Make sure you purchase the right ink cartridges for your specific printer and printer region or have your old ones refilled. Cartridges are not compatible between different brands, and often not within the same brand. HP often designs its inkjet hardware to use country-specific consumables. When you unbox a new HP inkjet printer and set it up, you install a set of ink tanks that ship with the printer. As you turn on the device and get ready to use it, an initialization sequence localizes it to the country associated with the ink cartridges you installed.
HP recommends that you use original HP ink cartridges. XL (Extra Large) cartridges cost more but do provide better value in the long run. They will be able to print at least double the pages of a regular cartridge. Our advice is that if you print often, go with XL. However, ink can dry up. So if you are not a frequent printer, go with the regular cartridges.
You can easily check the ink supply level to determine how soon you might need to replace a cartridge. The ink supply level shows an estimate of the amount of ink remaining in the cartridges. You can check the estimated ink levels from the printer software or from the printer control panel.
To check the ink levels from the control panel
From the Control Panel home screen, which displays Copy, Scan, and Quick Forms, select Ink Levels.
Then the printer displays the current ink levels.
To check the ink levels from the Printer Software
1. Double-click the HP Deskjet 3521 series desktop icon to open the Printer Software. You can also access the Printer Software by clicking Start > All Programs > HP > HP Deskjet 3520 series > HP Deskjet 3521 series
2. In the Printer Software, click Estimated Ink Levels.
Ink level warnings and indicators provide estimates for planning purposes only. When you receive a low-ink warning message, consider having a replacement cartridge available to avoid possible printing delays. You do not have to replace the cartridges until the print quality is unacceptable.
Which ink cartridges do I need for my HP Deskjet 3521 e-All-in-One printer?
For your US HP Deskjet 3521 e-All-in-One printer you need HP 564 Black AND HP 564 Cyan/Magenta/Yellow cartridges. There are also Combo Packs (4 cartridges in one pack) available, like the HP 564XL Black 564 Color Ink Cartridges Combo Pack. Check the price of HP 564 cartridges at Amazon.com .
For your European or UK HP Deskjet 3521 e-All-in-One printer you need HP 364 cartridges. There are also Combo Packs (4 cartridges in one pack) available, like the HP 364 Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow – Original Ink Cartridge Combo Content Pack – Standard Capacity.
Try Amazon's ink selector tool to find compatible ink cartridges for your printer.
Replace the ink cartridges.
1. Check that power is on. If the product is off, press the Power button to turn on the product. Wait until the product is idle and silent before continuing.
2. Before you install the ink cartridges, load unused, plain white letter or A4-sized paper in the tray, if you have not already done so.
Remove the old cartridge
3. Open the cartridge access door. Grasp the handles on either side of the cartridge access door, and then raise the door until it locks into place. The carriage moves to the access area. Wait for print carriage to move to right side of product.
4. Press the tab on the front of the cartridge inward to release it, and then pull up on the cartridge to remove it from the slot.
Insert the new cartridge
5. Pull the orange tab to remove the plastic wrap from the new cartridge.
! Do not touch the copper-colored electrical contacts and ink port !
Make sure you remove the plastic wrap from the ink cartridge before installing it in the product, or printing will fail. When you remove the plastic wrap, the paper label on the top of the cartridge tears slightly, which is necessary to vent the cartridge.
6. Remove the orange cap from the cartridge. Twist the cap counter-clockwise until it snaps off. A forceful twist may be required to remove the cap.
7. With the nozzle and the contacts facing down, push the cartridge into its slot until it clicks into place. Make sure that the color icon on the cartridge label matches the color icon on the slot.
8. Repeat step 4 to 7 for each ink cartridge you are replacing.
9. Close the cartridge access door.
Align the cartridges when prompted to do so
10. After you load new cartridges and close the cartridge access door, the printer automatically prompts you to print an alignment page.
a. On the product control panel, press OK. The product prints an alignment page.
b. Open the lid.
c. Place the alignment page on the scanner glass with the printed side down, and then position it on the front right corner of the glass.
d. Close the lid.
e. Press OK. The product scans the alignment page.
f. Follow the control panel instructions to complete the alignment.
g. Recycle or discard the alignment page.
The alignment page did not print?
If the alignment page did not print automatically, you can align the cartridges manually from the printer software and from the printer display on the product.
To align the cartridges from the Printer Software
– In the Printer Software, click Print and Scan and then click Maintain Your Printer to access the Printer Toolbox.
– The Printer Toolbox appears.
– Click Align Printheads on the Device Services tab. The product prints an alignment sheet.
– Go to step b.
