Cartridges seem to empty after a handful of pages, or color runs out even though you mostly print text. Inkjets use ink for more than printing: they clean and prime their printheads automatically, and settings such as best quality or composite black use far more ink than most pages need. How you switch off, how often you print and which cartridges you buy all matter. This guide covers the changes that make the biggest difference, plus how to spot a leak.
What you might be seeing
- Cartridges run out after far fewer pages than expected
- Color ink drops though you print mostly black text
- Cleaning noises every time the printer starts
- The first set of cartridges ran out very quickly
Common causes
- Frequent automatic cleaning
- Printers clean themselves after idle periods and after losing power unexpectedly, and each cleaning uses ink.
- High quality settings
- Best quality and photo paper settings lay down more ink than documents need.
- Color used for gray and black
- Gray text, shaded tables and composite black draw on color ink.
- Starter or standard cartridges
- Cartridges in the box with a new printer, and standard-capacity ones, hold less ink than high-yield versions.
- Ink-heavy documents
- Web pages and slides with dark or colored backgrounds use a lot of ink.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order and test a print after each one. Most people are done within the first few steps.
Shut down at the button and stay plugged in
Use the printer's own power button every time you shut it down, so the printhead parks and caps properly, and avoid cutting power at a power strip or the wall socket. Many printers run an extra cleaning cycle after losing power unexpectedly. Left plugged in, off at its button or asleep, the printer uses very little electricity and handles its own maintenance efficiently.
Clean only when a test pattern shows gaps
Manual head cleaning is one of the biggest ink users. Check the nozzle pattern before you run one. When every line is complete, cleaning won't improve anything and only drains the cartridges. If it shows gaps, run a single cycle and check again rather than starting several in a row. Printing a short page each week also cuts down on automatic cleanings.
Change the default quality and paper type
Set everyday defaults in the driver instead of in each app. On Windows 11, open Printing preferences from your printer's page under Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners; on Windows 10, go to Settings › Devices › Printers & scanners, select the printer and click Manage. Choose Standard or Draft quality and Plain Paper. On a Mac, save these choices as a preset in the print dialog.
Print text with black ink only
In the same preferences, look for a grayscale option and pick Black ink only where it's offered, rather than high-quality or composite grayscale. Use it for text documents, and set gray fonts and table shading in your templates to plain black or none. A little color is still used for printhead maintenance, but day-to-day color use drops noticeably.
Trim what you print
Check print preview before sending a job. Web pages often carry dark banners, ads and backgrounds; a browser's reader view or a Print selection option prints just the text you need. For slides, choose a handout or outline layout without background graphics, and print two pages per sheet for drafts to save both ink and paper.
Choose high-yield cartridges or an ink tank printer
High-yield cartridges, often marked XL, cost more up front but usually cost less per page than standard ones, so compare the page yield printed on each box rather than the price alone. If you print a lot, a printer with refillable ink tanks has a much lower running cost, although the printer itself costs more to buy.
Rule out a leak
If a cartridge empties without much printing, check it and the carriage area for wet ink. A leaking cartridge, an ink tank cap left loose, or ink pooling beneath the printer explains losses that no setting can fix. Replace a leaking cartridge, wipe up the ink with damp paper towels, and let the area dry before printing again.
How to keep it from happening again
- Use the power button and keep the printer plugged in
- Print a short page every week rather than large batches monthly
- Keep Standard quality and plain paper as the defaults
- Check print preview to remove backgrounds and blank pages
Common questions
Why did the cartridges that came with my printer run out so fast?
Cartridges in the box are often starter cartridges with less ink than retail versions. Some of that ink is also used during first setup to fill the printhead and ink channels, which only happens once. Replacement cartridges, especially high-yield ones, should last noticeably longer.
Does my printer use color ink when I print in black?
Usually a little. Printers use every color during automatic cleaning to keep all the nozzles healthy, and some add color to black areas for deeper blacks on certain settings. A black-only option for text cuts color use considerably, but no inkjet stops using color completely.
Should I leave my inkjet printer on or turn it off?
Leave it plugged in, and either let it sleep or switch it off at its power button when you're done. Both keep the printhead capped and allow brief maintenance when needed. Cutting power at the wall or a power strip is what causes extra cleaning cycles and wasted ink.
This guide is general information written for common home and office printers. Menus and button names vary between models, so check your printer’s manual where a step differs. Printer Problems Solved is independent and not affiliated with any printer manufacturer. See our disclaimer.