Ink cartidges run out too fast

[Mencia]

I bought a 305 xl ink cartidge less than 15 days ago. I have a 2820e hp deskjet printer. I only print once in a while some word documents, around 20 pages, of just text and no pictures. My colour ink is lasting ages, since I bought the printer over two months ago. But it’s the third time I’ve changed cartidges, this time an XL and I’ve printed less than 100 pages with the XL and it’s already running out of ink! If I try to print in draft mode to save up ink, it only prints the first line of text. It’s honestly frustrating to buy a printer just for it to be over 1 euro each print!!!! What’s the point in a hp printer if the whole investment is WAY too expensive!? Unless the cartidges are running out too quickly for some other reason, it doesn’t seem to be a good investment.

[Alden4]

Hi @Mencia,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand how frustrating it can be when ink cartridges run out faster than expected, especially with minimal printing. A few factors could explain why your black ink is depleting so quickly.

• Print Mode Settings: Even in draft mode, some printers still use a significant amount of ink, particularly with black text, if it's set to high-quality printing by default. To ensure you're truly saving ink, double-check the settings for both the quality and paper type.
• Ink Cartridge Life Cycle: The 305 XL is a high-yield cartridge, but it is still a standard capacity, so printing large amounts of text—even if it's just on word documents—could contribute to quicker depletion. In contrast, color ink often lasts longer if you're not using it much.
• Frequent Print Head Cleaning: Sometimes printers automatically clean the print heads to maintain print quality. This uses ink, especially if the printer hasn’t been used in a while. If you notice the printer doing this frequently, it could be unnecessarily draining ink.
• Firmware/Software Settings: Make sure your printer’s firmware is up-to-date, as some versions may contain bugs that impact ink usage. Also, ensure that you aren’t inadvertently printing in higher quality or extra options.
• Faulty Cartridges: It’s possible that the ink cartridges you’ve bought have some issue. Sometimes, even new cartridges can have defective or improperly filled ink. 
• Printer Usage Patterns: Printers can sometimes consume ink during standby or idle periods. Even if you’re printing infrequently, certain printers will use ink when not in use. If you're not using the printer regularly, consider printing a small document every few days to avoid unnecessary ink usage.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support