What is an ink cartridge?
An ink cartridge is the replaceable supply of liquid ink in an inkjet printer. It clips into the carriage that moves back and forth across the page. Laser printers don't use ink cartridges at all: they use a toner cartridge full of dry powder, a different consumable for a different printing process.
Two cartridge designs
| Cartridge with built-in printhead | Ink-only cartridge or tank | |
|---|---|---|
| What you replace | Ink and printhead together | Only the ink; the printhead stays in the printer |
| Clogged nozzles | A new cartridge brings fresh nozzles | Clean the permanent printhead; replacing it is a bigger repair |
| Price per cartridge | Usually higher | Usually lower |
Printers also differ in how colors are packaged. Some use one tri-color cartridge (cyan, magenta and yellow) plus black; others use a separate cartridge for each color, so you replace only the one that runs out. Refillable ink-tank printers skip cartridges and are filled from bottles. Inks can be dye-based (vivid colors) or pigment-based (more resistant to water and fading).
Installing a cartridge
- With the printer on, open the access cover; the carriage moves to the replacement position.
- Remove the old cartridge and unpack the new one. Pull off all protective tape without touching the nozzles or the electrical contacts.
- Press it into its slot until it clicks, matching the color label.
- Close the cover and let the printer initialize. Run the alignment or calibration routine when prompted, then print a test page.
Troubleshooting
- Cartridge not recognized: reseat it, make sure all the tape is off, and wipe the contacts gently with a lint-free cloth. Confirm it's the right model for the printer.
- Streaks, missing lines or a missing color: run the printer's nozzle check and head-cleaning cycle. Cleaning uses ink, so if a few cycles don't help, replace the cartridge or service the printhead.
- Dried ink: printers that sit unused for long periods clog. Printing a page now and then helps.
- Leaks or smears: replace any cartridge that leaks or smears when handled.
Recycle used cartridges through the manufacturer or a local recycling program rather than throwing them away.
For the CompTIA A+ exam
Core 1 (220-1201) objective 3.8 lists the ink cartridge with the inkjet parts, and inkjet maintenance includes cleaning printheads, replacing cartridges, calibrating and clearing jams. Watch for distractors that put ink in a laser printer or toner in an inkjet: ink cartridges are inkjet only.