How to Check Canon Printer Ink Levels? Quick Tips!
Running out of ink in the middle of an important print job can be annoying, especially if you don’t have time to change cartridges. Canon printers are constructed with users in mind and find convenient ways to inform you about your usable ink so you avoid those last-minute surprises. Knowing how to check Canon printer ink levels will allow you to prepare, maintain quality prints, and use your printer more efficiently.
Regardless of where you use your Canon printer, at home, work, or professionally, knowing how to track the usable ink levels will save you time and stress. In this article, we will go through the various methods for checking the ink levels on Canon printers, including using software tools built-in to the printer and performing manual checks to help make the process as easy and as reliable as possible for every user.
Why Monitoring Ink Levels is Important?
Tracking usable ink levels is not just to avoid printing a blank page. Keeping ink levels in mind can help you plan, order replacement cartridges, and replace ink regularly before running them out of ink completely. If you have low ink levels, you can experience low-quality prints such as faded text or streaks in the image. This can result in business and school needs would have to be solved at the last minute only to go through the hassle of re-printing a project or a presentation.
Methods to Check Ink Levels on Canon Printers
1. Using Canon Printer Software
Canon has printer software available for Windows and macOS, which allows you to check your ink levels quickly. Once you have installed this software, it will show a graphic of your cartridge with the ink status.
On Windows, you can open Canon printer utility either from the Control Panel or by clicking its desktop shortcut (on the desktop or the taskbar).
On macOS, you can find the Canon IJ Printer Utility from System Preferences under “Printers and Scanners.”
The software is relatively simple to use, provides pretty good ink status, and will show some maintenance options, like printhead cleaning, as well
2. Checking Through Printer’s LCD Screen
Most Canon printers have a small LCD or touchscreen display. This built-in option is one of the fastest ways to check on your ink levels, without a computer. The only requirement is to set up and navigate through the printer menu where you should find either “Ink Status” or “Maintenance” section. The display should show the estimated ink remaining for each cartridge.
3. Using the Canon PRINT App
For those who prefer using mobile solutions, the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app will work well. This app is available through the Android and iOS stores and allows you to connect a printer and mobile device to the same Wi-Fi network. From there, it is easy to check ink levels, order cartridges (online), or manage print jobs. This is particularly useful for home offices with multiple users sharing a printer.
4. Manual Inspection of Ink Cartridges
If you do not have access to software or a display screen, a manual check may be necessary. Carefully remove the ink cartridges from the printer and look for ink visibility indicators or transparent sections on the cartridge. While this method may not provide exact percentages, it can give you a clear idea of whether a cartridge is nearly empty.
Tips for Maintaining Ink Efficiency
Using ink efficiently in your Canon printer is just as important as knowing how to check it. Below are some other tips to keep in mind:
- Print often – this prevents the cartridges from drying out.Â
- Use the printer’s cleaning function instead of manually wiping cartridges.
- Keep spare ink cartridges and protect them from heat and moisture.Â
- Be sure to select the correct print setting: use draft mode or lower quality for non-essential documents where ink usage does not matter.
Common Issues When Checking Ink Levels
There are times when you will notice issues on a printer where the ink levels are not correct. This can occur due to third-party cartridges the printer cannot track correctly, an outdated driver for your printer, or an issue with the connection of the printer to the computer hosting the effort. In these situations, updating the printer driver or reinstalling the Canon software usually resolves the issue.
When to Replace Ink Cartridges?
When your printer recognizes low ink, you do not have to to change the cartridges right away. Most Canon printers still have usable ink left after the warning displays. If your prints begin to look faded or streaky, it is time to change your cartridges. Always keep a back-up pair of cartridges available especially if you rely on or use the printer for work or school.
Conclusion
Learning how to check Canon printer ink levels is an easy but vital way to maintain your printer, resulting in fewer interruptions. It doesn’t matter if you use Canon’s printer software, the built-in LCD screen, the Canon PRINT mobile application, or even do an old-fashioned manual check, all of these methods give you the power to stay in control of your ink.
By staying on top of the status of your ink, you can prepare ahead of time, control print quality, and ensure your printer is active when you need to use it the most. With these simple checks to utilize, it should be easy to keep your Canon printer working reliably without worrying about running out of ink unexpectedly.
