Why Your Printer Says Ink Is Low (Even When It’s Not)

You’ve just put in a fresh ink cartridge, but your printer is already flashing a low ink warning. Sound familiar? It’s a common frustration for many printer owners — and no, you’re not imagining it. Here's why it happens, and what you can do about it.

1. Ink Level Estimates Aren’t Always Accurate

Most printers use software algorithms to estimate ink levels, rather than physically measuring the amount of ink inside the cartridge.

These estimates are based on page counts or droplet usage
They can be triggered early to avoid running out mid-print
The warning doesn’t always mean the cartridge is empty

This means there could still be plenty of usable ink left, especially if your printer is being overly cautious.

2. Built-in Chip Sensors Can Be Overprotective

Many ink cartridges contain chips or smart sensors that communicate with your printer. These are designed to:

Prevent printing with low ink to protect the printhead
Encourage early replacement (sometimes for sales reasons)
Lock out refilled or non-genuine cartridges

Unfortunately, these chips can sometimes misread or misreport the actual ink levels — especially if the cartridge is older or has been refilled.

3. Ink Can Shift During Use

Cartridges aren't just static ink tanks. They have internal sponges and channels. If the ink shifts or gets trapped in corners:

The printer may register it as “used” or “unavailable”
You could still squeeze more pages out of it
Gentle shaking may help redistribute ink temporarily

(Just be careful not to damage the cartridge or create a mess.)

What You Can Do

Keep printing if quality is still good — the warning is just a heads-up
Use genuine cartridges (like those sold at Crazy Kangaroo) to reduce errors
Check for firmware updates from the printer manufacturer
Avoid removing and reinstalling the cartridge multiple times, as this can confuse the sensor

And when it finally is time to replace your cartridge…