The following article contains links to firmware downgrades which will enable your generic cartridges to work again. If you recently updated your HP printers firmware or it automatically updated itself and your inks were no longer recognized then this is the solution. This only works for generic cartridges which use the Apex brand microchips. This covers all of the Ink Hub range and many other generic brands. We have tested the downgrade on the HP955XL printers and it works a treat.
Simply follow the appropriate link below for your cartridge model, download the free firmware downgrade and follow the instructions for your printer model. Some customers who have been using HP phone Apps have reported that even after their printers firmware update was turned OFF the App was somehow allowing the upgrades to be downloaded onto their printers. Although I haven't confirmed this I have had several reports that seem to indicate that this is happening. If you have any information that you can share about this please contact me so that we can let people know exactly what HP are up to.
What is all the noise about?
HP have a system installed on their printers known as "Dynamic Security". This addition to their printers firmware was introduced in 2016 and was designed to combat any use of non genuine HP cartridges. The Dynamic Security firmware detects a non HP microchip when it is installed in their printers and blocks their use. It is then up to the manufacturers of generic cartridges to produce a new chip on their cartridge to trick the printer into accepting the cartridge as a "Genuine HP" cartridge. This is easy for them to do however the next time an automatic update occurs the same thing happens. The tell tale signs of the firmware detecting a non genuine cartridge are the following messages. "Cartridge is missing or damaged", "Remove and reinstall ink cartridge", "Cartridge not being recognized" or your printer may even just stop working altogether. The great thing about this is that there is a solution! Simply follow the instructions below and your printer along with it's non genuine cartridges will spring back into life again. ( just remember after doing this to Turn Off the auto updates ). By turning the updates off the issue will never be a problem again.
HP955XL Firmware Downgrade
HP Officejet Pro: 7740, 8210, 8216, 8710, 8720, 8730, 8740, 8745
HP905XL Firmware Downgrade
HP Officejet Pro: 7740, 8210, 8216, 8710, 8720, 8730, 8740, 8745
HP975X Firmware Downgrade
HP Officejet Pro: 452, 477, 552, 577, HP PageWide Managed: P55250DW, P57750DW
Like it or not HP and other printer manufacturers are continually trying to destroy the generic cartridge industry. Fortunately we are still winning the battle and by doing this we are able to save the end user a heap of money. If you have found this article useful please link to this page and help others to get their printers back in action and enable them to use the cartridges of their choice rather than having Big Brother force us to pay huge amounts for their brand name inks.
Instructions for downgrade
Note: Several customers have mentioned that the downgrade appears not to have installed correctly however they have found that after going through the above procedure that you MUST remove any USB connection to the printer and then turn the printer OFF and then ON again. Once this was done the firmware installed and the generic cartridges were usable again. Below is the typical screen you may see before rebooting the printer.
Update 25th April 2020: We now have plenty of the new V9.0 chip version cartridges of the HP955XL and 905XL variety in stock. These work fine even with the very latest firmware change. Once again we stress to all customers to TURN OFF the printer's updates.
Update 18th March 2021: we are now up to the new V11.3 Blue Chip version of the HP 955XL cartridges. So far there have been no issues whatsoever in regards to compatibility. The downgrade instructions above are no longer relevant. Just make sure that you turn OFF all printer updates on the actual printer itself and then you will not experience any issues when using non genuine cartridges. The new V11.3 Blue Chip 955XL cartridges are fully compatible with ALL firmware versions even the very oldest versions.
Update 24th Nov 2023: We have confirmed that the above process is still 100% effective in fixing any issues you may have with incompatibility of your HP cartridges. It is essential however that once you have downgraded to turn OFF the updates. Further to the above Ink Hub now has it's own Unismart chip programmer and we update our 955XL cartridges the day that they are dispatched. This guarantees that they will be 100% compatible at the time they are posted to our customers. You can see us using the Unismart in this video: upgrading HP ink cartridges.
Update 24 Feb 2024: Updated all of the downgrade software links above to the correct url's.