Save 10% on your first order with code WELCOME10 →

What Ink Does the Canon PIXMA MX490 Use?

by Last Updated:

Quick answer: The Canon PIXMA MX490 uses Canon PG-245 (black) and CL-246 (tri-color) ink cartridges, or the high-yield PG-245XL and CL-246XL versions for a much lower cost-per-page.

Canon PIXMA MX490 ink cartridges - PG-245 and CL-246

Canon PIXMA MX490 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

  • Canon PG-245 Black — ~180 pages
  • Canon CL-246 Tri-Color — ~180 pages
  • Canon PG-245XL Black (high-yield) — ~300 pages
  • Canon CL-246XL Tri-Color (high-yield) — ~400 pages

The Canon PIXMA MX490 is a compact wireless office all-in-one designed for home offices that print, scan, copy, and fax. It uses two cartridges total — one pigment black (PG-245/245XL) and one tri-color (CL-246/246XL) — both of which drop into the same carriage that ships in the more common PIXMA TS3122, TS3322, and MG2522.

Standard vs. High-Yield: Which Should You Buy?

If you only print a few pages a week, the standard PG-245 and CL-246 cartridges will serve you fine. But if you're printing more than 30–40 pages a month, the XL high-yield versions almost always make sense. The XL black holds about 67% more ink than the standard for only a small price bump, and the XL tri-color more than doubles your page yield.

Save on Canon MX490 Ink with Compatible Cartridges

Genuine Canon ink runs roughly $20–$40 per cartridge, which adds up fast on a printer that originally sold for under $100. At Castle Ink, our compatible Canon PG-245XL Black Ink Cartridge and Canon CL-246XL Color Ink Cartridge match OEM print quality at a fraction of the price — every cartridge is backed by our satisfaction guarantee and ships same-day from the U.S.

How to Replace Ink in the Canon PIXMA MX490

  1. Power on the printer and open the front cover. The cartridge holder will move to the replacement position.
  2. Push down on the empty cartridge to release the lock, then lift it out.
  3. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging and pull off the orange protective tape — do not touch the gold contacts or the print head nozzles.
  4. Insert the new cartridge into the correct slot (color cartridge on the left, black on the right) and push up gently until you hear a click.
  5. Close the front cover. The printer will automatically run a short alignment routine.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • "Ink cartridge cannot be recognized" message: Remove the cartridge, wipe the gold chip with a dry lint-free cloth, and reinstall it firmly.
  • Faded or streaky prints: Run the built-in print head cleaning utility from the printer's Setup menu — repeat up to three times if needed.
  • Black prints fine but color is missing: The CL-246 tri-color cartridge has likely run dry on one channel. Replace it; you cannot top off individual colors.

Official Canon MX490 Resources

For driver downloads, firmware updates, and the full user manual, visit the official Canon PIXMA MX490 support page.

Bottom Line

The Canon PIXMA MX490 takes Canon PG-245/PG-245XL Black and CL-246/CL-246XL Tri-Color ink cartridges. Choose the XL versions if you print more than a few pages a week, and pick up Castle Ink's compatible cartridges to keep your cost-per-page low without sacrificing quality.

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

Back to Printer Support