how to reset canon pixma mp250 cartridge: Fix “Ink Empty” & Cartridge Not Recognized

how to reset canon pixma mp250 cartridge is a common search when your Canon PIXMA MP250 refuses to recognize an ink cartridge, keeps showing an “Ink Empty” message after a refill, or throws cartridge installation errors even though everything looks correctly seated. The MP250 doesn’t “reset” the cartridge itself in the magical sense—what you usually do is reset/override the printer’s ink monitoring so it stops blocking printing based on the cartridge chip’s stored ink estimate.

This guide gives you the clean, safe steps that actually work, explains what each reset does, and helps you avoid the #1 mistake that can damage print quality: printing with a truly empty cartridge.

Why the Canon PIXMA MP250 stops recognizing cartridges

The MP250 relies on ink monitoring (a chip + internal memory) to estimate ink levels. After a refill, the chip often still reports the old “empty” state. In other cases, the printer simply can’t read the chip reliably because of:

• Dirty electrical contacts on the cartridge or carriage

• A slightly mis-seated cartridge latch

• Temporary firmware “state” errors after jams/power cuts

• A cartridge chip that’s worn or incompatible

That’s why the goal of how to reset canon pixma mp250 cartridge is usually: override ink level detection and clear any stuck error state.

Before you reset: quick checks that solve many cases

Do these first. They’re fast, safe, and often fix the problem without disabling anything.

1) Reseat the cartridges properly

1. Turn the printer ON.

2. Open the cover and wait for the carriage to stop moving.

3. Remove the cartridges, then reinstall them firmly until they click.

4. Close the cover and wait for initialization.

2) Clean the cartridge contacts

Use a dry, lint-free cloth (or a lightly dampened cloth with clean water, then dry) to gently clean:

• The gold/copper contacts on the cartridge

• The matching contacts inside the carriage

Let everything dry for a minute before reinstalling.

3) Confirm you’re using the correct cartridges

The MP250 commonly uses cartridges like PG-510 (black) and CL-511 (color), depending on region. A similar-looking cartridge can fit but still fail detection.

Method 1: Override “Ink Empty” after refill (most effective)

This is the method that typically solves “refilled cartridge still shows empty” and gets printing again.

Steps to override the empty cartridge message

1. Turn the printer ON.

2. If you see an “Ink has run out” / “Ink Empty” style warning, locate the Stop/Reset button (the triangle-in-circle icon).

3. Press and hold Stop/Reset for about 5 seconds.

4. Release the button when the printer responds (lights may blink, then stabilize).

5. Wait 20–30 seconds for the printer to return to ready state.

What this does: It disables ink level detection for that cartridge so the printer stops blocking printing.

Important warning (don’t skip this)

After you override ink monitoring, the printer may no longer accurately warn you when ink is truly low. If you run a cartridge completely dry—especially the color cartridge—you can cause poor prints and sometimes clogging. From this point on, monitor ink visually and refill before it’s fully empty.

Method 2: Power reset (clears temporary printer state)

Use this if you’re seeing odd behavior like “cartridge not installed properly,” random flashing lights, or the printer not detecting cartridges consistently.

Steps (safe hard reset)

1. Turn the printer OFF using the power button.

2. Unplug the power cable from the wall.

3. Wait 60–90 seconds (this helps discharge internal circuits).

4. Press and hold the Power button for 10 seconds while unplugged.

5. Plug the printer back in.

6. Turn it ON and allow a full startup cycle.

What this does: Clears temporary errors and reinitializes hardware checks. It does not “refill” the chip counter—but it can restore normal detection if the printer was stuck.

If your MP250 still won’t recognize the cartridge

If the above methods don’t work, focus on diagnosis instead of repeating resets.

Troubleshooting checklist

• Try the same cartridge again after cleaning contacts carefully.

• Test with a known-good cartridge (even a partially used original).

• Check whether the cartridge latch is closing tightly.

• Look for bent pins or debris inside the carriage.

• If only one cartridge fails repeatedly, the cartridge chip may be defective.

Best practices after resetting the cartridge warning

Once how to reset canon pixma mp250 cartridge gets you printing again, use these habits to avoid repeat issues:

• Refill before the cartridge is completely empty (especially color).

• Print a small color test page every week to keep ink flowing.

• Keep cartridges sealed properly during storage (avoid heat/drying).

• Avoid aggressive cleaning cycles back-to-back (they can waste ink fast).

Conclusion

how to reset canon pixma mp250 cartridge is mainly about restoring printing when the MP250 blocks you due to ink monitoring—especially after refills. Start with reseating and contact cleaning, then use the Stop/Reset 5-second override for “Ink Empty” lockouts, and use a power reset for stubborn error states. Once you override monitoring, print smart: track ink levels yourself to keep output clean and avoid running cartridges dry.