How to Turn Off Low Ink and Ink Cartridge Warnings (HP, Epson, Canon, Brother)

Quick answer: You can usually turn off low ink pop-ups on your computer, but not the printer's own "empty" stop. On Epson, uncheck See Low Ink Reminder alerts in Monitoring Preferences. On Canon, turn off the low ink option in the IJ Status Monitor. On Brother, set Show Status Monitor to Off. On HP, turn off supply notifications in the HP app (formerly HP Smart) or in your operating system's notification settings.

This guide is for anyone tired of "ink low" nags, or seeing a low ink message right after putting in a fresh cartridge. The key gotcha: a low ink warning and an "empty" or "not recognized" error are different things. If your printer refuses a cartridge outright, see our guide to ink cartridge not recognized errors on HP, Epson, Canon and Brother instead. This article covers the alerts and pop-ups.

Can you turn off low ink warnings on a printer?

Yes, partly. You can turn off most pop-ups on your computer or phone, but the printer itself will still show an ink icon and will still stop when it decides a cartridge is empty.

It helps to separate three kinds of messages:

• Computer and phone pop-ups. These come from the maker's software (the HP app, EPSON Status Monitor, Canon IJ Status Monitor, Brother Status Monitor). You can switch these off.
• Printer panel messages. The "Ink Low" icon or message on the printer's screen. On most home models you can dismiss it, but you cannot hide it permanently.
• Empty or "replace ink" stops. The printer refuses to print until you swap the cartridge. Only a few printers (mainly some Canon models) let you override this, and the maker warns against it.

Turning off a pop-up does not change how much ink you have. It only stops the reminders.

How do you turn off low ink alerts on an HP printer?

Turn off ink or supply notifications in the HP app (formerly HP Smart), then turn off the app's notifications in Windows, macOS, iOS or Android if pop-ups continue.

1. Open the HP app (called HP Smart on older installs) and select your printer.
2. Open the printer's Settings and look for a Notifications section. Turn off ink or supply alerts. HP's own support staff note the exact labels vary by app version.
3. If alerts still appear, block them at the system level (see the Windows and Mac section below). On an iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications, choose the HP app, and turn off Allow Notifications.
4. On a Mac that uses the older HP Utility, an HP support agent recommends Message Center > Settings, then clearing Show extended alerts for and clicking Apply Now.

The printer's own screen will still show a low ink icon, and you can't switch that off. On models like the OfficeJet Pro 8620, you can keep printing while a cartridge reads low, but HP printers stop once a cartridge is reported as depleted. HP says you do not need to replace cartridges until you are prompted to.

Some HP messages are not ink level warnings at all. HP's Cartridge Protection and Dynamic Security firmware can block cartridges it doesn't accept. That is a recognition problem, covered in our cartridge not recognized guide and our explainer on the HP firmware lawsuit and third-party ink blocking.

How do you turn off the low ink pop-up on an Epson printer?

On Windows, right-click the Epson printer icon in the taskbar, choose Monitoring Preferences, and clear the See Low Ink Reminder alerts checkbox.

Windows

1. Right-click the Epson printer icon in the Windows taskbar (near the clock).
2. Select Monitoring Preferences.
3. Clear See Low Ink Reminder alerts at the bottom of the window.
4. Optional: clear Display Epson Offers in the same window to stop promotional pop-ups.
5. Click OK.

If the taskbar icon isn't there, open the printer driver and go to the Maintenance tab, then Monitoring Preferences. Some models also need Enable EPSON Status Monitor 3 checked under Extended Settings before the monitor works at all.

Mac

On a Mac, EPSON Status Monitor opens from System Settings > Printers & Scanners, your printer, Options & Supplies > Utility > Open Printer Utility. Epson's Mac guides don't document a low ink reminder checkbox. If an Epson app is sending alerts, turn off its notifications in macOS (steps below).

Epson printers stop when a cartridge is expended, whether the pop-up is on or off. Some models offer a temporary black-only mode when a color cartridge runs out.

How do you disable ink level detection on a Canon printer?

When a Canon shows an "ink has run out" error (such as 1688 or 1689), Canon says you can press and hold Stop for at least 5 seconds to turn off ink level detection.

That is a different thing from hiding pop-ups. Here are both.

Hide the low ink pop-up (Windows)

1. Open the Canon IJ Status Monitor (if prompted, select Enable Status Monitor).
2. Open the Option menu, then Display Warning Automatically.
3. Uncheck When a Low Ink Warning Occurs.
4. Optional: uncheck Start when Windows is Started so the monitor doesn't launch at boot.

Turn off ink level detection (ink-out errors only)

1. When the ink-out error appears, press and hold the printer's Stop button for at least 5 seconds.
2. Release it. Canon says the printer remembers this setting.

Read this before you do it: Canon's manual states that "printing under the ink out condition may damage the machine." Canon also says it isn't responsible for problems caused by printing with empty tanks or refilled tanks. After you disable detection, the ink gauge for that tank turns gray or white, so you will have to judge the ink by print quality. Watch for faint or streaky output and replace the tank quickly. If your Canon is stuck in an error loop afterward, our guides to Canon printer error codes and how to reset a Canon printer can help.

How do you stop Brother low ink messages?

Right-click the Brother Status Monitor icon, choose Status Monitor Settings > Options, open the Basic tab, and set Show Status Monitor to Off.

1. Right-click the Brother Status Monitor icon in the Windows taskbar (or its window).
2. Select Status Monitor Settings, then Options.
3. Choose the Basic tab.
4. Set Show Status Monitor to Off and click OK.

To close the monitor completely for this session, right-click its icon, choose Exit, and confirm. You can still open it later from Brother Utilities > Tools > Status Monitor.

Brother is clear about what "Ink Low" means: prepare a new cartridge, and keep printing until the screen shows Replace Ink. At that point the printer stops printing (scanning still works). On some inkjet models, an expended color cartridge triggers B&W Print Only, which lets you print grayscale on plain paper for a while.

How do you turn off printer ink notifications in Windows and on a Mac?

Block the printer app's notifications in your system settings, and stop its status monitor from launching at startup.

Windows 11 and 10

1. Open Settings > System > Notifications.
2. Under Notifications from apps and other senders, find the HP app (or your printer's app) and switch it off.
3. To keep a status monitor from starting with Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Startup and turn its toggle off. You can also use Task Manager > Startup apps > Disable.

Mac

1. Open Apple menu > System Settings > Notifications.
2. Under Application Notifications, select the printer app.
3. Turn off Allow notifications.

System-level blocking is the most reliable fix when an app ignores its own settings. The trade-off: you also lose alerts about paper jams and errors, so check ink levels yourself now and then. Our guide on how to check ink levels on an HP printer shows where to look.

Why does my printer say low ink after I put in a new cartridge?

Usually the printer hasn't read the new cartridge properly, or the cartridge chip reports a level the printer can't trust. Reseating and restarting fixes most cases.

1. Reseat the cartridge. Take it out and push it back until it clicks.
2. Check for tape. Remove any protective tape or plastic tab, and make sure nothing covers the copper contacts or chip.
3. Clean the contacts. Wipe the chip and the carriage contacts gently with a lint-free cloth.
4. Power cycle the printer. Turn it off, unplug it for a minute, and turn it back on so it rereads every cartridge.
5. Check you replaced the right color. The message may refer to a different cartridge than the one you changed.

With remanufactured cartridges, the printer may show a stale level, a question mark, or a "used cartridge" note, because it tracks ink by counting, not by measuring. If you see that, the cartridge is often full and will print normally. For more fixes, see new ink cartridge not working.

Is it safe to keep printing after the low ink warning?

Yes. Printing after a low ink warning is normal and safe. The risk comes from forcing a printer to keep going after it reports a cartridge as empty.

"Low" means the estimate is getting close to the end. "Empty" means the printer has decided to stop. Each brand handles that line differently:

The reason makers stop at "empty" is the printhead. Many HP cartridges carry the printhead on the cartridge itself, but on printers with a built-in head (most Epson, Canon tank models, Brother and HP OfficeJet Pro), ink flowing through the nozzles helps keep them healthy. Running them dry can leave air in the lines and cause clogs. Running extra cleaning cycles to clear them also uses ink and fills the waste pad, which on Epson is the maintenance box.

How many pages can you print after the low ink warning appears?

There's no fixed number. It depends on the printer, the cartridge, and what you print, but most people get anywhere from a handful of pages to many more.

Manufacturers call their gauges estimates. HP describes its ink level indicators as approximate and meant for planning, and says not to replace until prompted. Epson calls its levels approximate too. Canon only says to prepare a new cartridge and that quality may suffer if you keep going. Brother says to keep printing until Replace Ink appears.

A practical approach:

• Order a replacement when you see the first warning, so you're never stuck.
• Keep printing until you see faded text, missing colors or streaks.
• Print a nozzle check if output starts to look off. If lines are missing, that cartridge is truly near the end.
• Text pages use far less ink than photos, so the remaining life varies widely.

Why are printer ink level warnings inaccurate?

Most printers don't measure ink. They estimate it by counting drops fired and cleaning cycles run, then store that count on the cartridge chip, so small errors add up.

• Drop counting. The printer guesses usage from what it printed. Cleaning cycles, startup priming and evaporation all use ink the count may not reflect exactly.
• Safety margin. Makers warn early on purpose so you have time to buy a spare.
• Chip memory. The level lives on the chip. A refilled or remanufactured cartridge with an original chip may still show the old level, a question mark, or "empty."
• Compatible cartridges. New third-party chips may report levels differently, and Epson notes its monitor may not show accurate status for incompatible or improperly installed cartridges.

So a "?" or a blank gauge isn't a fault. Watch print quality instead. Our breakdown of compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink explains how each type reports levels, and whether third-party ink matters for coverage is covered in does compatible ink void your warranty.

Castle Ink sells many remanufactured cartridges built on original manufacturer chips, such as our HP 950XL/951XL high-yield 4-pack for the OfficeJet Pro 8600 series. If your gauge reads oddly after installing one, trust the prints, and use find ink by printer to match the right cartridge to your model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

Steps and settings were checked on October 24, 2026 and can change with software updates.

• Epson: Checking Cartridge Status with Windows
• Canon: Online Manual, Error 1689 (MG7700 series)
• Canon: Canon IJ Status Monitor Description
• Brother: Turn Off the Show Status Monitor Feature (Windows)
• Brother: Error and Maintenance Messages (MFC-J4335DW)
• HP: Ink level indicators and replacing cartridges (OfficeJet 6600/6700)
• Microsoft Support: Notifications and Do Not Disturb in Windows
• Apple Support: Notifications settings on Mac