HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning [How to Fix]

In this article, we will guide you on how to fix the HP printer incompatible cartridges warning on some HP printers and cartridges.

Table of Contents

How to Fix HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning on HP 935, 902-905, 915, 914, 912, and 910 Cartridges

To fix the HP printer incompatible cartridges warning on printers that use the HP 935, 902-905, 915, 914, 912, and 910 cartridges, follow the instructions below:

Note: The instructions in this section apply to the following HP printer series:

  • HP OfficeJet 8010, 6960, 6950, 6820, and 6810 printer series
  • HP OfficeJet Pro 8030, 8020, 6970, 6960, 6830, and 6230 printer series

The HP printer incompatible cartridges warning on the above-listed HP cartridges and printers occur as a result of a particular new firmware update that was released to deal with quality issues that affected some printer supplies.

If you encounter this HP printer warning message, you need to get a replacement cartridge. You can follow the steps below to confirm your replacement cartridges eligibility:

Step 1: Go to this website.

Step 2: Type the serial number of your HP printer.

If you don’t know the serial number of your HP printer, you can click on any of the Tip links provided on the webpage to learn how to find your HP printer’s serial number.

Step 3: Do the on-screen instructions to identify your yellow and cyan cartridges.

Step 4: If this message is displayed: “You’re eligible for a free replacement,” you need to either sign in to your HP account or create one if you don’t have one. This is important because you’ll need to enter your shipping information.

Step 5: While you wait for your replacement cartridge, you can continue to print in grayscale. You can read this article: How to Print on HP Printer Without Color Cartridgeto learn how to print in grayscale.

How to Fix HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning on HP Type 1 Cartridges

HP Type 1 Cartridges: 901, 803-805, 682, 680, 667, 653, 652, 302-305, 123, 92-98, 75, 74, 56-67, 28, 27, 22, 21

Follow the tasks below to fix this HP printer warning message:

1. Check your Cartridge’s Model Numbers – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

You need to ensure that your cartridge’s model matches your HP printer and region/country.

To check your cartridge’s serial number, do the following steps:

Step 1: Open your printer’s door or cartridge access area lid.

Step 2: Allow the carriage to become idle before you proceed.

Step 3: Check the labels on the cartridge.

  • The printer is enrolled in Instant Ink: Printers enrolled in Instant Ink have “Instant Ink” on the label. Instant Ink Cartridges’ numbers are not the same as standard cartridges and the cartridges are usually larger. If this message is displayed “Cartridge cannot be used until printer is enrolled,” contact HP Instant Ink Support or HP’s Virtual Agent for help.
  • The printer is NOT enrolled in Instant Ink: Get a replacement cartridge if your printer is not enrolled in Instant Ink. Ensure that the cartridges are compatible.

Step 4: Replace the cartridges that are not compatible.

After doing the above, check if the steps cleared the HP printer incompatible cartridges warning message.

If the message is still displayed, do the next task.

2. Reset your HP Printer – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

Follow the steps below to reset your HP printer:

Step 1: Remove your printer’s rechargeable battery if it has one.

Step 2: Turn on your printer if it isn’t turned on.

Step 3: Remove the power cable from your HP printer.

Step 4: Disconnect the power cable from the power source (wall outlet, power strip, surge protector, etc.)

Step 5: Wait for about 60 seconds.

Step 6: Reconnect the power cable to an outlet rather than any other power source.

Note: Your HP printer should always be connected to an outlet according to HP’s recommendation.

Step 7: Turn on your HP printer.

This action will complete your printer’s reset.

If you still see the HP printer warning message, do the next task.

3. Clean your HP Cartridge & the Electrical Contacts on the Carriage – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To clean your HP cartridge and the electrical contacts on the cartridge, do the following steps:

Step 1: Open the cartridge access area lid or your printer’s access door.

Step 2: Allow the carriage to become idle before you proceed.

Step 3: Take out the affected cartridge from your printer as revealed in the warning message.

Carriages that have cartridge latches

i. Open the cartridge latch.

ii. Pull out the cartridge from its slot.

Carriages that don’t have cartridge latches

i. Press down the cartridge gently to free it.

ii. Pull out the cartridge from its slot.

Step 4: Hold your HP cartridge by its sides.

Step 5: Take away the protective tape that might be on the cartridge contacts.

Caution: Avoid touching the electrical strip or ink nozzles. Touching them could lead to poor electrical connections, ink failure, or clogs.

Step 6: Use distilled water to slightly dampen a fluff-free fabric.

Step 7: Clean the contacts on your cartridge.

Step 8: Use distilled water to slightly dampen a fluff-free fabric.

Step 9: Clean the contacts on your carriage.

Step 10: Wait for the contacts to get dry; 10 minutes should be enough.

Step 11: Reinsert your cartridges into the correct slot.

Step 12: Repeat the above steps for other affected cartridges.

Step 13: Close the cartridge access area lid or your printer’s access door.

Check out the video below…

If you still see the message, clean your cartridge as well as the carriage contacts again.

if that doesn’t work, do the next task.

4. Replace the Affected Cartridge – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To replace the affected cartridge, do the following steps:

Step 1: Get a replacement cartridge.

  • The printer is enrolled in Instant Ink: Printers enrolled in Instant Ink have “Instant Ink” on the label. Instant Ink Cartridges’ numbers are not the same as standard cartridges and the cartridges are usually larger. If this message is displayed “Cartridge cannot be used until printer is enrolled,” contact HP Instant Ink Support or HP’s Virtual Agent for help.
  • The printer is NOT enrolled in Instant Ink: Get a replacement cartridge if your printer is not enrolled in Instant Ink. Ensure that the cartridges are compatible.

Step 2: Open your printer’s door or the cartridge access area lid.

Step 3: Allow the carriage to become idle before you proceed.

Step 4: Take out the affected cartridge from your printer.

Step 5: Install the new cartridge into the right slot in your printer.

Step 6: Repeat the above steps for other affected cartridges.

Step 7: Open your printer’s door or the cartridge access area lid.

Step 8: Follow the instructions on your screen to align your HP printer.

If the above steps do not clear the HP printer warning message, do the next task.

5. Service your HP Printer – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To service your HP printer, contact HP Customer Support to fix a repair date for your HP printer. Folks in the Asia Pacific will be told to contact the nearest service center to them.

How to Fix HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning on HP Type 2 Cartridges

HP Type 1 Cartridges: 962 -969, 951 -959, 950, 933, and 932.

Follow the tasks below to fix this HP printer warning message:

1. Check your Cartridge’s Model Numbers – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To check your cartridge’s model numbers, follow the instructions we shared above under the Check your Cartridge’s Model Numberssection.

2. Reset your HP Printer – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To reset your HP printer, follow the steps we shared under the Reset your HP Printersection of this article.

If you still see the HP printer warning message, do the next task.

3. Clean the Electrical Contacts on the Cartridge – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To clean the electrical contacts on your HP cartridge, do the following steps:

Step 1: Open your HP printer door or cartridge access area lid.

Step 2: Allow the carriage to become idle before you proceed.

Step 3: Locate the affected cartridge, and then free it from the carriage by pushing it on.

Step 4: Get a fluff-free fabric.

Step 5: Clean the cartridge’s electrical contact with the fabric.

Step 6: Reinsert the cartridge into your printer by sliding it into its slot.

Step 7: Repeat the above steps for any cartridge that was also affected.

Step 8: Close your HP printer door or cartridge access area lid.

Check if the HP printer warning message is no longer on display.

If it is still displayed, do the next task.

4. Replace the Affected Cartridge – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To replace the affected cartridge, follow the steps we shared above under the “Replace the Affected Cartridge” section.

After replacing the cartridge, check if the HP printer incompatible cartridge warning message is cleared.

If you still see the warning message, do the next task.  

5. Service your HP Printer – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To service your HP printer, contact HP Customer Support to fix a repair date for your HP printer. Folks in the Asia Pacific will be told to contact the nearest service center to them.

We recommend that you read this article: HP Printer Warning [Detailed Guide] to learn about other HP printer warnings that you might encounter when using your HP printer.

How to Fix HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning on HP Type 3 Cartridges

HP Type 3 Cartridges: 935, 934, 902 – 920, 862, 655, 564, 364, and 178.  

Follow the tasks below to fix this HP printer warning message:

1. Check your Cartridges – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

You need to ensure that your cartridge’s model numbers match your HP printer and region/country.

To check your cartridge’s serial number, do the following steps:

Step 1: Open your printer’s door or cartridge access area lid.

Step 2: Allow the carriage to become idle before you proceed.

Step 3: Check the labels on the cartridge.

  • The printer is enrolled in Instant Ink: Printers enrolled in Instant Ink have “Instant Ink” on the label. Instant Ink Cartridges’ numbers are not the same as standard cartridges and the cartridges are usually larger. If this message is displayed “Cartridge cannot be used until printer is enrolled,” contact HP Instant Ink Support or HP’s Virtual Agent for help.
  • The printer is NOT enrolled in Instant Ink: Get a replacement cartridge if your printer is not enrolled in Instant Ink. Ensure that the cartridges are compatible.

Step 4: Replace the cartridges that are not compatible.

Step 5: Ensure that the cartridges’ label match that on your printer carriage.

Step 6: Ensure that the cartridges are seated firmly in their slots. If you find a cartridge that isn’t seated correctly and firmly, press down that cartage and ensure that it snaps downwards into its slot.

Step 7: If the ink cartridge fails to snap downwards, bend the cartridge tab gently away from the body. The extent of the bend shouldn’t exceed 0.5 inches (1.27 cm). After doing that, try to snap the cartridge back into its slot.

Step 8: Close your printer’s door or cartridge access area lid.

After doing the above, check if the steps cleared the HP printer incompatible cartridges warning message.

If the message is still displayed, do the next task.

2. Reset your HP Printer – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To reset your HP printer, follow the steps we shared under the Reset your HP Printersection of this article.

If you still see the HP printer warning message, do the next task.

3. Clean your HP Cartridge & the Electrical Contacts on the Carriage – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To clean your HP cartridge and the electrical contacts on the cartridge, do the following steps:

Step 1: Open the cartridge access area lid or your printer’s access door.

Step 2: Allow the carriage to become idle before you proceed.

Step 3: Take out the affected cartridge from your printer as revealed in the warning message.

Step 4: Get a fluff-free fabric to clean the cartridge’s contact.

Step 5: Place the ink cartridge on its side while the contact faces upwards.

Step 6: Clean the electrical contact within the printhead using a clean area of the fluff-free fabric.

Step 7: Reinsert the ink cartridge into the right slot. Ensure that you press down the cartridge to enable it to snap into its slot.

Step 8: Repeat the above steps for other affected cartridges.

Step 9: Open the cartridge access area lid or your printer’s access door.

Check if the HP printer warning message is cleared.

If you still see the message, do the next task.

4. Replace the Affected Cartridge – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To replace the affected cartridge, follow the steps we shared above under the “Replace the Affected Cartridge” section.

After replacing the cartridge, check if the HP printer incompatible cartridge warning message is cleared.

If you still see the warning message, do the next task. 

5. Service your HP Printer – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To service your HP printer, contact HP Customer Support to fix a repair date for your HP printer. Folks in the Asia Pacific will be told to contact the nearest service center to them.

How to Fix HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning on HP Type 4 Cartridges

HP Type 3 Cartridges: 940, 777, 728, 727, 89, 88, 855, 84, 82, 73, 72, 70, 39, 38, 18, 10 – 13. 

Follow the tasks below to fix this HP printer warning message:

1. Check your Cartridges’ Numbers – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To check your cartridges’ numbers, follow the instructions we shared above under the Check your Cartridge’s Model Numberssection.

2. Reset your HP Printer – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To reset your HP printer, follow the steps we shared under the Reset your HP Printersection of this article.

If you still see the HP printer warning message, do the next task.

3. Remove and then Reinsert the Cartridges – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To remove and then reinsert the cartridges, do the following steps:

Step 1: Open the printer’s cartridge access door.

Step 2: Pull the affected cartridge from its slot.

Step 3: Slide the affected cartridge into its slot completely.

Step 4: Repeat the above steps for other affected cartridges.

Step 5: Close the printer’s cartridge access door.

4. Replace the Affected Cartridge – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To replace the affected cartridge, follow the steps we shared above under the “Replace the Affected Cartridge” section.

After replacing the cartridge, check if the HP printer incompatible cartridge warning message is cleared.

If you still see the HP printer ink cartridge warning message, do the next task. 

5. Service your HP Printer – HP Printer Incompatible Cartridges Warning

To service your HP printer, contact HP Customer Support to fix a repair date for your HP printer. Folks in the Asia Pacific will be told to contact the nearest service center to them.