Dell False Low Ink Message

A common problem that users of Dell inkjet printers experience is having the “Low Ink” warning pop up when in fact the ink is not low at all. Though this can happen with any printer, it seems to be more common in Dell printers.  It is an annoying flaw, but is generally an easy fix.

Here are a few quick steps to hide this false error through the Dell software on your PC:

1. Click the Start menu.
2. Open the Control Panel.
3. Select Printer and Faxes or Devices and Printers.
4. Right click the icon for your printer and choose Printing Preferences.
5. Go to the Advanced Settings tab.
6. Click More Options.

This is where you will be given the option to change the “Appearance Mode” to display a minimized print status in the task bar or to not display the print status at all. Make the decision you think will work best for you.  Keep in mind, though, if you opt to turn the status updates off all together,  this means the real “Low Ink” messages will no longer appear either.

The above instructions are a way to bypass the error message, but to tackle the underlying issue, you may want to consider cleaning the cartridges, printheads, and sensors.  You can run the internal cleaning system first, but if the error message is still coming up, refer to Cleaning an Inkjet Printer for detailed instructions for safely cleaning your machine.