Having an issue with your cartridges or print quality? Most problems can be fixed in a few minutes with the right steps. Tap the question below that matches your issue and follow the guide.
Quick check first: Around 2 out of every 5 customers who report a problem have actually ordered the wrong cartridge for their printer. Before troubleshooting, please use our cartridge finder on Ink.ie to confirm you have the correct cartridges for your model.
Common problems
My cartridge won't work / isn't recognised by the printer
If you're 100% sure you have the correct cartridges, work through the following steps in order.
Step 1 — Identify the problem cartridgeIf you don't know which cartridge is causing the error, remove all the new cartridges and put your old empty ones back in. Turn the printer off, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on. Now replace your cartridges one by one until the printer shows the error — that's the one to focus on.
Step 2 — Check the basics- Tape removed? Make sure all protective tape has been removed from the chip and print head. You'd be surprised how often this is the cause.
- Chip clean? Even a fingerprint can stop the chip from being read. Gently wipe the chip with a lint-free cloth.
- Inserted fully? Cartridges often need to be pushed in further than you'd expect — until you hear or feel it click into place.
- Try reseating it. Sometimes a printer simply won't read the chip first time. Remove the cartridge and reinsert it.
Install all cartridges, double-check the steps above, then turn the printer off completely and leave it for 10–15 minutes. Turn it back on. This clears the printer's memory and often resolves recognition issues.
Still no luck? Contact us and we'll arrange a replacement straight away.
My prints are streaky, faded or poor quality
Poor print quality is usually caused by one of four things. Try them in this order.
Step 1 — Check the vent holeEvery cartridge has a small vent hole that allows air to circulate — without it, the ink won't flow properly. Make sure any "pull" tab or tape covering this hole has been fully removed. If you can see a thin sticky film over the hole, pierce it gently with a toothpick.
The vent hole is usually on the top of the cartridge — but on some models it's on the bottom.
Some printers automatically switch to greyscale, eco mode, or draft mode when ink runs low — and these settings often stick. Go into your printer settings and make sure the print mode is set to "Normal" or "Best Quality".
Step 3 — Run a head cleaning cycleClogged print heads are the most common cause of streaky prints. From your printer's menu or software, run a head cleaning cycle. In stubborn cases this may need to be repeated several times — sometimes up to 10–20 cycles for heavily clogged heads.
If multiple cleaning cycles don't help, you may need to physically clean the print heads. Every printer model is slightly different — search YouTube for "[your printer model] head cleaning" and you'll usually find a step-by-step video.
Step 4 — Test with a different cartridgeIf you have a spare or an older cartridge to hand, swap it in and run a test print. This tells you whether the issue is the cartridge or the printer itself.
If you've worked through all the above and the cartridge is still the problem, contact us and we'll arrange a replacement.
Still stuck?
Our customer service team has helped thousands of customers fix printer issues — and we'll happily send a replacement if needed.
