How to Reset a Printer Smart Chip

Refilling ink cartridges is a good way of reducing the running cost of a printer, while also protecting the environment. Most of the printer manufacturers these days integrate "smart" chips on cartridges that can detect the ink level of the cartridge. Unfortunately when you refill a cartridge, the chip refuses to reset automatically, so you have to force it to do so using a special tool called chip resetter. You can purchase a resetter online or from any store that sells printer and cartridge accessories.

• 1

  Use a paper towel or a clean piece of cloth to wipe the cartridge that needs to be reset. Make sure you pay special attention to the back end of the cartridge that contains a gold-color chip. This is the chip where you will attach the chip resetter.

• 2

  Attach the resetter tool at the back of the cartridge.

• 3

  Push the button on the resetter, and hold it for five to ten seconds. Now the default settings of the cartridge's chip will be restored, after which a small LED light will flash to indicate that the chip has been reset.

• 4

  Release the clip on the resetter to remove the device from the cartridge.

• 5

  Install the cartridge in the printer and run a test print. Now the printer should be able to recognize the cartridge's current ink level.