How to Replace the Ink in a Canon Printer (PIXMA, MAXIFY & TS Series)

Quick answer: On most Canon PIXMA and MAXIFY printers you replace ink by powering the printer on, opening the cover so the carriage slides to the center, pressing the old cartridge down to release it, pulling the orange tape off the new one, and clicking it in until it seats. The whole job takes about two minutes. The part that trips people up is buying the right cartridge number in the first place.

Before You Start

• The correct replacement cartridge for your exact model — Canon reuses similar-looking cartridges across very different printers.
• A sheet of paper for a test print.
• A dry lint-free cloth, in case the contacts need wiping.

Not sure which cartridge you need? Look it up on our Find Ink by Printer Model page before you order.

Identify Your Cartridge Type

Canon uses two very different systems, and the replacement procedure differs slightly:

• Two-cartridge FINE system — one black and one tri-color cartridge, each with the printhead built in. Most entry-level PIXMA models (PG-/CL- numbers).
• Individual ink tanks — four, five or six separate tanks that drop into a fixed printhead. Higher-end PIXMA and MAXIFY models (PGI-/CLI- numbers).

If your cartridge number starts with PG or CL, you have the two-cartridge system. If it starts with PGI or CLI, you have individual tanks.

Step 1: Turn the Printer On and Open the Cover

Leave the printer powered on. This matters: with the power on, opening the cover makes the carriage slide to the center replacement position on its own. If you replace cartridges with the printer off, the carriage stays parked and the printer may not register the new cartridge.

Lift the scanner unit or open the front cover, depending on your model, and wait for the carriage to stop moving before reaching in.

Step 2: Remove the Empty Cartridge

Push the cartridge down or squeeze the release tab, then lift it straight out. Do not force it sideways. On individual-tank models the empty tank usually has a flashing lamp, which makes it easy to identify the one you need.

Old cartridges can be recycled — see Where to Recycle Printer Ink Cartridges Near You for free drop-off options.

Step 3: Prepare the New Cartridge

Take the new cartridge out of its packaging. Most Canon cartridges have an orange protective tape or plastic tab over the nozzle plate and vent hole. Remove it before installing. Leave it on and the printer cannot draw ink, and you will get an error that looks like a faulty cartridge.

Pull the tab off firmly but gently — it should come away in one piece. Do not touch the copper contact strip or the nozzle plate afterwards; skin oils on either will cause exactly the problems you are trying to avoid.

Step 4: Insert the New Cartridge

Hold the cartridge with the label facing you and slide it into the matching slot. On two-cartridge models the color and black slots are different sizes, so a cartridge will only go into the correct one — but check the label anyway, since color is usually on the left and black on the right.

Push until you hear or feel a definite click. A cartridge that is merely resting in the slot is the single most common cause of a not-recognized error.

Step 5: Close the Cover

Lower the scanner unit or close the front cover. The printer will run a short initialization — roughly 30 seconds to two minutes, with some mechanical noise. That is normal. Do not open the cover or power the printer off while it runs.

Step 6: Print a Test Page

Print a test page to confirm the cartridge is feeding. On most PIXMA models you can do this from the maintenance menu on the printer, from the Canon IJ Printer Utility on a Mac, or from Printer Properties on Windows.

If the page shows streaks or missing colors, run one cleaning cycle and test again. Resist the urge to run cleaning repeatedly — each cycle uses a noticeable amount of ink, and three back-to-back cleanings will cost you more ink than the streaky page was worth.

Canon Cartridge Numbers by Series

Canon's naming is the hard part of this whole job. These are the families you are most likely to meet:

Treat this as a starting point, not gospel: Canon has shipped very similar-looking printers with different cartridges, and the only number that matters is the one printed on the cartridge you are replacing. Check your exact model on Find Ink by Printer Model if there is any doubt.

Can You Use HP or Epson Ink in a Canon Printer?

No — and this is asked often enough to be worth answering plainly. Cartridges from different manufacturers use different physical shapes, different electrical contact layouts and different chips. An HP or Epson cartridge will not seat in a Canon carriage, and in the rare cases where something can be forced into place the printer will not recognize it.

That is a completely separate question from whether you must buy Canon-branded ink. You do not. A compatible or remanufactured cartridge is built to Canon's own specification for your model — correct shape, correct chip, correct printhead — and installs exactly as described above. What you cannot do is cross brands.

Troubleshooting: Canon Says the Cartridge Is Not Recognized

Work through these in order:

1. Check the orange tape is fully off. This is the cause more often than everything else combined.
2. Reseat the cartridge. Remove it and push it back in until it clicks properly. A partial seat reads as a missing cartridge.
3. Wipe the copper contacts with a dry lint-free cloth — no alcohol, no water.
4. Confirm the cartridge is rated for your model number, not just the series. A PG-275 will not work in a printer that takes PG-285.
5. Power-cycle the printer. Turn it off at the button, unplug for 60 seconds, plug back in.

If the printer prints but the output is poor rather than absent, the cartridge is being recognized and the problem is a clogged nozzle instead — that is a cleaning-cycle problem, not an installation one.

Save on Canon Ink at Castle Ink

Castle Ink carries compatible and remanufactured Canon cartridges with free U.S. shipping and a one-year quality guarantee:

• Canon PG-245XL Black and Canon CL-246XL Tri-Color
• Canon PG-275XL Black and Canon CL-276XL Color
• Canon PGI-270XL / CLI-271XL 5-Pack Set
• Canon PGI-280XXL / CLI-281XXL 5-Pack Set
• All Canon ink cartridges

Frequently Asked Questions

Should the printer be on or off when changing Canon ink?
On. The carriage only moves to the replacement position when the printer is powered on and you open the cover.

Do I have to remove the orange tape?
Yes, always. Leaving it on blocks the vent and nozzle plate, and the printer will report an error that looks like a defective cartridge.

Why does my Canon printer say no cartridge after I installed one?
Usually tape left on, or a cartridge that has not clicked fully into place. Reseat it firmly and wipe the copper contacts with a dry cloth.

Can I put HP ink in a Canon printer?
No. The cartridges are physically and electrically incompatible. Compatible Canon-format cartridges from a third party are a different thing entirely, and those work normally.

How do I know which Canon cartridge my printer takes?
Read the number off the cartridge you are removing, or look your model up on Find Ink by Printer Model. Similar-looking Canon printers often take different cartridges.

See Also

• Find Ink by Printer Model
• What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TS3722 Use?
• What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA TR4722 Use?
• What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA MG6821 Use?
• Which Printers Work Best With Compatible Ink
• Printer Ink Cost Calculator

By William Elward, Founder of Castle Ink — 20+ years helping people solve printer and ink problems. Last updated August 24, 2026.