Frequently Asked Questions

• Which PIXMA printers run the CLI-226M?

  The verified list includes Canon PIXMA iP4820, Canon PIXMA iP4920, Canon PIXMA iX6520 and Canon PIXMA MG5120, plus 10 more models. You can review every confirmed model in the Compatible Printers section on this page — worth doing before you order.

• What yield is quoted for the CLI-226M?

  Up to 510 pages, per the supplier's rating. Note the context: Canon published no official yield table for the CLI-226 family, and ratings of this kind rest on standard test pages at roughly 5% coverage. Your mileage will differ — a page of photos consumes far more ink than a page of text.

• Will my printer recognize this cartridge and show ink levels?

  Yes, because it carries a new compatible chip that reports ink levels back to the printer, so low-ink warnings continue to work. The cartridge is a new build, not an original Canon shell that has been refilled and fitted with a reset chip.

• What does magenta contribute to a print?

  Magenta is one of the three process colors the printer blends — with cyan and yellow — to create its full color range. It is responsible for the reds and pinks in an image and contributes much of the warmth you see in skin tones.

• Is this an authentic Canon cartridge?

  No, it is a Clever Supplies compatible, made to the CLI-226M specification and covered by our lifetime warranty. Canon is not the manufacturer; we use the Canon name only to show which printers the cartridge fits.

• Is it OK to mix this magenta with genuine Canon cartridges?

  Perfectly OK. The printer reads each slot independently, so this tank can work beside genuine Canon cartridges — or the other way around — without any issue. Replacing a single color at a time is standard practice.

• I installed the cartridge and the printer showed a message. What should I do?

  Acknowledge the on-screen message, pop the cartridge out and push it back until it clicks, then restart the printer. If the message persists, wipe the gold chip contacts with a dry lint-free cloth and reinstall the cartridge.

• What coverage applies if the cartridge performs badly?

  Stop printing and contact us rather than continuing with a faulty tank. The lifetime warranty covers recognition failures, leaks and print-quality defects — we replace the cartridge or refund you, and returns are free for the first year.

• How do I make sure I reorder the right cartridge for this slot?

  Read the code off the tank you just removed and order by that code: CLI-226M, where the M marks magenta. The CLI-226 family shares one shell shape across its colors, so the cartridges look alike and the code is the only reliable check — matching by printer model alone is not enough, because the same printers take several different colors from the family. A few seconds reading the stamp on the old tank prevents a wrong-color delivery.

• What should I do with the empty magenta tank?

  Keep it for a few days after fitting the replacement, until the new CLI-226M has proven itself on real prints — the empty is your reference for the exact code and your comparison point if anything looks off. Once the new tank has settled and is printing clean reds, pinks and skin tones, send the empty for recycling rather than putting it in household trash, and keep the printer area clear for the next change.