How to Insert a Canon Toner Cartridge

Canon laser printers are a good choice if you are looking for longevity and cost effectiveness. Small businesses need these types of printers so they can continuously print pages without any real interruptions. Toner cartridges last a lot longer than the ink cartridges and the quality of the output looks just as good, especially if you go for the mid-range Canon models. Toner cartridges make use of powder rather than ink to avoid smudging problems.

The print quality will eventually degrade after a year if you use the toner regularly. You will notice this if you see that the printed text is lighter than usual. This is the only rare occasion where you need to replace it with a newer one. While the replacing process takes more effort than replacing ink cartridges, replacing Canon toner cartridges isn't too difficult.

Removing the Existing Toner Cartridge

You must first take out the one you're looking to replace so you can fit the newer one in later. If you do not have the Canon toner cartridge yet, this step is important so you can determine which type of cartridge to purchase for your printer. Canon offers several different models of different sizes that use different toner cartridges.

Common steps involve opening the lid of the printer and locating the cartridge. No matter what Canon printer you have, observe if there are any hooks or clips holding the toner and be gentle when removing it so you can avoid damaging other components. Every Canon printer has a systematic method of removing the cartridge and it never has anything to do with force removal.

After you successfully removed the cartridge, take note of the numbers in bold print so you know which toner cartridge to get. If you think you can carry the cartridge, you can take it to the local store or place where you bought your printer and ask for a toner cartridge like your old one. You may even get a discount for trading in your old cartridge with a newer one.

Putting the New Toner Cartridge In

Inserting the new Canon toner cartridge in should not be much of a challenge if you managed to take out your old cartridge. Just do the exact opposite of what you did when removing and make sure that it is secure in a balanced matter and that any locks or hooks are in place. Turn off the printer and turn it back on to see if the printer functions correctly.

Getting More Information

If you are adding a new Canon toner cartridge to a compatible model directly, your safest bet is to consult the printer manual and look for diagrams to aid you. These resources should be accurate enough for you to perform by yourself. If you cannot find your manual, head to the Canon support site and search for the model of your printer and look for an online manual. If you bought your printer here in the UK, be sure to access the Canon UK support site. Also check the CD because it may come with an interactive wizard that guides you to installing the cartridge.

Vincent Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For a wide range of printers and products by brand, he recommends Printware Ltd, a leading provider of Canon Cartridges.