This is a common problem among consumers who use remanufactured or compatible replacement ink and toner cartridges. We here at 1ink.com hear about this issue almost every day, with a large uptick in this type of complaint seen after HP’s firmware updates earlier this year. One way of getting around this is to contact your ink or toner distributor. At Steve Prints, we’ve been sending customers a replacement cartridge that works with compatible HP printers whose updated firmware may not recognize previously purchased third-party cartridges. You can also opt out of these updates if you’re prompted to install new firmware on your printer. However, firmware updates are not the only reason your printer may not recognize a cartridge.
Some third-party compatible cartridges are a slightly different size (usually just a bit thinner) than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) cartridge. If this is the case, you’ll need to exercise greater precision and care when you insert the cartridge. Make sure you line the cartridge up correctly before you finish inserting it into place. This usually solves the problem for most third-party compatible cartridges.
If your printer won’t recognize third-party cartridges, or if you’ve refilled your own cartridge and the printer still won’t recognize it, one possible solution is to use a chip resetter. These devices are brand and model specific, meaning you’ll need to know what ink/toner cartridge model(s) your printer uses. You can buy these devices online and they will reset the chip in your ink cartridge so that your printer recognizes it and allows you to use it. There are also some tricks you can try, like covering up contacts on your cartridge. This tactic is specific to the cartridge model your printer uses, but applying a piece of tape over the correct copper contact strips may help you reset the cartridge so your printer recognizes the refilled cartridge as being full of ink. Of course, refilling your own cartridges at home isn’t always a great option if you need quality prints. Your cartridge may need some of its internal components replaced. If you’re using a toner cartridge, you can refill it with toner, but the drum unit will still have residue left over from the previous toner that can easily cause streaks and other blemishes when you print. That’s why at Steve Prints, our remanufactured replacement ink and toner cartridges come fully refitted with brand new internal parts. We replace the entire drum unit on toner cartridges before refilling them with toner, so you never have to worry about print imperfections when you use remanufactured replacement ink and toner from Steve Prints.
Occasionally a printer may not recognize an ink or toner cartridge because the contact is dirty. The affected contact may be on the cartridge or on the printer itself. If you suspect this is the case (and you should be able to see dirt, fingerprints, or other blemishes on the contact), you’ll need to gently wipe the contact(s) with a clean, lint-free cloth. If that doesn’t work, you may need to turn your printer off, reinsert the clean cartridge, and turn the printer back on again. Usually one or both of these measures will be sufficient in getting the printer to recognize your cartridge. However, if every option has failed, it’s possible that your cartridge has a shorted out chip. While we here at Steve Prints test our cartridges before shipping them out, it is still possible for the chip to get shorted out in transit or even during installation in your home. If this happens, there is (unfortunately) no way to fix the issue at home. However, at Steve Prints, we always honor our one-year product satisfaction guarantee. Simply contact our in-house customer service team and we’ll arrange an exchange or a refund on your purchase.