What Ink Does the HP Photosmart 7520 Use?
Last Updated:Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide listed HP 564 Photo Black at about 300 pages (750 for 564XL), the same as the color cartridges. HP rates the photo black cartridge in 4x6 photos instead: about 130 for HP 564 and 290 for HP 564XL.
Quick Answer: The HP Photosmart 7520 uses HP 564 and HP 564XL ink cartridges in Black, Photo Black, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. The XL versions deliver the lowest cost-per-page on this 5-cartridge photo printer. Castle Ink sells remanufactured HP 564XL cartridges in all five colors.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
HP Photosmart 7520
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 90 | About 2.7¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 564XL (550 black / 750 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 86 | Most-reported problems: 'Problem with printer or ink system' / missing or failed printhead errors. HP staff call it a printhead hardware fault that a reset won't fix; printhead error appears right after a cartridge change and survives power cycling |
| Features (12%) | 83 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars. With neither owner ratings nor a published expert score, we cap this printer at 69 (Situational) until better data is available.
Discontinued. The Photosmart 7520 is a 2012 model that is no longer sold new, and HP names no direct successor. HP 564 cartridges are still sold, though some genuine 564XL parts are scarce.
CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 8, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
HP 564XL 5-packBlack, Photo Black + C/M/Y
HP 564XL BlackCN684WN · ~550 pages
HP 564XL CyanCB323WN · ~750 pages
HP 564XL Photo BlackCB322WN
HP 564XL 5-pack
HP 564XL Black
HP 564XL Cyan
HP 564XL Photo BlackOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Photosmart 7520 Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|
| HP 564 | Black | ~250 pages |
| HP 564 | Photo Black | ~130 4x6 photos |
| HP 564 | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~300 pages each |
| HP 564XL | Black | ~550 pages |
| HP 564XL | Photo Black | ~290 4x6 photos |
| HP 564XL | Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | ~750 pages each |
How to Replace Ink in the Photosmart 7520
- Power on the printer and open the cartridge access door — the carriage slides to the center.
- Press down on the empty cartridge tab and lift it straight out of the slot.
- Unwrap the new HP 564 or 564XL cartridge and remove the orange protective cap.
- Slide the new cartridge into the matching color slot at a slight angle, then press until it clicks.
- Close the access door.
Troubleshooting Tips
"Incompatible Print Cartridge" error: Remove the cartridge, wipe the copper contacts with a lint-free cloth, and reseat firmly. Power-cycle the printer if needed.
Faded photos or banding: Run a printhead cleaning from the printer's maintenance tools, once or twice, then print on photo paper again. If the printer reports a problem with the printer or ink system, see the owner questions below.
Photo Black running low quickly: The Photosmart 7520 uses Photo Black for high-quality photo prints. Keep a spare 564XL Photo Black on hand if you print photos often.
Cartridge not recognized: Ensure the orange tape is fully removed and the cartridge is seated all the way down.
What Photosmart 7520 owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, HP's support forum and owner reviews, answered in our words.
How many prints does the photo black cartridge give?
HP rates it in 4x6 photos, not letter pages: about 130 photos for the 564 and 290 for the 564XL. It is used for photo printing. The separate 564 black handles text.
The printer says there is a problem with the printer or ink system. Can I fix it?
Usually not with a reset. An HP staff reply on HP's forum says this error on the 7520 points to a printhead hardware fault. HP suggests working through its ink-system-failure document, then service or replacement if the printer is out of warranty.
Will it connect to my 5 GHz Wi-Fi network?
No. HP's datasheet lists 802.11b/g/n on 2.4 GHz only, and there is no Ethernet port. If your router splits its bands, join the printer to the 2.4 GHz one.
Can I print photos straight from a memory card?
Yes. It has SD/MMC and Memory Stick Duo slots, plus a 20-sheet photo tray that engages automatically when you print on photo paper.
Can I fax over Wi-Fi?
No. Faxing needs an analog phone line plugged into the printer. One Adorama reviewer points out that it won't fax over the wireless connection.
Photosmart 7520 quirks worth knowing
- It has a separate 20-sheet photo tray (up to 5 x 7 in.) above the 125-sheet main tray, so photo paper can stay loaded alongside plain paper.
- There are memory card slots, but the USB socket doesn't support PictBridge, so you can't print directly from a camera over USB (Trusted Reviews).
- Genuine HP 564XL Photo Black (CB322WN) is getting hard to find. Quill lists it as no longer available, and Tonerbuzz shows it and the 564XL colors out of stock. We still sell remanufactured 564XL photo black.
- Two-sided printing is automatic, but Trusted Reviews found duplex jobs slow and noted that the page is shrunk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Photosmart 7520 really use five cartridges?
Yes — Black, Photo Black, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. Photo Black is in addition to standard Black for photo quality.
Can I mix HP 564 and HP 564XL cartridges?
Yes — you can run any combination of standard and XL in the five slots.
How many pages does an HP 564XL black print?
About 550 pages at 5% coverage — roughly double the standard 564.
Are Castle Ink 564XL cartridges chipped to work with the Photosmart 7520?
Yes. Our 564XL cartridges are remanufactured original HP cartridges and keep the original HP chip, so the printer reads them and reports ink levels as usual.
Is shipping free?
On U.S. orders over $50, yes. Orders placed by 4 PM ET ship the same day.
More HP 564 printers: the four-cartridge HP Photosmart B110 and DeskJet 3520 use the same 564 black, cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges (they don't take photo black).
Other printers that use HP 564
HP Photosmart 5520 · HP Photosmart 7510 · HP Photosmart 6510 · HP OfficeJet 4620 · HP DeskJet 3510 · HP Photosmart 6520 · HP DeskJet 3520 · HP Photosmart B110
More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw (laser) — CastleScore 82
- HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e — CastleScore 79
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 8, 2026 and will change over time.
- HP Photosmart 7520 datasheet (specs and cartridge yields, PDF)
- HP Community: "problem with printer or ink system" on the Photosmart
- TechRadar Photosmart 7520 review
- Trusted Reviews Photosmart 7520 review
- Adorama Photosmart 7520 listing and ratings
- Tonerbuzz: HP 564 cartridges for the Photosmart 7520
Need replacement HP ink cartridges? Shop HP ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.