Ink tank printers: fixes and guides

Ink tank printers (Epson EcoTank, Canon MegaTank, HP Smart Tank, Brother InkBenefit and others) are refilled from bottles. Printing is cheap, but they need a little care: filling the right tank, keeping ink in the tubes, and watching the waste ink pad.

Common problems (13)

• Ink tank printer won't print after refillingRefilled the tanks and now nothing prints, or a color is missing? Check the caps and valve, the fill line, the level reset and the nozzles, in that order.
• Air in the ink tubes or ink not reaching the print headA color prints blank or keeps dropping out even with ink in the tank? Air in the ink path is a likely cause. Here's how to clear it and keep it out.
• Printer says the ink pad is at the end of its lifeInk pad, ink absorber or maintenance box full? Learn what the waste ink system does, which models have a box you can swap, and when it needs service.
• Wrong color ink poured into a tankFilled a tank with the wrong color? Stop printing, work out how much went in, then choose between printing it through, removing it or getting it serviced.
• Ink level doesn't update after refillingThe tanks are full but the printer or app still shows low ink? See why ink tank estimates drift, how to confirm a refill and when to trust your eyes.
• Ink tank printer is leaking inkInk around the tanks or under the printer? Find the source, from a loose cap or open transport lock to a full waste ink pad, and clean up safely.
• Faint or streaky prints after the printer sat unusedPrints faint, striped or missing colors after weeks without use? Clear dried nozzles with a nozzle check and spaced cleanings, then keep the ink moving.
• New ink tank printer stuck on initial ink chargingSetup stuck on ink charging or priming? It can take several minutes. Check the tanks, transport lock, print heads and covers before restarting carefully.
• Print head error on an ink tank printerPrint head problem, head not detected or warning lights after setup or a move? Reseat user-installed heads, check tape, latch and contacts, and know when to get service.
• Ink bottle won't fit or ink won't flow into the tankBottle won't go in, or ink won't come out? Check the bottle code and color, remove the seal, seat it upright and see whether the tank is already full.
• Clogged print head or missing colorsGaps, missing colors or blank pages from an inkjet? Run nozzle checks and cleaning cycles the right way, then try deeper fixes for stubborn clogs.
• Streaks or lines on printed pagesWhite gaps, dark stripes or repeating marks on your prints? Work out whether nozzles, alignment, the drum or the scanner glass is to blame, and fix it.
• Printer prints the wrong colorsColors coming out wrong, missing or tinted? Check cartridges, nozzles and slot order, then fix grayscale and color management settings on Windows and Mac.

Guides for ink tank printers

• How to refill an ink tank printerRefill 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.
• How to move or ship an ink tank printerMove or ship an ink tank printer without leaks: lock the ink path if your model has a lock, seal the caps, keep it level and run a nozzle check afterwards.
• Ink tank vs cartridge printers: which costs lessCompare ink tank and cartridge printers by purchase price, cost per page and how much you print, and see when a laser printer is the better buy.
• How to run a nozzle checkPrint a nozzle check pattern from the printer, Windows or a Mac, read what the lines and blocks mean, and decide whether to clean, align or leave it alone.
• How to clean an inkjet print headRun a nozzle check and your printer's cleaning cycle to clear clogged inkjet nozzles, and learn when to stop, let it rest or clean by hand.
• A simple printer maintenance checklistKeep your printer reliable with a short weekly, monthly and yearly routine: regular prints, nozzle checks, roller cleaning, updates and good paper storage.

Error codes you may see

• Epson message: parts are near the end of their service lifeEpson's "parts near the end of their service life" message is a waste ink pad warning. Learn what it means, which models use a maintenance box and what to do.
• Canon error 5B00: the ink absorber is fullCanon support code 5B00 means the waste ink absorber has reached its limit and printing has stopped. Here is what it means and your safe options.
• Canon error B200: print head problemCanon error B200 usually points to a print head or electrical fault. Here is what it means, the safe checks to try and when the printer needs repair.
• Brother “Unable to Print” error with a numberBrother's "Unable to Print" error with a number means the printer found a problem it can't clear. The number varies by model; here is how to work through it.

Problems with connections, drivers and print queues are the same on every type of printer. See connection fixes and driver fixes.