Canon MAXIFY Series Printer ‘Low Ink’ Warning: How to Fix
If you own a Canon MAXIFY series printer, you may occasionally be greeted with a “Low Ink” warning—even when you suspect there’s still ink left in the cartridge. While this alert is helpful for timely replacements, it can also be misleading and interrupt your printing, especially if you’re in the middle of important work. At Neon Electrix, we often help customers resolve this issue quickly so they can get back to business without unnecessary delays.
Here’s what to do when you encounter a ‘Low Ink’ warning on your Canon MAXIFY printer:
1. Verify the Ink Levels Manually
Sometimes, the printer’s sensor may misread the ink levels. You can double-check the levels by:
Accessing the printer’s control panel.
Navigating to Ink Information or Ink Levels.
Comparing the displayed levels to your printing output — if prints are still coming out clear, you may have more ink than the warning suggests.
2. Remove and Reinsert the Ink Cartridge
A simple reset can often fix false warnings:
Open the ink compartment.
Remove the cartridge showing the warning.
Wait a few seconds, then reinsert it firmly.
Close the compartment and allow the printer to recalibrate.
3. Replace the Ink Cartridge (If Needed)
If prints are faded or streaky, it may genuinely be time to replace the cartridge. Make sure to:
Use genuine Canon ink cartridges to avoid compatibility or detection issues.
Follow the printer’s prompts to install the new cartridge correctly.
4. Override the Warning (If Necessary)
Canon printers are sometimes overcautious. If you’re confident there’s ink remaining and need to keep printing:
Hold the “Stop” or “Resume” button for 5–10 seconds.
This may override the warning temporarily and allow printing to continue.
Be cautious—printing with low ink may affect print quality or damage the printhead over time.
5. Update Your Printer Firmware
An outdated firmware can cause persistent or inaccurate low ink warnings. Visit Canon’s support page and install the latest firmware for your MAXIFY model.
6. Run a Nozzle Check
If you’re unsure whether ink is truly running low:
From the printer menu, run a Nozzle Check or Print Head Cleaning.
This test will reveal any ink flow issues and confirm if replacement is necessary.
When to Call the Experts
If the ‘Low Ink’ warning won’t clear or your printer still refuses to function properly even after replacing cartridges, it may indicate a sensor or software problem. At Neon Electrix, our technicians are experienced with Canon MAXIFY series printers and can quickly diagnose the issue—whether it’s a faulty sensor, misaligned cartridge, or a deeper hardware fault.
Don’t let a warning slow you down. Contact Neon Electrix for fast, reliable printer support that gets you printing again with confidence.