Updated 22/05/2024

Are you experiencing problems with your HP laser printer and see an on-screen message that displays, ‘Supply Memory Error 10.1000’, 10.0002, 10.10003, 10.00.10, 10.00.00, 10.10.00, ‘memory missing on indicated cartridges’, or something similar?

If the answer is yes then you’ve likely already tried switching your printer off and back on, removing and reinserting toners and you just can’t fix your printer problem, nothing is working and you’re ready to give up!

Don’t worry, I’m about to save your day. Here’s what you’ll learn from this page:

 

Why does my printer display –  Supply Memory Error?

 

A supply memory error on a HP laserJet printer happens when the metal contacts / chip on an HP toner cartridge don’t correctly connect with the corresponding contacts inside the printer.

The printer cannot detect the toner cartridge and displays the ‘Supply Memory Error’ message on the printer display panel. This type of problem will sometimes happen after you have replaced an empty cartridge with a new toner, and the error can also be caused by faulty compatible cartridges where the microchip data is out of date (often caused by new printer updates).

This problem affects various models of HP LaserJet Pro and multifunction printer models, particularly the M402n, M402dn, M402dne, HP M1212nf printer, HP P3015 and HP LaserJet Pro M277dw printer models, but also most HP laser printers that use toner cartridges.

 

What causes a HP Supply Memory Error and how to fix them.

There are 4 straight forward and common things that can cause this printer problem, stopping it from working and luckily, they are very easy to fix.

  1. Lose packaging, jammed paper or protective strips that haven’t been removed from toners.
  2. Squashed or damaged metal contacts that no longer connect the toner to the printer.
  3. Broken plastic pieces that cause the toner to be out of position.
  4. Out of date printer software / firmware.

To get your printer working again, try the following fixes:

 

  1. Lose packaging or protective strips

When you’re about to install a new toner cartridge, there are orange protective strips and plastic clips that are there to make sure the cartridge isn’t damaged whilst being transported. Each of these clips and a protective strip across the drum must be removed before installing your new toner, otherwise, they will prevent your printer from printing.

 

Clips are easy to spot and stick out like a sore thumb. The protective strip is on the side of the toner and has an orange ring that must be pulled to remove the strip. It may also look like a piece of cellophane as it does in the image below.

  1. Squashed Metal contacts

For a printer to be able to detect a toner cartridge that has been installed, 2 tiny metal contacts must connect to the corresponding contacts on the cartridge. The metal contacts in the printer and the ones on the toner complete a circuit. If the contacts aren’t touching, your printer will think that the toner isn’t installed.

Remove your toner cartridge and look for something that resembles a microchip or two metal squares. Now visualise where these would connect inside the printer and look for the corresponding connectors inside the printer (making sure the printer is switched off and unplugged).

If the two metal connectors seem squashed back, gently (so as not to break anything), pull them forwards. This should allow them to correctly connect to the toner once you install it again.

It’s also possible that losing bits of packing material or paper jams can cause an issue so make sure the printer is clear before installing a replacement toner. Also if using a remanufactured cartridge, double-check that the microchip is securely in position, isn’t dirty, and that nothing is obscuring it.

  1. Broken plastic pieces

If a toner cartridge has been damaged along one of the sides so that the plastic slots have broken off, then it may not correctly sit inside the printer. Similar to the previous reason for the supply memory issue, the toner will be out of position and the contacts won’t correctly connect to the micro-chip that holds the data.

The only way to fix this problem is to replace the toner cartridge with brand a new one that isn’t broken.

  1. Out of date firmware / software

Your printer manufacturer will regularly update your printer with new software of firmware. If the software is out of date for any reason, you may get an error. Visit google and type ‘[your printer model] firmware’ in the search bar and download the latest one for your computer / printer. Once updated this can often fix many printer problems. You can find the latest firmware updates on the HP website here.

One final possible reason for the supply memory error message can be caused when you install a compatible or remanufactured toner cartridge and the data stored on the cartridge microchip is out of date.

The printer firmware can then deliver the supply memory error message and the only way to fix this problem is to get the company you purchased the cartridge from to replace it with a new one with updated software.

There you have it, hopefully, these tips have been helpful and your printer is working again.

 

Did this work for you? Let us know how you got on with these fixes and if they worked for you in the comments below!

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