There are a number of reasons why ink is not flowing through the cartridge, despite there being plenty of ink in the cartridge.


The most common cause for this is infrequent usage.  If your printer is not used on a regular basis, at least once a week, the cartridge can dry up and then become clogged as a result.  This can be reduced by printing more frequently or running regular cleans and ink tests to ensure the nozzles remain clean.  Printing a test page occasionally can also help with this.


A second common issue can be if the cartridge has not been stored correctly, in the stored warehouse or at home.  Store the cartridge in the upright position.  This keeps the sponge moist near the print head proper capillary ink movement when installed.   Always ensure that your printer is kept in a room with a stable temperature as temperature can affect the performance of your ink cartridges.  Simply store them in a cool, dark place.


There are a few methods to try to resolve the issue:


Run your print-head cleaning function on your printer.  This option may be available through your computer or as a function on the printer itself.  Your user manual will give you guidance if you are unsure how to do this.  If you have to continually repeat this then follow the steps below. 


If the printhead clean doesn’t help then soaking the printhead may help.  

  • Take a few paper towels and fold them into a thick rectangle to protect the surface below. Wet the paper towels with warm, water.
  • Place the ink cartridge printhead side down on the damp paper towels.  Be careful not to touch the chip or the printhead with your hands as the oils on your fingers can cause damage to these sensitive parts. 
  • After a minute or so, lift the ink cartridge off the paper towel.  If there are clear lines of ink on the paper towels, pat the ink cartridge dry with some more paper towels or a lint-free cloth, put it back in the printer and print a test page.


If this doesn’t help, you may have to soak the ink cartridge. 

  • Put the cartridge printhead side down in a bowl of warm. 
  • Wait a few minutes and check to see if any ink has flowed into the water.  
  • If ink has flowed into the water, take some paper towel, dry the cartridge and try it again in the printer.
  • If it hasn’t, you can take a cotton bud soaked in warm water and rub it gently along the printhead to help unclog the nozzles.


If you find that after following this procedure you are still having a problem please contact us, include your order number, model of printer and provide us with the exact error message shown on the printer.