How to Reset an Ink Jet Cartridge

While refilling an inkjet cartridge can save on waste and money, refilling can cause an issue in inkjet cartridges that contain monitoring chips. Cartridges with monitoring chips work with printers that monitor ink levels. When you place a new cartridge with a new monitoring chip into a printer with a built-in ink level monitor, the printer automatically resets and shows the ink level as full. When you place a refilled cartridge into a printer with an ink level monitor, however, the printer often fails to reset. If this happens, you can manually reset the ink level.

Canon Inkjet Cartridges

• 1

  Slide the inkjet cartridge into the printer, making sure that the cartridge clicks into place. Close the printer cover.

• 2

  Press the "Resume" button on the printer, and hold it down for at least 1 minute. If the printer does not reset, try holding the "Resume" button down for 2 minutes.

• 3

  Disconnect the printer's power cable from the back of the unit if the "Resume" reset wasn't effective. Press and hold the printer's "Power" button while you plug the cable back into the unit. While still holding the "Power" button, press the "Resume" button twice.

• 4

  Release the "Power" button on the printer. The Canon inkjet printer returns to its original factory settings, and the ink level resets.

HP Inkjet Printers

• 1

  Put the inkjet cartridge that you want to reset into the HP printer. The HP printer prints a test page. When the page is done printing, take the cartridge that you want to reset back out of the printer.

• 2

  Place a second inkjet cartridge into the HP printer. The printer prints a test page. When the page is done printing, remove the cartridge.

• 3

  Put a third inkjet cartridge into the printer. The printer prints a test page. When the page is done printing, remove the cartridge.

• 4

  Insert the original inkjet cartridge that you want to reset into the printer. The HP printer prints a test page and the printer monitor shows the ink level as full.