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Why Won’t My HP Printer Recognize New Ink Cartridges?
Is your HP printer not recognizing your new ink or toner cartridges? This kind of problem is fairly common among HP users around the world. It mostly happens when you’re using refilled, compatible, or remanufactured cartridges.
HP 902XL Ink Cartridges
HP 950XL 951XL Ink Cartridge
HP 564XL Ink Cartridge
After replacing your empty ink cartridges with new ones, you may suddenly encounter any of these error messages or displays:
- “Toner is not compatible“
- “Printer Cartridge Not Detected“
- Low ink or toner levels “HP cartridges locked” or “cartridge protection enabled.“
- “No Cartridge Installed“
Why are the Ink Cartridges not detected?
If you receive any of the above error messages, then your printer’s ink cartridges are not detected. Let’s take a look at some of the possible causes of why it happens and the troubleshooting steps you can follow to resolve the issue.
1. Printer Internal Memory Needs Resetting
Normally, your HP printer can accurately detect full ink levels or new ink cartridges. In some instances, however, it fails to do so primarily because its internal memory is full. When this happens, the printer will still “think” that it’s using an old or empty cartridge even though you already replaced it with a new one. You can resolve this problem by resetting your HP printer’s internal memory:
- Remove the new ink cartridge and reload the old ink cartridge back into the printer.
- Wait for about 10 minutes before you proceed to the next step.
- Remove the old ink cartridge and install the new ink cartridge again.
Your HP printer should be able to recognize your new ink cartridges by now. If it still doesn’t, try these alternative steps instead:
- Remove the new ink cartridge from the printer
- Turn off your HP printer and detach its power cord for 10 minutes
- Reconnect the power cord but don’t turn on the power button just yet
- Reload the new ink cartridge back into the printer
2. Metal Contacts require Cleaning
HP ink cartridges feature numerous metal contacts responsible for transmitting electronic signals to the printer. This link allows the printer to instruct the cartridge to release ink to apply it to the paper during printing.
When metal contacts become dirty or damaged, it disrupts the flow of communication between the printer and ink cartridge resulting in HP ink cartridge, not working errors. Make sure that your metal contacts are clean with these steps:
- Turn off your HP printer and unplug its power cord.
- Remove the new cartridge from the printer.
- Check the metal contacts. They are usually found on the side or back and resemble a flat piece of copper, metal, or sometimes circuit board.
- Check the printer carriage for the connection point. It’s the part that the metal contacts touch when they are installed in the printer.
- Using a clean, lint-free, and dry cloth, gently wipe the metallic contacts and the connection point.
- Make sure that all dirt and residue are wiped clean.
- Reload the new ink cartridge back into the printer
- Turn on the printer and do a test print to see if the ink cartridge gets detected.
3. Protective Tape or Strip aren't removed
Did you forget to take out the protective covering before installing the new toner or ink cartridge into the printer? If you did, then the printer won’t be able to recognize the cartridge. Make sure that the protective taping is removed to prevent printing errors from arising.
4. Disable HP Cartridge protection
HP has integrated its printers with a firmware that helps ensure smooth performance and functionality. Sometimes though, this same firmware can be a source of headache, especially if you’re using compatible or remanufactured HP ink cartridges. It prevents these types of cartridges from working by putting a “cartridge protection lock” on the printer.
Remanufactured ink cartridges offer plenty of benefits, especially on the economic side, so if you’re planning to use them, it would be best to disable HP cartridge protection first.
- Go to Control Panel and select Printers and Devices
- Locate and right-click on your printer on the list
- Select properties followed by the software tab
- Un-tick “automatically update” your printer
5. Wrong / malfunctioned ink cartridges
There’s also a chance that you purchased faulty or defective ink or toner cartridges. It could be the reason why the HP ink cartridge isn’t working. Try contacting HP if you receive problematic ink cartridges. If you purchase compatible or remanufactured ink cartridges, make sure it’s from a legit and trustworthy source like YoyoInk.
6. Improper Cartridge Installation
Your printer doesn’t recognize your new ink cartridge because you may have installed it the wrong way. Because the ink cartridge wasn’t loaded properly in the designated slot in the right position, it doesn’t get detected by the printer resulting in the error message “No ink cartridge found.” Try and see if your ink cartridges are installed correctly inside the printer.
Learn More:
Frequently Asked Questions
If your HP printer appears offline, it’s likely because it can’t communicate properly with your PC. That means you won’t be able to print unless you get your printer back online. Here are some things you can do to fix the issue.
- Make sure your HP printer is turned on. Check the power cord and see to it that it’s properly attached to a power supply. Make sure that the printer is also connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your PC. Your printer has a built-in menu that will show you which network it’s connected with, or refer to the product manual for additional info.
- Check and make sure that your printer isn’t in “Use Printer Offline” mode. Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Find and select your printer and then go to > Open queue. Under Printer, make sure that Use Printer Offline isn’t selected.
Resetting HP printers is virtually the same across all models, which means you can follow the same procedure to reset any HP printer model. So whether you’re using an HP Inkjet Ink Advantage or HP Deskjet, you can follow this short printer reset guide. It’s a simple process, and it can be a potential solution if your encounter a problem with your printer. So let’s start:
- Plugin the printer’s power cord and press the power button to turn on the machine
- Wait for the lights to turn on to confirm that the HP printer is ready.
- Long press the power button followed by the cancel button for at least ten seconds.
- Release the power button and then the cancel button
- Wait for the printer to respond. You will hear the printer trying to print.
- You will see a red light blinking notifying that there is no paper in the printer. Stop the notification by pressing the cancel button once.
- Once the red button stops printing, this means that you have successfully reset your HP printer.
If supported by your HP printer, you can print wirelessly with HP mobile printing solutions from laptops, tablets, or smartphones. You can choose from numerous mobile printing solutions for home or business environments on popular operating systems, including Android, Chrome, iOS, OS X, and Windows. So how do you connect your mobile device to your printer? There are several ways to go about it, and it will depend on the printer’s capability and location.
Wi-Fi: Take advantage of your laptop, phone, or tablet’s wireless capability to print to a printer near you that’s connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Wireless Direct or Wi-Fi Direct: You can use this to connect directly to a printer near you, just like with a Wi-Fi network.
Cloud / Internet – Cloud or internet connection lets you print to an HP printer on another network or to a printer in a remote location.
Sharon
My HP Photosmart 7510 is showing “printhead installed is not intended for use in this printer, or is damaged.” Printer was fine, changed ink cartridges with official HP564 ink, nothing else is different. Now printer wont work
Julia Page
Hello Sharon! Please make sure that the ink cartridges are installed correctly. You may also want to consider cleaning the electrical contacts by wiping the copper-colored contact and on the cartridge and the contacts inside the printhead with a lint-free cloth. Another possible reason for this error is a defective cartridge. If the error persists, I would suggest reaching out to HP support to assist you further regarding this issue.
Bea Loesch
My printer worked fine…then I had to reformat my computer…now it is asking for the set up cartridges and the printer won’t work..been on the phone with HP for two days no fix…error message says use the original set up cartridges
Julia Page
Hello Bea! The troubleshooting for this error may vary by the type of ink cartridge your printer uses. May I know what model of HP printer are you using?
GP
I’ve installed new black ink HP56 on my hp psc 2110, and get an error message to remove and check the black cartridge repeatedly, cleaned the contacts, unplugged and plugged in the printer as well turning it off and on. I can’t print, clean, or run a test page, just like one of your other customers. I can’t get past the error message to do anything.
Julia Page
Hello GP! Have you tried asking for a replacement for the ink cartridge? It is possible that the ink is defective and you might need to seek a replacement.
Stephanie Cox
I have an HP Laser Jet 3050 printer; I opened up the top of the printer
and inserted an HP laser jet print cartridge – Q2612A Now I went to
close the top of the printer right side is not aligned with left side….I
can’t figure out what I am doing – consequently top will not close
completely for printer to run. Suggestions?
Stephaniecox7@outlook.com Thank You!
Julia Page
Hello Stephanie! Here are the steps on how to properly install the print cartridge:
1. Press the cartridge-door release to open the print cartridge door
2. Remove the print cartridge from its packaging, and then rock the cartridge gently five or six times
3. Bend the plastic tab at the end of the cartridge.
4. Pull the tab until all the sealing tape is removed from the cartridge.
5. Hold the print cartridge by the handle and insert it into the all-in-one.
6. Close the print cartridge door.
Ron
My HP 7155 did not come with SETUP cartridges and will not accept using standard HP ink cartridges. Now what? It keeps saying to use SETUP cartridges. Is there a way to acquire SETUP cartridges, or am I screwed. P.S. No help from the office supply store where I bought the printer.
Julia Page
Hello Ron! You can try these steps to avoid this error:
1. Go to the Support Menu
2. Go to the System Configuration
3. Trade at OOBE > Select OK
4. Trade Supplies Disabled > Press OK to enable it
5. Press back or “x” buttons to go back to the menu
6. Switch OFF Printer and then Switch it ON again
7. It should show a message to Use HP Cartridges, press OK
8. The printer will start to initialize the ink system
I hope this helps!