Epson "Ink Out" vs "Cartridge Not Recognized" Errors After Magenta Cleaning: What They Mean and What to Check Next

Question: After cleaning only the magenta channel with 1 ml Epson cleaner, I'm getting "ink out" errors on compatible/auto-reset cartridges and "not recognized" on genuine cartridges. Does this relate to my magenta problem?

I performed a printhead cleaning using a syringe and about 1 ml of Epson cleaning liquid, and I did it for the magenta printhead/channel only. After that, I tried installing a genuine Epson magenta cartridge again.

Here's what I'm seeing with cartridges: when I use compatible or auto-reset cartridges, I get an "ink out" message from other cartridges. When I use genuine Epson cartridges, they never show "ink out" whether they are empty or full, but instead they show "cartridge not recognized." I'm not sure if this helps solve the magenta issue, but I wanted to share it.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Answer: 

From what you described, there are two separate categories of symptoms happening at the same time:

1. Magenta ink delivery / magenta print quality issue (the reason you did syringe cleaning), and

2. Cartridge detection errors-specifically "Ink Out" and "Cartridge Not Recognized."

These messages are important because they usually come from the printer's cartridge chip communication, not directly from the printhead nozzle condition.

1) What "Ink Out" vs "Cartridge Not Recognized" usually means

Even though both are "cartridge errors," they typically point to different causes:

A) "Ink Out" (often seen with compatible/auto-reset cartridges)

This usually indicates the printer can read the cartridge chip, but the chip is reporting:

• empty ink level,

• invalid ink level data,

• or it did not reset properly.

Auto-reset chips sometimes "half reset" or reset only when a specific trigger happens (like removing/reinstalling at the right time, closing the lid, or power cycling). If the printer reads the chip but doesn't like the ink level data, it can throw Ink Out.

B) "Cartridge Not Recognized" (often seen with genuine cartridges in your case)

This typically suggests the printer cannot communicate properly with the chip at all, which can happen due to:

• dirty or oxidized cartridge contacts,

• bent pins or contamination in the cartridge bay contacts,

• chip reader/contact board issues,

• cartridge not fully seated,

• or firmware/model mismatch (less common, but possible if cartridges are not the correct region/type).

If genuine cartridges consistently show Not Recognized, that points strongly to a contact/connection problem (either the cartridge chip contacts or the printer's reader contacts), rather than "ink level" logic.

2) How your 1 ml syringe cleaning could be related (indirectly)

Cleaning the magenta channel with a syringe and cleaner is a common hands-on approach, but it can sometimes lead to side effects depending on how it was done:

• If any cleaner or ink residue gets onto the carriage contacts, it can interfere with chip reading.

• If pressure was applied too strongly, it can push fluid where it shouldn't go (into the carriage area or electrical zones).

• If the cartridge bay area was open and exposed during cleaning, it's easy for a small amount of mist/residue to contaminate contacts.

So while syringe cleaning doesn't "change the chip," it can create conditions that make chip reading unreliable-especially if there's any moisture or residue on the contact pads.

3) What to check (conceptually) based on your exact symptoms

Since you reported:

• Compatible/auto-reset cartridges show "Ink Out"

• Genuine Epson cartridges show "Not Recognized"

• And this behavior seems consistent regardless of cartridge being empty or full

That pattern often suggests the printer's cartridge-reading contact system is unstable. Here are the most likely explanations:

A) Contact contamination or poor seating

• Even a tiny film on the gold contacts can cause "Not Recognized."

• If compatibles are recognized but report "Ink Out," it may be because those chips have slightly different contact pad layouts or tolerances that "sometimes" read.

B) Bent / misaligned contact pins (model dependent)

Some printers use spring pins or contact plates that can bend, shift, or lose tension. A genuine cart may fail recognition if contact pressure is insufficient.

C) Chip reset logic differences

Auto-reset chips can be read (so not "Not Recognized") but still behave like "Ink Out" if the chip didn't reset or if the printer rejected its ink-level data.

4) About your magenta problem specifically

Because we don't have the full printer model and the exact magenta symptom (blank magenta, faint magenta, banding, nozzle gaps, etc.), the most important point is this:

If the printer is throwing cartridge detection errors, it may not even be delivering ink properly during prints/cleanings-so the magenta issue can become impossible to diagnose until the cartridge detection is stable.

In many printers, if a cartridge is:

• not recognized, or

• flagged as ink out,

the printer may:

• refuse to run normal cleaning,

• prevent that channel from pressurizing,

• or stop printing entirely.

So the cartridge error behavior is not just a "side note"-it can directly block successful magenta recovery.

5) Why genuine cartridges might not show "Ink Out" but still fail

You mentioned that genuine Epson cartridges never show "Ink Out," only "Not Recognized," regardless of being empty or full. That can happen because:

• If the printer can't read the chip, it can't reliably determine ink level-so it goes straight to Not Recognized instead of ink-level status.

• In other words, Not Recognized comes earlier in the logic than ink-level evaluation.

Error codes mentioned

From your message, the specific error messages you reported are:

• "Ink Out"

• "Cartridge Not Recognized"

Those two are the key "error codes/messages" to reference when evaluating the cartridge/chip/contact system.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair because these problems are hands-on and often depend on the physical condition of parts and contacts you can only confirm in person. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility, Printer Repair Service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it might take a few weeks before we can schedule your printer for drop-off. Our services are structured to repair either an entire printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage, BCH Technologies on YouTube (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thank you again for writing in and for explaining the exact messages you're seeing. Even though it feels confusing, the difference between "Ink Out" and "Cartridge Not Recognized" is an important clue, and it helps narrow the issue toward cartridge communication and contact reliability in addition to the magenta cleaning work you already performed.