Cartridges of ink in your HP OfficeJet Pro printer need not be difficult to replace. Regardless of whether your black and color ink are running dry, knowing how to replace HP 950XL and 951XL ink cartridges properly aids in not only delivering crisp printing results, but also in preventing damage to your printer. This thorough, easy-to-follow guide helps you do just that in less than five minutes.
Also Read: How to Replace Ink in the Canon Pixma TR150
Why Choose HP 950XL and 951XL Ink?
The HP 950XL black and HP 951XL cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges are a high-yield version of the 950/951 inks, which were developed for particular HP Officejet Pro models like the 8600, 8610, 8620, 8630, 8100, 251dw, and 276dw printers. While the XL versions offer roughly double the page yield, about 2,300 pages for black and 1,500 per color, they are cost-effective over time in a tight-use home office or small business setting versus standard cartridges.
Tools and Items You’ll Need
- New compatible HP 950XL black ink cartridge
- New HP 951XL cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges (if necessary).
- New, lint-free cloth or paper towel
- Optional: gloves so you don’t get ink on your fingers
Only use Original HP Cartridges. Avoid poor performance and mechanical damage: Use Original HP ink cartridges.
Step-by-Step Guide to Replace HP 950XL and 951XL Ink Cartridges
Step 1: Prepare Your Printer
Power on your HP OfficeJet Pro printer and let it remain in a complete idle mode before you proceed. Open the ink cartridge access door. The access door is usually at the front center of the printer. The cartridge carrier will then slide to the replacement position. Wait for it to come to a complete halt before you move on.
Step 2: Take Out the Old Cartridges
- Lightly tap the old cartridge to free it.
- Pull the cartridge upwards out of its slot.
- Repeat for all the cartridges you are replacing (left to right, it’s black, cyan, magenta, and yellow).
- Put used cartridges into a plastic bag to be recycled. Many office-supply stores have free recycling programs.
Step 3: Open the New HP 950XL/951XL Cartridges
- Unbox the new cartridge.
- Pull the orange pull-tab outward to remove the protective tape covering the contacts and nozzles. Do not touch the copper-colored contacts or ink nozzles. Fingerprints in this area can cause print-quality problems.
- Do not try to ‘shake’ the high-yield XL cartridges.
Step 4: Install the New Cartridges
- Hold the cartridge by the sides.
- Insert the new cartridge into its corresponding color-coded slot at a slight upward angle.
- Push the cartridge hard (it will click when it is in). You should feel it click in.
- Do this for all new cartridges you are going to install.
Step 5: Close the access door
Close the door to the ink cartridge access. Your product will perform a brief alignment or priming operation automatically (this takes approximately 1 to 2 minutes). Do not interrupt this process.
Step 6: Print an Alignment Page
Some models will ask you to print an alignment page. Follow the on-screen instructions to position the printed page on the scanner glass, then press OK to align. This ensures perfect print quality.
Top Easy Fixes After Replacing HP 950XL & 951XL Ink
- “Non-Genuine Cartridge” or “Used/Refilled” Message: This type of message primarily occurs when third-party ink or refilled cartridges are used. Only HP cartridges that are manufactured for Dynamics Direct Inc./Generic can display this warning.
- Cartridge not found: Take out and put in the cartridge tightly. Wipe the copper contacts on a clean, lint-free cloth with distilled or bottled water.
- Splotchy or Missing Colors After Using Remanufactured Ink: Use the printer’s “Clean Printhead” tool or run 1–3 cleaning cycles.
Tips for Improving Performance and Extending Lifespan
- Keep your toner cartridge in a cool, dry place until use. Never take the cartridge out of its pack or away from light after removing the protective cover.
- Print at least one page every two weeks to prevent ink in the cartridges or nozzles from drying.
- Switch to “Draft” or “Normal” mode for general printing, and the cartridge will last even longer.
- When HP Instant Ink (if available in your country/region) for ink is enabled, the printer can automatically order supplies when they are low.
Conclusion
Replacing HP 950XL and 951XL ink cartridges is fast and easy once you walk through these quick steps. Whether you are looking to ensure that your printer has the inks required for printing exceptional documents and images with genuine or high-quality compatible, the HP ink cartridge is ideal.
