How to Replace an Empty Ink Cartridge in the HP Deskjet 460 Mobile Printer – an Illustrated Tutorial in 11 Steps

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. However, (original) HP XL cartridges for the HP Deskjet 460 Mobile Printer are NOT available.

You can check the ink levels by using the software (Toolbox) installed with the HP Deskjet.
– Click the Start button, and then point to Programs.
– Point to HP Deskjet 460 Series, and then click HP Deskjet 460 Series Toolbox.
– The tab Ink level information shows estimated ink levels for each cartridge.

The printer lights also indicate the cartridge status. The left print cartridge light blinks when the left print cartridge is absent or improperly functioning. It turns on solid when the ink is low or empty. The right print cartridge light blinks when the right print cartridge is absent or improperly functioning. It turns on solid when the ink is low or empty.

Ink level warnings and indicators provide estimates for planning purposes only. You do not have to replace the cartridges until the print quality is unacceptable. If one of the print cartridges runs out of ink before you can replace it, you can still print with a single print cartridge. Printing with one print cartridge might be slower and the print quality might be affected. It is recommended to print with both print cartridges.

Which ink cartridges do I need for my HP Deskjet 460 Mobile Printer?

Four print cartridges are available for use with the printer.

1. Black
2. Tri-color
3. Photo
4. Gray photo

Everyday printing: Use the black and tri-color print cartridges for everyday print jobs.
– Quality color photos: For more vibrant colors when printing color photographs or other special documents, remove the black print cartridge and use a photo print cartridge in combination with the tri-color print cartridge.
– Quality black and white photos: For outstanding black and white photographs, remove the black print cartridge and use a gray photo print cartridge in combination with the tri-color cartridge.

For your US HP Deskjet 460 Mobile Printer you need HP 94 Black cartridges AND HP 95 Tri-color OR HP 97 Tri-color cartridges. Check the price of HP 94 and HP 95 cartridges at Amazon.com .

For printing photos use HP 99 Photo Original cartridges.
For printing black-and-white photographs use HP 100 Gray Photo Original Ink Cartridge cartridges.

For your European or UK HP Deskjet 460 Mobile Printer you need HP 338 Black cartridges AND HP 343 Tri-color OR HP 344 Tri-color cartridges.

For printing photos use HP 348 Photo Original cartridges.
For printing black-and-white photographs use HP 100 Gray Photo Original Ink Cartridge cartridges.

Try Amazon's ink selector tool to find compatible ink cartridges for your printer.

Replace the ink cartridges

1. Press and hold the power button to turn on the printer, if it is not already on. Printer lights will flash in sequence. Wait until the power light is the only printer light that remains lit.

2. Load unused, plain white letter or A4-sized paper in the tray, if you have not already done so.

Remove the empty cartridge
3. Open the front access cover. Wait for the carriage to stop moving. This should take only a few seconds.

4. Lift the print cartridge latch open and gently remove the empty print cartridge from its cradle compartment. Remove the cartridge from the slot on the left to replace the tri-color cartridge. Remove the cartridge from the slot on the right to replace the black cartridge OR photo print cartridges.

Insert a new cartridge
5. Remove the new cartridge from its packaging. Be careful to touch only the black plastic.



Do NOT:
– Remove the copper electrical strip.
– Touch the copper-colored contacts or the ink nozzles.
– Replace the protective tape on the contacts.
do not touch contacts

6. Gently remove the plastic tape on the cartridge by pulling the colored pull tab.

7. Hold the print cartridge with the copper contacts facing the printer, and then slide the print cartridge into its cradle compartment at the same angle at which you removed the old print cartridge. If you are installing the tri-color print cartridge, slide it into the left slot. If you are installing the black OR photo print cartridge, slide it into the right slot.

8. Close the print cartridge latch. If the cartridge is inserted correctly, closing the latch gently pushes the cartridge into its cradle compartment. Press the latch to make sure it is seated flat on the cartridge.

9. Repeat step 4 to 8 to replace the other cartridge, if necessary.

10. Close the front access cover. Wait for the carriage to complete the print cartridge initialization routine and return to the home position at the left side of the printer before using the printer.

Align the ink cartridges.
11. Whenever you install a new print cartridge, you should align the print cartridges for the best possible print quality. If your printout is grainy, has stray dots, jagged edges, or the ink is bleeding into another color, you can re-align them through the Toolbox.
– Click the Start button (PC), and highlight Programs.
– Point to HP Deskjet 460 Series, and then click HP Deskjet 460 Series Toolbox.
– Click the Printer Services tab, click Align Print Cartridges, and then follow the onscreen instructions.