How to Get Ink and Toner Cartridges to Last Longer

02/02/2023

Ink and toner cartridges are expensive. This is something all printer owners know well. Fear not! Toner Buzz is here to help! Not only do we have the lowest prices on the market for genuine OEM ink and toner, we’ve got some helpful tips on how to get the longest life out of your ink and toner cartridges.

It should be noted that OEM toner cartridges typically have higher page-yields than compatible and remanufactured toner cartridges, so they typically last longer.

That being said, there are several steps you can take to get your ink and toner to last longer and deliver more pages, regardless of what brand and model printer you have.

Pull It Out

A trick that confounds many Brother toner TN660 users is simply pulling the cartridge from the machine. These printers are incredibly smart from a technological standpoint.

They sense the toner's level and indicate the low point with precise sensors. However, this low point is subjective. There's often still more ink or toner left in the cartridge.

Bypass the electronic brain within the machine by pulling the cartridge out. This Brother printer ink trick tells the PCB or printed circuit board that the toner component is missing. The built-in assumption is that a returned cartridge will be full.

Follow these steps to get more toner out of your cartridge:

Reset the printer by following the manufacturer's instructions
Slide the same cartridge into the machine as if you're adding new Brother printer ink
Activate the printer mode

This simple procedure can get the printer going again.

Shake it Up

When you replace a toner cartridge, it should feel light. For many people, however, the cartridge still feels relatively heavy. There's still toner inside the container! Although it's an old-fashioned trick, shaking a toner cartridge can work wonders.

The jostling frees up the toner that might be trapped along the container's walls. It falls to the container's base where it can be sensed by the printer.

The low-ink light might recognize the "new" cartridge, which allows the printer to work once again. Depending on the printer's manufacturer, you may need to deactivate the low-ink mode so that the machine works without fail on the next run.

shaking a toner cartridge

Got a low toner message? Take the toner cartridge out, shake it up, and reinstall it. It just might work!

Cover the Sensor

Some printer ink and toner cartridges have sensors along their housings. It might look like a tiny hole on an otherwise solid design. This sensor tells the printer that there's no more ink or toner. In turn, the printer won't operate until this sensor deactivates.

One simple trick involves electrical tape. Use a small piece of tape to cover this cartridge sensor. Activate the printer, and see if it recognizes the toner level. Some printers respond to this strategy so trying it will be the only way to find out if it's successful.

Print with Attention to Detail

Want your ink and toner to last longer? Don’t print junk! Seriously, think twice before hitting the print button and save yourself some ink and toner.

Follow these guidelines to save ink and toner:

Proofreading and correcting projects before they're printed
Considering email copies instead of printing hard copies

In today's technological world, hard copies may not be necessary. Be sure about your print job before sending it to the machine.

Try an Ink-Saving Mode

In addition, print mode affects the longevity of ink and toner cartridges.The print window that pops up on your computer screen has several options available. Look for "draft," "grayscale" or other options that use less ink.

Reserve the best printing for final copies and items being presented in professional settings. There's no need to waste ink on an internal copy that ends up in the circular file.

Consider High-Capacity Ink Cartridges

If you're ever offered either a regular or high-yield cartridge, opt for the high-capacity option. This toner has an extra volume within the housing.

You may be able to stretch out its use and make it last longer than other cartridges. Remind yourself that everyday tips and tricks still apply to the large, toner cartridges.

Whether you have a Brother toner cartridge or another model, these tips should help you when a project is due and the low-ink light is on.

Save money and time by being patient with your printer. Making ink last longer takes some attention to detail and knowledge about your laser printer cartridge.