How to Check Printer Ink Levels

There are certain universal truths in life that cannot be ignored. One such truth is that if you are in a hurry and trying to print an important document, the printer will inevitably be out of ink. However, it doesn’t have to be this way! By periodically taking a few moments to check your printer ink levels, you can ensure that you never find yourself without printer ink again.

The process for checking printer ink levels is simple. That said, it does change slightly based on the type of printer and computer operating system you have. To help you efficiently navigate your system, this article details how to check printer ink levels on many of the most popular printer brands.

HP Printers

HP Printers are one of the most popular brands for both home offices and businesses. While their printers range from inexpensive basic models to wireless multi-functional printers, HP has worked diligently to ensure that their printer software is intuitive and consistent across models. Printer ink levels in HP Printers can be checked from either a connected computer or from the printer control panel (if present).

Checking Ink Levels from Your Printer:

1. Most HP Printers come with a built-in control panel. On the control panel, use the arrow keys to go to the printer menu.
2. In the printer menu, look for the ink icon. Depending on the printer model, the ink icon will be an ink drop, a cartridge icon, or a Toner Level Indicator.
3. Click on the applicable icon. The printer will then print a one-page report detailing current ink levels.

Checking Ink Levels with Windows:

There are two possible ways to check printer ink levels from a Windows computer:

• Using the Printer Software:
  1. Download the “HP Smart” application or “HP Print and Scan Doctor” application from the Windows store.
  2. Add the printer to the “HP Smart” or “HP Print and Scan Doctor” application.
  3. Open the application and click “Printer/Supply Levels.” A pop-up window will appear with the estimated ink and toner levels.
• Using the Printer Software:
  1. From the desktop, select the “Start” menu and search for “HP Solution Center.”
  2. Select “HP Solution Center.” A pop-up will appear.
  3. Select “Maintain Your Printer” to see estimated ink levels.

Checking Ink Levels with MacOS:

1. Click the Apple icon and select “System Preferences.”
2. In the pop-up window, select “Print & Fax,” “Print & Scan,” or “Printers & Scanners,” depending on your system.
3. Select your printer.
4. Select “Options & Supplies.”
5. In the “Options &Supplies” window, click on the “Supply Levels” tab. The tab will display approximate remaining ink levels.

Canon Printers

Canon is a Japanese company that specializes in a wide array of optical and imaging products. Canon was one of the first to create the print engines found in industry-standard laser printers and is still at the forefront of the printer market.

Checking Ink Levels from Your Printer:

Printer ink and toner levels can only be checked from the associated PC or laptop.

Checking Ink Levels with Windows:

The ink levels in Canon printers can be checked from a Windows operating system in one of two ways:

• For older Canon printers:
  1. From your desktop, click on the Start menu, and open “Settings.”
  2. Click on “Devices.”
  3. In the “Devices” pop-up, right-click on your printer icon and select “Printing Preferences” from the menu.
  4. Go to the “Maintenance” tab and click “View Printer Status.” A window will appear with information about the status of your printer. If you are low on ink, a notification will appear in the window.
• For newer Canon printers:
  1. Launch the “Canon IJ Status Monitor” from the C: Drive.
  2. Select the “Maintenance” tab to view the Printer Status Screen.
  3. The Printer Status Screen will provide information regarding ink levels.
  4. For additional information about printer ink levels, select “Ink Detail.”

Checking Ink Levels with MacOS:

1. Click on the Apple icon and select “Applications,” “Utilities,” or “System Preferences” (depending on your computer operating system).
2. In the window pop-up, select “Printer Setup Utility.”
3. Launch the “Canon IJ Printer Utility” from the “Printer Setup Utility” window.
4. Select “Ink Level Information” from the pop-up menu. Ink types and their status will be displayed.

Brother Printers

Brother Printers has developed high-quality electronic products since 1908. Brother Printers makes both inkjet and laser/LED printers that are intuitive and easy to use, making them perfect for both home and office use.

Checking Ink Levels from Your Printer:

Brother printers come with two possible control panels: A control panel screen with adjacent buttons for navigation or a control panel touchscreen.

• If your computer has a control panel screen with adjacent buttons:
  1. On the printer control panel, select the “Menu” button.
  2. Select “Ink” or “Ink Management” with the arrow buttons and press “Okay.”
  3. From the new page, choose “Ink Volume” and press “Okay.”
• If your printer has a control panel touchscreen:
  • Use the left and right arrows on the touchscreen to display the “Ink” tab.
  • Choose “Ink Volume.” Information about the printer cartridges will be displayed.

Checking Ink Levels with Windows:

1. From the desktop, select the “Start” button.
2. Click on “All Programs” and select “Brother.”
3. Select your printer model.
4. Select “Status Monitor.” A pop-up window will open with a simple graph of ink and toner levels.

Checking Ink Levels with MacOS:

1. Click on the Apple icon and select “System Preferences.”
2. Select “Print & Fax,” “Print & Scan,” or “Printers & Scanners” depending on your computer operating system.
3. Select “Open Printer Queue.”
4. Select “Utility.”
5. Select “Open Printer Utility” (this step is only for Mac OS X 10.6 and later).
6. Select “Status Monitor.” A pop-up window will open with a simple graph of ink and toner levels.

Epson Printers

Epson is one of the most well-known printer manufacturers in the world. Since it created the mini-printer in 1968, Epson has maintained a reputation for making durable and reliable home and office printers.

Checking Ink Levels from Your Printer:

Printer ink and toner levels can only be checked from the associated PC or laptop.

Checking Ink Levels with Windows:

1. When you purchase your printer, ensure that you also buy a CD with the proper printer driver. You will need this software to check the printer ink levels for your printer and perform any other maintenance tests.
2. Open the printer application from your computer program files or the CD.
3. Select the “Maintenance” tab.
4. The Maintenance tab will give you information regarding potential errors associated with your computer, including ink and toner levels, paper jams, and device malfunctions.

Checking Ink Levels with MacOS:

1. In the Apple menu, select “System Preferences.”
2. Select “Print & Fax,” “Print & Scan,” or “Printers & Scanners,” depending on your system.
3. Select your printer.
4. Select “Options & Supplies.”
5. Select “Utility.”
6. Select “Open Printer Utility.”
7. Select “EPSON Status Monitor.” The pop-up window will display approximate ink levels.

Dell Printers

In 2018, Dell announced the end of its printer production to scale back its hardware portfolio. However, thanks to the durability of Dell printers, many people are still using their reliable products.

Checking Ink Levels from Your Printer:

Printer ink and toner levels can only be checked from the associated PC or laptop.

Checking Ink Levels with Windows:

1. From the desktop, select the “Start” menu.
2. Click on “Control Panel.”
3. From the “Control Panel,” select “View Devices and Printers.”
4. Double click on the icon for your printer.
5. Click on the “Services” tab and select “Dell Ink Levels.”
6. From the “Dell Ink Levels” pop-up, you will be able to print a test page to determine printer ink and toner levels.

Checking Ink Levels with MacOS:

1. Click on the Apple icon and select “System Preferences.”
2. Select “Print & Fax,” “Print & Scan,” or “Printers & Scanners” depending on your computer operating system.
3. Click on your printer.
4. Select “Supply Levels.” A pop-up window will appear with estimated ink levels.

Lexmark Printers

Lexmark, a spin-off of IBM, has recently become one of the leading printer manufacturers. Though Lexmark does produce home printers, it is most known for its expansive line of multi-function and business-grade printers.

Checking Ink Levels from Your Printer:

Printer ink and toner levels can only be checked from the associated PC or laptop.

Checking Ink Levels with Windows:

1. Download the “Lexmark P910 Series Utility” from the Windows store.
2. Launch “Lexmark P910 Series Utility.”
3. Once open, select the “Cartridges” tab to see the ink status.

Checking Ink Levels with MacOS:

1. Click on the Apple icon and select “System Preferences.”
2. Select “Print & Fax,” “Print & Scan,” or “Printers & Scanners” depending on your computer operating system.
3. Select the “Printer Queue.”
4. On the Printer Proxy toolbar, click on “Supply Levels” or “Printer Setup,” followed by “Supply Levels” to display estimated printer ink levels.

Checking Ink Levels with Printer Test Pages

While checking printer ink levels measures the amount of ink left in your printer cartridges, it does not account for dried ink, blockages, or other malfunctions that can alter the quality of your print job. Therefore, in addition to checking printer ink levels, it is also beneficial to print a printer test page.

A printer test page is a single-page printout of text and images that can help maintain the health of your printer cartridges while highlighting issues that the printer might be having. For more information on printer test pages, see Print / Printer Test Page.