Ink tank printer is leaking ink

Turn the printer off with its power button, unplug it, and slide paper towels or old newspaper under and around it. Keep it level; tipping it up to look underneath spreads the ink.

Wipe the outside dry, then watch where fresh ink appears. Ink around a tank cap or filler points to the tank itself; ink inside the carriage area after a move points to the ink path; a slow seep from the base can come from the waste ink system.

Press each tank cap firmly into place and close the tank cover. If a tank is above the upper line, the extra ink can push out around the cap. Don't try to pour any back; wipe it clean and let normal printing bring the level down.

If the leak started after the printer was moved or delivered, look at the transport lock or ink valve lever. Set it to the printing position once the printer is in place, and lock it again before the next move; our guide to moving an ink tank printer covers the steps.

Ink often drips when a bottle is pulled out quickly. After filling, lift the bottle straight up slowly, hold a paper towel under the tip, and wipe the filler before you close the cap.

Ink under the printer with no obvious tank leak can mean the waste ink pad or box is overflowing. That's more likely on an older printer, or one whose waste ink counter was reset with an unofficial tool. Stop printing and read our ink pad end of life fix.

Blot rather than rub, using paper towels or a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water on the outside of the printer. Don't spray cleaners into the printer or near the carriage and contacts. Wash skin with soap and water, and treat fabric straight away, since dried ink is very hard to remove.

Leave the printer unplugged until every wet surface is completely dry, which can take a few hours. Then plug it in, print a nozzle check, and keep paper towels under it for a day to confirm the leak has stopped.