of these factors will result in blocked nozzles due to dried ink residue. After cleaning the printhead, you may then refill ink cartridge by following the steps below.

How to Refill Printer Ink Cartridges

Note: Ensure that the printhead has been cleaned before you attempt to refill the cartridge.

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

Refilling Individual Color Cartridge

Where is the filling hole located for an individual ink cartridge. — Individual Ink Filling Hole Example

Where is the filling hole located for a tricolor ink cartridge. — Tricolor Ink Filling Hole Example

First, wear your pair of plastic gloves as refilling an ink cartridge is a messy job.
Next, fill the syringe with ink over a sink or on a table with a paper towel. Ensure there are no air bubbles.
Get your empty original ink cartridge and verify that the printhead is clean. Avoid touching the printhead. (Ensure that the cartridge you have is the one that needs to be refilled before proceeding. If tri-color cartridge, double check if you have the right hole. In addition to that, verify that the color of the ink you will use in refilling the cartridge is the right one.)
Find the sticker on your cartridge and examine it to see whether there is a hole that ink can be inserted into. Remove the sticker to find the hole, then lay it aside for later use. (Please note that if you are refilling a tri-color ink, you will need to use a separate syringe for each color.)
Slowly draw ink into the syringe, then inject it into the right hole. To avoid leaks from occurring, only fill the cartridge almost all the way to its capacity. (You should slowly draw ink into the syringe because if you do it too quickly, you may create air gaps that will prevent your ink cartridge from working properly.)
After refilling the cartridge, get a paper towel and gently wipe the area around the fill hole. Make sure it’s clean and dry. (If you’re refilling a tri-color cartridge, repeat steps 5 and 6.)
Use the sticker you pulled off before to cover the hole. Once sealed, dab the top of the cartridge several times with a folded paper towel to remove any extra ink.
Let the cartridge set for 8 hours. This lets the ink settle at the bottom of the cartridge.
Finally, put the cartridge back in and print a test page to get the ink flowing. If you refilled various colors, make sure to print anything in both full color and black-and-white to ensure that all of the ink is properly printed. You may need to print a few test sheets to ensure that everything is working properly.

Reminders: If you don’t see a complete reading on your ink levels, don’t panic. It’s likely that your printer isn’t reading the new ink levels which are normal for refilled cartridges.

Your printer’s ink levels won’t be accurate unless your cartridge contains a smart chip or you purchase a brand-new OEM cartridge. To continue printing, you can choose to ignore any problem messages, reset the chip using a chip resetter, or replace it with a new one.

I hope this ‘How to Refill Ink Cartridge’ article can help you save more on printing costs. Enjoy printing and happy saving!

FAQ

How many times can I refill an ink cartridge?

The maximum number of times that your cartridge can be refilled is five due to the fact that print heads become worn with time.

Is it better to refill ink cartridge or buy new ones?

It depends. If you want to save a lot more money while also saving the environment, then refilling your empty original ink cartridge is the best option. On the other hand, if you are unwilling to take the risk, buying new ones would be best for your peace of mind.

CompAndSave sells cheap but high-quality remanufactured ink cartridges so you can check them out if you wish to buy instead of refilling them yourself.

Thanks for reading! Leave a comment if you have any questions. Looking to save money on your printing projects? Check out www.compandsave.com for some great 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. The US and Canada’s largest online retailer, CompAndSave, specializes in selling printing and office supplies. She writes articles that educate readers about printer ink cartridges, toner cartridges, photo papers, printers, and more.