Canon Printer Shows Ink Warning but Won't Print: Possible Causes and Fixes

Question:
Even though the cartridges have been refilled properly, my printer still won't print. Both black and color ink warnings appear on the display. I already tried the method shown in your YouTube video, such as pressing and holding the stop button for around five seconds, but it did not help. The printer still does not print at all. What is the solution?

Answer:

From the pictures you provided, the issue seems related to the cartridge itself rather than the printer hardware. When you refill Canon cartridges such as PG-210, CL-211, PG-243, CL-244, PG-245, CL-246, PG-240, or CL-241 (both XL and non-XL versions), there are a few common problems that can lead to the situation you're experiencing:

1. Ink Warnings After Refill

After refilling, Canon printers often still display low ink warnings because the printer tracks ink levels electronically. Unfortunately, this cannot be reset by simply refilling. On many models, you must press and hold the Stop/Reset button for 5-10 seconds to override the error and continue printing. Since you already tried this without success, it suggests the issue may go deeper.

2. Cartridge Electrical Contact Failure

If the printer shows both black and color cartridge warnings, it may indicate that the electrical contacts on the cartridge or the printer carriage are dirty or damaged. Gently clean the gold-colored contacts on the cartridge and the matching contacts inside the printer using a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Poor contact can prevent the printer from recognizing the cartridge even if it's full of ink.

3. Air Blockages in the Sponge

Canon cartridges use a sponge system. During refilling, if air gets trapped, ink cannot flow properly, leading to blank pages or poor printing. One way to address this is to prime the cartridge by gently drawing ink through the printhead using a syringe and rubber adapter until ink flows smoothly.

4. Defective Cartridge Chip or Printhead

Sometimes, after multiple refills or heavy use, the chip on the cartridge or the printhead nozzles fail. When this happens, the printer may stop detecting the cartridge entirely or refuse to print despite ink being present. Unfortunately, in such cases, replacing the cartridge is usually the only solution.

For additional details, you can also check the third paragraph of our support article: FAQ: Printer is Not Working - Canon Cartridge PG-210, CL-211, PG-243, CL-244, PG-245, CL-246, PG-240, CL-241 XL or Non-XL (https://bchtechnologies.com/blog/faq-printer-is-not-working-canon-cartridge-pg210-cl211-pg243-cl244-pg245-cl246-pg240-cl241-xl-or-nonxl/). This guide covers common situations where refilled Canon cartridges fail to print.

Addressing printer issues can be complicated because of the hands-on nature of the work involved. For this reason, we're unable to provide remote troubleshooting or support for printer repairs. We do, however, offer an in-person evaluation and repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) through our local diagnostic facility in the United States. Due to high demand, service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks to get your printer evaluated once it is dropped off. Our services can cover either entire printers or specific part repairs, but we acknowledge that our rates are not the most economical option. For this reason, we strongly recommend starting with self-help through online resources. You can search our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) for videos related to your issue-use the search icon next to "About" on the channel's homepage to locate the most relevant guides. YouTube may also suggest videos from other creators that could assist you further.

Thank you again for reaching out to us and for your continued support. We hope this information helps you get your Canon printer back in working order.