Brother Printer Cartridge Refill: What Does Covering the Ink Detection Window Do?
- By Ellen @BCHTechnologies
- On Oct 04, 2026
- Comment 0
Question:
Can I refill a Brother printer cartridge with a chip, and why does covering the window between the nozzles make the printer recognize it as full?
Answer:
Thank you for contacting BCH Technologies. We're sorry we could not answer sooner. We know printer problems can be urgent, and we want to give each question careful thought so we can provide a detailed answer. Thank you for supporting BCH Technologies and the BCH Technologies YouTube channel.
A chip does not automatically make a Brother cartridge impossible to refill. Whether a refill works depends on the cartridge family and whether the printer still accepts its chip or the chip can be reset. Please check the exact Brother printer model and LC cartridge number before choosing a refill method or resetter.
On some models, covering the optical ink-detection window can make the sensor report that ink is present. This does not refill the cartridge or necessarily reset its electronic ink count. The window is part of the cartridge's ink-level detection system; it is not the printhead nozzles. Blocking it can hide an empty-ink condition. If the cartridge is actually empty, continuing to print may draw air into the printhead, so stop and refill or replace it instead of relying on the covered window.
Avoid assuming every Brother cartridge uses the same chip or sensor arrangement. Confirm the cartridge number, use a refill procedure intended for that cartridge family, and follow the printer's ink-level prompts. If the chip is rejected or the printer continues to report low ink, a compatible resetter, replacement chip, or cartridge may be needed. The exact requirement depends on the model.
Search the BCH Technologies YouTube channel for your printer model, LC cartridge number, or cartridge refill topic for additional videos: BCH Technologies YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies].
If the printer remains unusable or you suspect an ink-delivery or printhead issue, BCH Technologies offers printer repair service [https://bchtechnologies.com/pages/printer-repair-service]. Share the printer model and cartridge number when requesting help so the fault can be assessed accurately.