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What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA MG7520 Use?

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The Canon PIXMA MG7520 is a wireless photo all-in-one printer that uses six individual cartridges: Canon PGI-250 pigment black plus CLI-251 black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and gray. Standard and XL high-yield versions are available so you can balance ink cost against print volume.

Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Cartridge Color Yield Options
PGI-250 Pigment Black Standard, XL
CLI-251 Black (dye) Standard, XL
CLI-251 Cyan Standard, XL
CLI-251 Magenta Standard, XL
CLI-251 Yellow Standard, XL
CLI-251 Gray Standard, XL

The PGI-250/CLI-251 cartridge family is also used by other Canon PIXMA models including the iP7220, iP8720, iX6820, MG5420, MG5520, MG6320, MG6420, MG6620, MG6820, MG7720, MX722, and MX922. The Gray cartridge is specific to MG7-series photo models for richer black-and-white photo prints.

Save on PGI-250 and CLI-251 Ink

Castle Ink offers compatible PGI-250 and CLI-251 cartridges including the Gray, at significant savings versus OEM with matching page yields. Shop PGI-250 cartridges or browse CLI-251 colors for your MG7520.

How to Replace Ink in the Canon PIXMA MG7520

  1. Power on the printer and gently lift the inner cover; the cartridge holder slides to the access position.
  2. Press the lamp tab on the empty cartridge and lift it straight up out of the print head.
  3. Unwrap the new cartridge and remove the orange protective cap from the bottom.
  4. Insert the cartridge into the matching colored slot and press down until it clicks and the LED lights.
  5. Close the inner cover and run a print head alignment if prompted.

Troubleshooting Tips

Cartridge not recognized: Remove the cartridge, wipe its gold contacts with a lint-free cloth, and reseat it firmly until the LED illuminates.

Faded or streaky prints: Run a print head cleaning from Setup > Maintenance. Repeat up to three times before swapping cartridges.

Gray prints look off: Make sure the CLI-251 Gray cartridge is installed and has ink remaining; without gray, monochrome photos use a black-only path.

B200 print head error: Power cycle the printer; if the error persists, remove and reseat all cartridges and the print head assembly.

Official Canon Resources

Canon MG7520 Support Page | Canon Genuine Ink

Bottom Line

The Canon PIXMA MG7520 uses six PGI-250/CLI-251 cartridges including a dedicated Gray for photo printing. Choose XL yields for the lowest cost per page, and consider Castle Ink's compatibles for additional savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Gray cartridge required? Yes, all six cartridges must be installed for normal operation; the Gray improves photo quality but is needed for printing in general.

Will PGI-270 cartridges fit the MG7520? No, the MG7520 requires PGI-250/CLI-251; PGI-270/CLI-271 have different chips and shapes.

Are XL cartridges worth it? Yes, XL cartridges roughly double the ink and lower the cost per page versus standard yields.

Do compatible cartridges void my Canon warranty? No, under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, compatible cartridges don't void your warranty unless they cause damage.

How do I check ink levels? Tap the LCD home screen and select Setup > Estimated Ink Levels to see each cartridge's remaining ink.

Written by William Elward, founder of Castle Ink, with 20+ years of experience in the printer and ink industry.

Written and reviewed by — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.

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