How to refill an ink tank printer
Refill an EcoTank, MegaTank, Smart Tank or other ink tank printer cleanly: match bottles to tanks, fill to the upper line and confirm the new level.
Ink tank printers such as Epson EcoTank, Canon MegaTank, HP Smart Tank and Brother InkBenefit models are refilled from bottles instead of having cartridges swapped. A refill takes a few minutes and stays clean if you work slowly, match each bottle to the right tank and stop at the upper fill line. The tank layout and caps differ between models, so keep the manual or the maker's online instructions handy the first time.
Steps
On the printer
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Check the levels and decide what to refill
With the printer on a level surface, look at the ink through the tank windows on the front or side. Refill a color when it gets close to the lower line, and don't keep printing once ink has dropped below it, because on many models that can let air into the ink tubes. You don't need to fill every color at once; refill only the ones that need it.
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Use the right bottles for your model
Ink bottles are made for specific printer families, and the bottle number is listed in the manual, on a label near the tanks or on the maker's support pages. Ink from another series can look identical but may use a different formula or have a nozzle that doesn't fit. Check the color on each bottle label against the color marked on the tank before you open anything.
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Protect the area and yourself
Lay paper towel in front of the tanks. Printer ink stains skin, clothes, carpet and wood, so wear old clothes or disposable gloves, and keep bottles and caps out of reach of children and pets. Most models can be refilled with the printer switched on, and some need to be on to register the refill; your manual says which. Keep your hands away from the print head area if it starts to move.
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Open the tank cover and one tank cap
Open the ink tank cover; on some models it sits under the scanner lid or behind a front flap. Open the cap for one color only. Many tank caps stay attached by a small strap; if yours lifts off completely, put it on the paper towel with the inner side facing up. Working one color at a time is the simplest way to avoid putting ink in the wrong tank.
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Open the bottle
Hold the bottle upright and unscrew its cap. Remove any seal under the cap if your bottle has one, and keep the bottle upright from here on so ink doesn't run out of the nozzle. Don't shake or squeeze the bottle unless the instructions for your model tell you to, as most bottles are designed to flow on their own.
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Fill to the upper line
On models with keyed bottles, each bottle nozzle fits only its matching tank: line it up with the filling port and push it in gently so the bottle stands upright. Ink flows in and stops by itself when the tank is full, which can take from a few seconds to a minute or two. On models without keyed bottles, pour slowly and stop when the ink reaches the upper line. Never fill above the upper line, because an overfilled tank can leak.
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Remove the bottle and close the cap
When the flow stops, lift the bottle straight up out of the port, keep it upright and screw its cap back on firmly. Close the tank cap until it seats fully; on many models you press it down until it sits flat or clicks. Repeat for each color that needs filling, then close the tank cover.
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Confirm or reset the level if the printer asks
Some models track ink electronically and ask you to confirm the refill on the printer's screen, with a button on the control panel or in the maker's software on your computer. Select only the colors you actually filled, because confirming a color you didn't fill makes its reading wrong. Models without electronic tracking need nothing more: the tank window is the gauge.
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Clean up and check the first print
Wipe ink off the printer with a damp cloth or paper towel, and wash it off skin with soap and water. If ink gets in your eyes, rinse with plenty of clean water and follow the first-aid advice on the bottle or box. Then print a nozzle check; if a refilled color is faint or missing, wait a few minutes and run one cleaning cycle.
Tips
- Store opened bottles upright with the cap tight, somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. Check the box for a use-by date; ink that is past it, or has been open for a long time, may print poorly.
- If a keyed bottle stops flowing with ink still left in it, the tank is full. Cap the bottle and keep the rest for the next refill rather than trying to force it in.
- During the first setup, the printer uses some ink to fill its tubes and print head, often called initial charging, so the levels drop faster at first than they will later.
- If you put ink in the wrong tank, stop printing and don't try to drain it yourself. Check the manual or contact the manufacturer through its official support website for advice on your model.
Common questions
Can I top up an ink tank before it gets low?
Yes. You can refill whenever the level is below the upper line. Topping up early is fine as long as you stop at the upper line and confirm the refill if your model asks.
Can I use third-party ink in an ink tank printer?
Many people do, but the maker's ink is formulated for its print head, and problems caused by other ink may not be covered by the warranty. If you use another brand, buy ink sold for your exact model and never mix two brands in the same tank.
Why did the ink stop flowing before the tank looked full?
Keyed bottles stop at the tank's full mark, which can sit a little below where you expect. If the flow stops well below the upper line, lift the bottle out, check its nozzle lines up with the port and try again; a damaged or misaligned bottle can block the flow.