Resetting ink levels in HP printers with HP 56 (black) and HP 58 (photo color)

1. Put tape over Contact #1 as shown in the picture below. Put the cartridge back into the printer with the tape still stuck onto the cartridge.
2. The printer will print out an alignment page. Once this has completed, continue down to Step 3. After the printer has completed printing off the alignment page, open the cover, remove the cartridge and place a piece of tape over Contact #2 as shown in the picture below.
3. Put the cartridge back into the printer. The printer will print off another alignment page. After this page has been printed, remove the cartridge from the printer, remove all tape from both Contact #1 and #2. Reinsert the cartridge back into the printer. Ink levels should now read full.
4. If the process does not work for you, make sure that no adhesive was left stuck to the contacts on the cartridge. Any residue will keep the cartridge from working properly and may cause the cartridge not to be recognized by the printer at all. If you have cleaned the contacts with rubbing alcohol, go through steps 1-4 again making sure each step is followed exactly.
5. Note: If the printer gives an error message that the cartridge needs replacing when you try to force an alignment, use the "menu" button on the printer's control panel

Resetting ink levels in HP printers with HP 57 (color) cartridges:

1. Put tape over Contact #1 as shown in the picture below. Place the cartridge back into the printer with the tape still stuck onto the cartridge (a contact is the individual copper square). Make sure that only that contact is covered and no others.
2. The printer will print out an alignment page. Once this has completed, continue down to Step 3. shown in the picture below. Put the cartridge back into the printer. The printer will print off another alignment page. After this the printer, remove all tape from both Contact #1 and #2. Reinsert the cartridge back into the printer. Ink levels should now read full.
3. If the process does not work for you, make sure that no adhesive was left stuck to the contacts on the cartridge. Any residue will keep it from working properly and may cause the cartridge not to be recognized by the printer at all. If you have cleaned the contacts with rubbing alcohol, go through steps 1-4 again making sure each step is followed exactly.
4. Note: If the printer gives an error message that the cartridge needs replacing when you try to force an alignment, use the “menu” button on printer's control panel to navigate to the head alignment function.