How to check ink and toner levels
Check ink or toner levels on the printer, in Windows, on a Mac or from your phone, and learn why the estimated levels aren't always accurate.
Most printers estimate how much ink or toner is left and can show it on the printer, on your computer or in a phone app. Checking before a big print job saves running out halfway through. On ink tank printers you can see the ink through windows in the tanks, which is often more reliable than any on-screen figure. Whichever method you use, the reading is an estimate rather than an exact measurement.
Steps
On the printer
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Look at the printer's screen
On many printers with a display, an ink drop or toner icon on the home screen opens the estimated levels. Otherwise, look under Supplies, Ink levels, Maintenance or Status. Levels usually appear as bars or percentages for each color.
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Print a status or supplies report
Most printers can print a report listing each cartridge's estimated level, often with the cartridge number and the number of pages printed. Look under Reports or Print reports, or check the manual for the button method on models without a screen. On laser printers this page often shows the drum's remaining life too.
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Read the tank windows on ink tank printers
With the printer on a level surface, look at the ink through the tank windows and compare it with the upper and lower lines. Refill a color as it nears the lower line. On models that track ink electronically, the on-screen level is only accurate if you confirmed the refill the last time you filled the tank.
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Open the printer's web page
On a network printer, type the printer's IP address into a web browser on any computer or phone connected to the same network. The page that opens often shows supply levels on its home or status page. This works the same way on Windows, macOS, Chromebooks and phones.
Windows 11 / 10
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Open the printer's settings
Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select your printer (Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, then Manage).
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Check printing preferences
Click Printing preferences and look for a Maintenance, Status, Services or Supplies tab, or a button that shows estimated ink levels. Full manufacturer drivers usually include one; the basic driver Windows installs often doesn't.
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Use the maker's app or status monitor
If the printer's settings page offers to open a printer app, or you have the manufacturer's app from its official website or the Microsoft Store, open it; most show levels on the main screen. Some full driver packages also include a status monitor that shows levels and warns you when a cartridge is low.
macOS
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Open Options and Supplies
Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners (on macOS 12 and earlier, System Preferences), select your printer and click Options & Supplies.
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Open the Supply Levels tab
Click Supply Levels to see the estimated level for each cartridge or toner. The tab only appears, or only shows figures, when the printer reports its levels to macOS. Many AirPrint printers do, and some include a button to order supplies from the maker.
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Try the utility or web page if nothing shows
If no levels appear, check for a Utility tab that opens the manufacturer's printer utility, which usually shows them, or open the printer's IP address in Safari. The printer's own screen or status report is the fallback.
iPhone and Android
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Install the maker's app
The built-in printing on iPhone and Android phones doesn't usually show ink levels. The manufacturer's own app, from the App Store or Google Play, normally does once it has found your printer on the same Wi-Fi network.
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Find the levels in the app
Open the app and select your printer. Estimated levels usually appear on the main screen or under a printer status or supplies option, and some apps can send a notification when a cartridge runs low.
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Use the browser instead
If you'd rather not install an app, connect your phone to the same network as the printer and type the printer's IP address into the phone's web browser to open its status page.
Tips
- Low ink and toner warnings usually come with a safety margin, so you can often keep printing for a while. Have a replacement ready and change it when quality starts to fade. On ink tank printers, refill before the level falls below the lower line.
- Refilled, remanufactured or non-original cartridges may show the level as unknown or empty even when full, because their chips may not report levels the way the maker's own cartridges do.
- On many models the level is calculated from the ink used rather than measured, so frequent cleaning cycles and photo printing can make it drop faster than you expect.
Common questions
Why does my printer say the ink is low when the cartridge is new?
The printer may not have recognized the new cartridge yet, or its chip may not be reading correctly. Remove and reseat the cartridge, close the door firmly, restart the printer and check again.
How accurate are ink level readings?
They are estimates. Most printers calculate them from the ink used for printing and cleaning, and some add sensors, so treat them as a guide and keep a spare for important jobs.
Can I check ink or toner levels on a Chromebook?
ChromeOS doesn't usually display supply levels, so open the printer's IP address in Chrome to see its web page, or check the printer's own screen or status report.