Ink HP printer.

[anastasialittle]

Hi I bought a new ink cartridge today for my printer, which is fairly new. HP ENVY 6131e. As it notified me that I was very low on my coloured in. So I purchased one from my local Officeworks today, installed it.

I printed 15 pages, and now the cartridge is notifying me on my printer screen that it is already low. 

How is this the case if it is a new cartridge?  I am really not happy about this.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @anastasialittle 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

If your HP ENVY 6131e is showing a low ink warning after just 15 pages with a new cartridge, it’s likely a misread or residual memory issue—not necessarily a true ink depletion. 

You can resolve this by resetting the cartridge status and verifying cartridge type.

Step 1: Confirm Cartridge Type

Your printer requires standard HP 67 or HP 67XL cartridges (depending on region). If you accidentally installed an Instant Ink-branded cartridge, it may trigger warnings even after cancellation.

• Check the label: Instant Ink cartridges will say “Instant Ink” clearly.
• If you’re enrolled in HP+, the printer may reject non-HP cartridges or misread status.

If you’re using genuine retail HP cartridges from Officeworks, proceed to the next step.

 

Step 2: Reset Ink Cartridge Status

Sometimes the printer retains old ink level data even after installing a new cartridge.

1. Remove the color cartridge.
2. Power off the printer and unplug it for 60 seconds.
3. Reinstall the cartridge and power the printer back on.
4. Print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page from the HP App or control panel.

 

Step 3: Update Printer Firmware

Outdated firmware can misreport ink levels or fail to recognize new cartridges.

1. Open the HP App > Printer Settings > Printer Maintenance > Update Firmware.
2. Or download directly from:
   https://support.hp.com/in-en/drivers

 

Step 4: Clean Cartridge Contacts

Ink level detection relies on clean electrical contact between the cartridge and printhead.

1. Turn off the printer and remove the cartridge.
2. Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water.
3. Gently clean the copper contacts on the cartridge and inside the printer.
4. Let dry for 5 minutes, reinstall, and restart.

 

Step 5: Monitor Actual Print Output

If the printer continues printing normally and colors are accurate, the warning may be cosmetic. HP printers estimate ink levels based on usage and sensor readings—not exact volume.

• You can continue printing until quality degrades.
• The warning doesn’t block printing unless the cartridge is empty or expired.

Let me know if the warning persists after cleaning and firmware update—I’ll guide you further based on your cartridge type and printer status.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye