How to Reset Ink Levels on Canon TS3722 After Refill—What You Need to Know

Question:

I recently refilled the ink on my Canon TS3722 printer. Instead of manually turning off the ink monitor, can I reset the printer to factory settings so that it recognizes the cartridges as full? Will a reset clear the ink level warning and show full ink?

Answer:

Can You Reset the Canon TS3722 to Show Full Ink After a Refill?

The short answer is no—a factory reset will not reset the ink levels. Canon ink cartridges, like the ones used in the TS3722, use non-resettable chips that monitor ink usage. These chips are read by the printer, and even after a refill, the chip still reports that the cartridge is low or empty. Unfortunately, this is not something a full printer reset will override.

What You Can Do to Continue Printing

Once you refill the cartridge, the printer won’t detect the added ink. Instead, you must let the printer believe the cartridge has reached depletion. Eventually, it will display an "Ink has run out" message with an error code such as 1686, 1688, or similar.

When that happens:

1. Do not close the error message on your screen.

2. Locate the STOP button on the printer. It’s marked with a red triangle inside a circle (it is not the scan or cancel button).

3. Press and hold the STOP button for 5 seconds.
   You should hear a click or see the error disappear. At this point, the printer will disable the ink level tracking for that cartridge and allow you to continue printing freely.

From then on, the printer will no longer show ink levels for that cartridge, but you can refill and reuse it indefinitely. Just remember to watch your print quality—when colors start to fade, it’s time to refill.

Why You Should Still Be Cautious About Letting Ink “Deplete”

Some refill guides recommend not letting ink "run out," warning it could damage your printhead. And that’s valid—but it’s referring to actual ink depletion, not what the printer thinks is depleted.

Here’s the difference:

• Printer-reported depletion means the chip thinks there’s no ink.

• Actual depletion is when the cartridge is genuinely out of ink, and you're printing dry—that’s what causes damage.

So the key is to keep your cartridge topped off with ink while ignoring the low-ink warnings. Wait for the printer to believe the cartridge is empty so you can disable the ink monitor. Your printhead is safe as long as there’s real ink in the cartridge, even if the printer says it’s empty.

Summary for HP Users (Bonus Tip)

Since many people also ask about HP printers—just for comparison—HP doesn’t have a STOP button. Instead, once the printer says the cartridge is depleted, it will prompt you with a message asking if you want to continue using it. Selecting "Yes" will disable the ink monitor for that cartridge.

Dealing with printer refill issues can be tricky due to the proprietary chips and firmware involved. Therefore, we’re unable to offer remote technical support for individual cases. However, we do provide in-person printer diagnostics and repair services (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) at our North Carolina facility. Because of high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take several weeks to accept new devices. We can repair entire units or individual components and always provide clear next steps. We know our pricing may not be the lowest, so we recommend self-research where possible. You can start by visiting our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) and using the search bar next to the “About” tab to find tutorials relevant to your printer model. It’s a fast and efficient way to get answers, and YouTube may also suggest helpful content from other creators.

Thanks again for your question and for supporting BCH Technologies. We wish you continued success with your refilled Canon TS3722!