How to Troubleshoot Inkjet Cartridge Issues on Your Dell Printer

Table of Contents:

1. Verify That Ink Cartridges Are the Proper Cartridges and Have Not Been Refilled
2. Verify Packing Tape has Been Removed From Ink Cartridge
3. Verify That the Ink Cartridges Are Installed in the Correct Slots
4. Make Sure the Printer Preferences are Set to Use all Available Ink
5. Perform a Power On Reset of the Printer

---

This article provides information on how to resolve the printer not recognizing the ink cartridge(s) or only prints in one color. The error messages may include Cartridge Alignment, Cartridge Error, Cartridge Missing or Unsupported Cartridge.

---

1: Verify That Ink Cartridges Are the Proper Cartridges and Have Not Been Refilled

Dell does not recommend the use of refilled or third-party ink cartridges. These cartridges can potentially damage the printer.

To verify the cartridges are Dell-branded, take the cartridges out of the printer and look at the top. Verify that the cartridge has the word Dell molded into the cartridge case (Figure 1). For more information on identifying the proper printer cartridges, refer to the Online User's Guide.

Figure 1: Dell-branded ink cartridges

Back to Top

---

2: Verify Packing Tape has Been Removed From Ink Cartridge

1. Make sure the printer is turned on.

 

• Lift the printer's front cover.

 

• Squeeze the tabs on the cartridge lids and lift the cartridge lids up.
  The cartridges pop up when the lids are fully lifted.

 

• Remove the cartridges.

 

• Inspect and remove any remaining blue packaging tape from the ink cartridge.

 

• Shake the Dell series cartridges before reseating them.

 

• Reinstall the cartridges.

 

• Make sure the lip is in the correct position (Figure 2).
  
  Figure 2: Ink cartridge lip location

 

• Snap the lids closed.

 

• Close the printer's front cover.

Back to Top

---

3: Verify That the Ink Cartridges Are Installed in the Correct Slots

The Dell All-In-One printers come with two separate ink compartments that are not interchangeable. The black ink cartridge cannot be used in the color ink cartridge slot and vice versa.
 

1. Turn the printer on.

2. Raise the front cover of the printer so that the ink cartridge carrier moves to the center.

3. Inspect the ink cartridges ensuring that the black ink cartridge is inserted into the left-hand ink compartment and that the color ink cartridge is inserted into the right-hand ink compartment.

   Note: If the ink cartridges are not in their correct slots, carefully remove the ink cartridges and re-insert them into the correct slots. Make sure the lip is in the correct position (Figure 3).
   
   Figure 3: Ink cartridge lip location
4. Close the front cover of the printer.

​Back to Top

---

4: Make Sure the Printer Preferences is Set to Use all Available Ink

Click on the Operating System from the list below that is on the computer.

• Click Here if Windows 10 is Installed
• Click Here if Windows 8 is Installed
• Click Here if Windows 7 is Installed
• Click Here if Windows Vista is Installed
• Click Here if Windows XP is Installed

Windows 10

1. In the Search box. type Devices and Printers (Control panel).

2. Touch and hold or right-click your printer to open the Options menu.

3. Touch or click Printing Preferences.

4. Select Print using all available ink from the lower right-hand corner.

5. Touch or click OK.

---

Windows 8

1. Move your pointer to the right-hand corner of your screen to open the Charms bar.

2. Click the Search charm and type Control Panel into the search box.

3. Click the Control Panel app.

4. On the View by drop-down list box, select Category.

5. Under Hardware and Sound, click View devices and printers.

6. Right-click your printer to open the Options menu.

7. Click Printing Preferences.

8. Select Print using all available ink from the lower right-hand corner.

9. Click OK.

---

Windows 7

1. Click Start.

2. Click Devices and Printers.

3. Right-click your printer.

4. Select Printer Preferences.

5. Make sure Print using all available ink is selected (lower right-hand corner).

6. Click OK .

---

Windows Vista

1. Click Start.

2. Click Control Panel.

3. Click Printer or Printers.

4. Right-click your printer.

5. Select Printer Preferences.

6. Make sure Print using all available ink is selected (lower right-hand corner).

7. Click OK .

---

Windows XP

To uninstall the Dell webcam central software, perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button.

2. Click Printers and Faxes.

3. Right-click your printer.

4. Select Printer Preferences.

5. Make sure Print using all available ink is selected (lower right-hand corner).

6. Click OK .

---

5: Perform a Power On Reset of the Printer

1. Turn the printer off.

2. Disconnect the power and data cables from the printer.

3. Wait at least five seconds.

4. Reconnect the power and data cables to the printer.

5. Turn the printer on.

Back to Top

---