How to Change Canon 275 and 276 Ink Cartridges? | Simple Swap Guide

Changing Canon 275 and 276 ink cartridges takes about two minutes once the printer recognizes the ink is low.

Knowing how to change Canon 275 and 276 ink cartridges is one of those small skills that saves a trip to the store and keeps your PIXMA or TR series printer running when you need it. The PG-275 is the black cartridge and the CL-276 is the color (tri-color) cartridge; you’ll be replacing both each time the printer prompts you. The process itself is straightforward—open the front cover, wait for the cartridge holder to slide to the center, and press down on the old cartridge to release it.

Which Printers Use The PG-275 and CL-276 Cartridges?

Canon’s own product listings confirm that the PG-275 and CL-276 cartridges are designed for a specific family of PIXMA and TR series printers. The official U.S. shop page for the PG-275 / CL-276 Value Pack lists compatibility with the following models:

• PIXMA TS3520 and TS3522
• PIXMA TS3720 and TS3722
• TR4720 and TR4722

If your printer is not on this list, do not assume these cartridges will work. Canon’s compatibility guidance is specific, and using the wrong cartridge can lead to poor print quality or error messages. For other PIXMA models, check the printer’s manual or the Canon website for the correct cartridge number.

What’s The Difference Between PG-275 and CL-276?

The PG-275 and CL-276 are not interchangeable. The PG-275 is the black ink cartridge, while the CL-276 holds the color (cyan, magenta, and yellow) inks. The CL-276 cartridge produces all your color documents and photos—if one color runs dry, the whole cartridge needs replacing.

Canon sells the PG-275 and CL-276 together in a value pack. The official Canadian page for the PG-275/CL-276 Black and Colour Ink Value Pack lists a page yield of up to 180 pages per cartridge. That figure is a general estimate from Canon; your actual page count depends heavily on what you print and how much ink coverage each page uses. A page of mostly black text will consume less ink than a full-page color photo.

How Do You Swap Out The Cartridges?

Turn the printer on and open the front cover. The cartridge holder will slide to the middle position where you can access it. Wait for the carriage to stop moving before you touch anything—reaching in while it’s still gliding can cause injury or damage the printer.

Remove the old cartridge: press down gently on the cartridge you want to replace. It should release from the holder with a light click, and you can pull it straight up and out. Do the same for the other cartridge if you’re replacing both.

Prepare the new cartridge: remove the new PG-275 or CL-276 cartridge from its packaging. Peel off the orange protective tape covering the ink vent—this step is easy to forget, and a cartridge with the tape still on won’t print properly. Do not touch the gold contact chips on the side of the cartridge; oils from your skin can interfere with the connection.

Insert the new cartridge: slide the cartridge into its slot at a slight angle, with the gold contacts facing the back of the printer, then push firmly until it clicks into place. The black cartridge goes in the slot labeled for black, and the color cartridge in the color slot. Repeat for the second cartridge if needed.

Close the front cover: the printer will run a quick initialization cycle, and the ink level indicator on your screen should update automatically. If the printer shows an error, open the cover again and confirm each cartridge is seated properly and the tape is removed.

Do You Need The XL Version?

The XL versions—PG-275XL and CL-276XL—are high-capacity cartridges available from various retailers. Canon’s Canadian site lists a PG-275XL/CL-276 with Paper Photo Value Pack, which pairs the XL black cartridge with the standard color cartridge.

If you print frequently, the XL black cartridge can be worth the higher upfront cost because it holds more ink and needs replacing less often. Just be aware that third-party listings for XL cartridges are not always Canon-verified, so check the packaging carefully. If a deal looks too good to be true, it may be a remanufactured or compatible cartridge with different quality standards than Canon’s own OEM parts.

When you need a replacement, our roundup of the best 275 and 276 ink cartridges compares OEM and compatible options to help you buy the right set the first time.

FAQs

Why does my printer say the ink is low when the cartridge looks full?

Ink level indicators are estimates, not precise measurements. The printer tracks usage based on page counts and print modes, so the warning can appear while the cartridge still has ink. Continue printing until quality visibly degrades, then replace the cartridge—especially for the color CL-276, which can dry out if left unused for long periods.

Can you replace only one cartridge at a time?

Yes, you can replace just the black PG-275 or just the color CL-276 individually. The printer tracks each cartridge separately, so a low-color warning does not require you to replace the black cartridge too. However, Canon sells them as a value pack, which is often cheaper than buying each cartridge separately.

What does the orange tape actually do?

The orange tape seals the ink vent during shipping and storage. It prevents ink from leaking and keeps the cartridge airtight until you’re ready to use it. Removing the tape before installation is critical—a cartridge installed with the tape intact cannot draw air into the ink chamber and will fail to print.