Updated 18/05/2017
If your HP printer is giving you an error message such as HP cartridges locked or any other message that mentions something about HP cartridge protection, then it sounds like you have fallen victim to a printer firmware update and you will definitely be having trouble using compatible or remanufactured inks. You may also see a message like ‘ Used or counterfeit ink cartridge detected ’.
We understand your frustration, and agree that everyone deserves to choose for themselves whether or not they want to use third party inks in their printer without having their HP cartridges locked to another printer. Don’t worry, I’m about to show you how to fix this issue and remove HP Cartridge Protection…
Here’s what you’ll learn on this page:
- What HP cartridge protection means.
- Why this happens and why HP locked cartridges.
- How to remove cartridge protection setting in 2 easy steps.
- Which printer models and ink cartridges this affects.
Why are my HP cartridges locked / What is HP cartridge protection?
HP Cartridge protection or the message, ‘ ink cartridges locked to another printer ‘, is the message that appears on your printer when one or both of the following things happen:
The ink cartridges that you are trying to use are not original HP ink cartridges and….
- Your printer has the cartridge protection setting enabled
- The chip on the cartridges you are trying to use were made from empty original HP ink cartridges that have been used in a previous printer with the cartridge protection setting enabled.
Why does this happen?
With new printer models that are continuously connected to the internet, software and firmware (permanent software that is built into hardware devices) updates are routinely installed. These updates can change the way your printer operates or as in this case add new features.
If you see the message HP cartridges locked and you are experiencing this issue then it’s very likely that you have recently had a printer update to enable cartridge protection or you have a brand new printer with this feature already built in.
Why did HP introduce this?
Whilst HP cares about their customers and your satisfaction, they also above all else are a business and need to protect themselves. One of the largest issues that HP have as a business that costs them millions of pounds if not billions over the years is the problem with counterfeit or fake inks being produced and sold across the market.
Counterfeit cartridges, not to be confused with third party or compatible cartridges are completely fake copies of the original HP cartridges and are being sold as though they are the original HP cartridges. This is why HP introduced the update. To protect you as their customer and themselves as a business from counterfeit cartridges.
Also HP now provides a service called ‘instant ink’ where you pay a monthly fee instead of buying ink one cartridge at a time when you run out and this enables them to make sure you are purchasing genuine HP cartridges.
Unfortunately, this does also stop the use of compatible or remanufactured cartridges, however we are legally entitled to use a compatible or remanufactured cartridge if we choose to so there is a way of switching of cartridge protection and prevent the HP cartridges locked message from appearing.
How to remove cartridge protection in 2 easy steps
To remove or disable the cartridge protection setting on your HP printer you will need to use either the settings on the printer control panel (for printers not connected to the internet) or you will need the printers i.p address for printers that are connected to the internet.
- For non-internet connected printers – Find the devices and printers section in your control panel, then select your hp printer. Find the cartridge protection tab in the HP toolbox and click the disable cartridge protection option & save.
- For internet connected printers – Go to your printer and in the settings menu find your printers i.p address. Note this down and type it into a browser search bar which will take you to your printer configuration page. Click settings and disable cartridge protection.
Please note that when your printer updates again, this setting could be auto enabled again so you can prevent updates by switching them off in the web services section.
This should resolve your issue and any new cartridges that you install won’t be protected however if you do install a compatible or remanufactured cartridge that has been previously protected by another printer, this will not work and you’ll need to get a replacement from your supplier.
Which inks & printer models does cartridge protection affect?
The printers that seem to be affected by the HP cartridge protection setting are the HP Deskjet models, HP Envy, models, HP Officejet, HP Officejet Pro and HP OfficeJet Pro X models of printers listed below.
| Printer Range | Models |
| Envy 4500 range | HP Envy 4500, 4502, 4503, 4504, 4507, 4508 |
| Envy 5500 range | HP Envy 5530, 5532, 5534, 5535, 5536, 5540, 5542, 5543, 5544, 5546 |
| Envy 5600 range | HP Envy 5640, 5642, 5646 |
| Envy 7600 range | HP Envy 7640, 7644 |
| HP Deskjet 1000 range | HP Deskjet 1000, 1010, 1050, 1510, 1512, 1514, 1517 |
| HP Deskjet 2000 range | HP Deskjet 2050, 2054, 2510,2540, 2542, 2443, 2544, 2545, 2547 |
| HP Deskjet 3000 range | HP Deskjet 3000, 3050, 3052, 3054, 3057 |
| HP Deskjet F range | HP Deskjet F2410, F2418, F2423, F2430, F2476, F2483, F2488, F2492, F2493, F4583 |
| HP Officejet | HP Officejet 2610, 2620, 4630, 4632, 4634, 4636 |
| HP Officejet Pro | HP Officejet Pro all models |
| HP Officejet Pro X | HP Officejet Pro X all models |
So there you have it. Hopefully this will have helped with your frustrations and stop the HP cartridges locked meesage. Please comment below if you need further help or have any other points we may have missed. We’d love to hear from you!
About Stuart DeavallStu is the Digital Marketing Manager at TonerGiant.co.uk and is a big fan of gadgets, technology, and being creative!
Where do I find my printer’s IP address?
Hi Brett, to find your printers i.p address, on your computer go to the control panel and navigate to devices and printers, then manage printers. Find your printer in the list and right click and click properties. Click the ports tab in the dialogue box that appears and find your printer in the list (should be ticked). The first column will have the printers i.p address. If you need any more help please get in touch! Stu.
Unfortunately my printer has suddenly stopped due to this underhand scam from HP. But following your instructions I find there are only three tabs on the printer configuration page and no option to disable cartridge protection. I suspect I am out of luck, would rather scrap the printer than give in to this Corporate blackmail.
Hi Bob, thanks for your comment. If you can let me know your printer model, I’ll do my best to find out if we can switch cartridge protection off. The option may just be hidden. Thanks, Stu.
Hi,
I guess that this will not fix the anoying “Used or counterfeit” message which is always popping up when I am trying to print. I am using legit cartridges but black ink only. I do not want to use color ink. I am so anoyed by Hp that I will never, ever buy an HP product again. And I am about to throw that new printer directly in the garbage (not without giving it a good beating with my baseball bat) and just buy a different brand. What a waste of time and money.
Hi Frank, unfortunately not. I think the reason for the message is that the cartridges may have been previously locked to another printer (if they are recycled versions). If they are actually original HP inks, they should not be displaying this message at all. I’d call HP and see what they say if that is the case. Thanks, Stu
I am having this issue with a very old printer that has, nonetheless, always worked with true HP color ink. It’s an HP Photosmart C3180 All-in-One. The issue came about when I bought a re-manufactured color ink cartridge from another supplier. When I go to print anything now, I can get error message (using Dell XPS 13) and the HP Support Center just tells me there is a cartridge problem. Unfortunately, I am not finding anything that allows me to disable cartridge protection. Any thoughts?
Hi Lauren, thanks for your comment. I don’t believe that cartridges protection software was implemented on some of the older printer models which is why you can’t find the cartridge protection setting to disable it. I’ve had a look around to see if I can find anyone else experiencing a similar issue and there is one small piece of advice that has worked for a few other people which is to clean the the connections on the cartridge and in the printer (where the two connect) with a damp earbud (q-tip). Make sure the earbud is not wet through but just very slightly damp so not to damage the printer. Give the connections a good clean and see how you get on. If that doesn’t work then it does sound like the software of the printer is preventing the re-manufactured ink from working and is technically faulty. You should be able to get a refund if that’s the case! This article explains and may also help: Printer not recognising cartridges Let us know how you get on! Thanks, Stu.
I am having this issue with compatible cartridges in my Deskjet 5940, can’t find a “switch cartridge protection off” tab either, any help appreciated, only one ink light blinking which would appear to be the black (aaaaagh)
Hi Toni, I’ve hunted around for a fix and it seems that this is a common error which also occurs with original ink cartridges. Here’s a link to the HP Forum with a few suggestions to try and fix the issue
I’m having the same problem… kind of. A remanufactured (generic) cartridge worked until empty. When another generic was added, the printer (OJ-8600) refused it. I disabled cartridge protection from the preferences menu but it still says there’s an error. No new cartridges can be installed. Generic and real HP cartridges are both being declined. The old empty cartridge, however, is accepted and clears the error. I’m stumped.
Hi Juanita, I can probably explain the reason the remanufactured cartridge isn’t working but it seems strange that the original isn’t. The cartridge Protection setting actually locks the ink cartridge and encodes it only to one printer, therefore if someone tries to use it in another printer, it’s locked to the first printer it was used in and won’t work. Therefore when recycled, the reman then can’t be used in another printer. Technically that could happen with the original as well but it would suggest that it has been locked to another printer somewhere else. I suppose it could be that some error with the software thinks that your printer wasn’t the original printer the ink was locked to. I’d contact HP and ask for their support
That makes sense and yet – yeah. Thank you, Stuart. I’ll talk with HP 🙂
hello! I cannot enter my IP address to try to uncheck the cartridge protection (chrome: This site can’t be reached).https://192.168.1.25/
I have a cp1025nw. I am trying to use an alternative compatible cartridge. I dont know what to do. thanks!
Hi there, could it be that your printer is installed on a network? If so then you would need to use the server pc to log in to the i.p address and change the setting. Alternatively if you can log on to the server PC from your PC you may be able to do it that way through the printer settings. Stu