This just happened to me and it has absolutely turned me off ever buying ANY HP product ever again. What a crooked shady company.

I will NEVER buy an HP printer again in my life after running into this problem. I had no idea I couldn't buy an off brand cartridge.

Thank you for sharing this! So frustrating!! I am in graduate school for Nurse Practitioner and very dependent on my computer/printer right now. It was not a pleasant surprise when I attempted to print something for an assignment. My husband and I had nearly resigned ourselves to the fact that we were going to have to get a new printer. Thanks to your post, we have likely saved a few hundred dollars between a new printer and new ink cartridges. Thank you, thank you!!

Thank you so much! Note: If you have your printer setup for WiFi communication only, I had to establish a USB connection with my desktop in order to successfully downgrade the software. I wrote the person in charge of printers at HP about this issue, and I plan to file complaints with the appropriate agencies, as well as investigate participating in a class action lawsuit. HP was sued about similar issues that resulted in a class action settlement of $1.5 million in March 2023.

Followed the directions and it worked perfectly for me. I was able to shut off auto updates by also following the directions. Back in business and will never buy another HP printer. Thanks!!!

Thank you. This saved me throwing this in the bin. Biggest mistake I made in a long time was buying a HP printer.

Thank you so much for sharing and for all of your hard work! You have no idea how much joy this tip brought to my life and I hope many others.

This upload of yours is so HELPFUL! Thank you for giving me a fix that allows me to use my printer. HP should be ashamed of themselves.

Seriously, I was thrown into this time waster this morning and it's thanks to you and the comments below that I managed to re-set. I was almost in tears. I couldn't stop thinking of other solutions and you are saviour. This greediness needs to stop. These companies should not get away with this. It's like rocking up at a supermarket with our own shopping bag and they refuse to bag it. You just need to stop HP. The only problem I have is because I played with my 6960 I can't print photos and I have to press another button Print even after I pressed the Print button.

Well I went and made the mistake I bought an HP 2636 and you are right . After replacing both cartridges my printer will not work at all so I am so glad there are people out there like yourself to help us unfornate . Thank you and I will never buy another HP series printer of any kind .

Thank you Matthew, I tried this and I was stunned, it actually worked! You have saved me a fortune, thanks once again.

How can they legally do this.

Thank you so much for this. I got called into work today about our printer being out of office, (small healthcare office) and I proceeded to spend like an hour wasting my life trying to solve this problem. THANK YOU!!!

I just changed my cartridge today and got the error message. Spent all afternoon looking for a solution before I found your video. It WORKED!! Thank you so much. 🤪

I went to Reddit and searched for that individual and found him. The link and step-by-step instructions worked. Thanks a bunch!

Huge thumbs up for this! Just sorted two of my 7740 printers which got updated last month. Thanks!

Thank you for the help!! To answer your last question of how to prevent future updates: Settings -> Printer maintenance -> Update the printer -> Printer Update Options -> Select "Do not check" -> Click "No"

SUCCESS! Thank you so much! Printer had been working fine on off-brand cartridges for a year or more, and just stopped today, giving me the same error. Reverting to an older version of the HP printer firmware worked perfectly. First, turn off auto updates, as he instructed. Then, go to the link above, click your printer model, download the older firmware version and apply it. The printer will refresh, and you should be back in business. SHAME ON YOU, HP!

After many hours searching and frustration about this issue for our HP OfficeJet 6958, your instructions/video were awesome and worked perfectly, with a little trial and error (but only due to my impatience with not following with your steps.). I also realized that I had to use a Windows PC to download the firmware: didn't work on my Mac. Thanks so much, Matthew. Also enjoyed your frustration: reflective of mine!

Matthew, you superstar. The updated link worked perfectly on my HP8730. Automatic updates are now off and HP can ****off. Cheers buddy, sending you lots of positive vibes from the UK

I do not know who you are Mathew but I want to say a BIG thank you for resoving this issue. HP needs to allow people to make their own purchasing desicions rather than "lock" them into buying their products. Its like a car. You can buy original or non original parts based on your budget. Your instructions were clear and to the point. Good Show my friend!

I echo everyone else here - this is absolutely great! I was at wit's end trying to figure this out. Thank you so much for troubleshooting and finding the solution!

You rock man... it was easy thanks to you!!! They actually asked on my download if I wanted the Auto U D's! Pushing the right corner of the error message gets you further each time until you get to the update/ install I went all the way back to basic settings on my comp and it picked it up right away. I think it made it easier for the printer to find the hook up. 1st time for me Great job and thanks'

Thank you. I'd found the updates but couldn't get it to recognise my printer. Taking the cartridges out did the trick. All fixed...for now. Thanks again.

Worked great!!! Thanks a bunch for putting in the time and sharing it.

Thanks for sharing this... it worked seamlessly and I didn't have to take my carts out for it to find my printer.

Thank you SO much! After trying everything else I could read about fixing this problem, your solution was the only one that worked! Bless You!

Thank you, restoring to the factory setting did not work, but setting up LD firmware driver resolved the issue. You saved me at least $300.

I've had a really shitty last couple days and I was about on the verge of tears with my POS HP trash heap...long story short this worked. Thank you so much for posting this.

Many thanks for posting this. Definitely when my printer breaks I will look at alternative printers

I am so glad that I came across your video. It worked and saved me a headache of having to do so much research on my own. Thank you 😊

I went through so many websites and only your method works. Thank you!

Thank you for your help! I did it with my HP 6978 and it worked. I did it via wifi, I did not had to connect via USB

Awesome, worked a treat on my HP 7740. Many thanks and I am fully with your comments in the video. My printer was *this* close to exiting the building at high speed. Vertically. Kudos also to the sites offering firmware downgrades. HP's line on this should be illegal under EU laws on restrictive trading practices.

Thanks! I was halfway through my Amazon return when I found your advice. Easy peasy. I still hate HP but now I can use a cheaper ink.

Thanks for creating this video and sharing the link, it solved the problem for my 6960.

Thanks so much. I was about to purchase new cartridges and return the non HP's that weren't working. Now I will go straight to Reddit & dump the updates. Much appreciated.

incredibly helpful !!! saved me from spending however much on a new set of cartridges.

Thank you sooooo much!!! It worked with your very detailed video and the firmware from reddit. Regarding the 'turn off automatic updates' then he has this step that worked for me: On the printer display: Click Settings / Setup icon > Printer Maintenance / Tools Update the Printer > Printer Update Options > Do Not Check On the question "Do you want to turn on Printer Updates?" select "No" to off printer updates. Then press Home

THANK YOU for posting this video.... I bought this $780 printer for $10 and ran into the same error message and thanks to your video its working... you and your contact from reddit are awesome...

I love how you started this video.

OMG thank you so much! It worked. Much appreciate your efforts!

Thank you so much for this video, we have a 7740 printer at the office that must have updated itself recently and we started getting this issue. I followed the steps and got it downgraded so we are back in business.

That works! Once the laptop was able to find the printer it downloaded a lesser version of firmware and it started printing. Make sure your laptop has the printer driver loaded on it. Then you're good to go.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!. my printer now works again after following your video and downgrading my install!

Thank you for this! I am now able to use my non-hp cartridges because of your help.

Man, I love this video and I feel your pain with HP! Watching your video was funny! I love the humor! I was laughing because I am trying to get mine to work again with generic ink! They work great when they're working!

Worked on HP 6962 printer. Windows 10. Used a USB cable - would not work over the WiFi. Ran the downgrade - the LCD screen turned off but the power button stays on; LCD screen comes back on with a green screen with numbers 12345; after complete the printer restarts. Told me "non HP ink blah blah blah"; click OK on the screen. Print a test page. Done. Thank you Matt!!

Printer #7740 rolling back the firmware worked. Also allowed to cancel auto updates. Thank you for the fix

Thanks, worked for my HP 6968 printer. Reset to factory settings like he shows in this video, then if you have HP Smart loaded on you computer you go to Printer Settings, then Advanced Settings, click printer update, then at the bottom you can select Do no check for updates and Apply and be sure to select "No" on the warning screen so it will not turn on automatic updates.

followed the directions and it worked perfectly .. thank you .. curious to to see what happens when you order new ink with the updated chip. made sure I shut off the automatic update button under printer maintenance.

I downgraded and it worked thanks a lot for your help and the link man!

My guy! It works a treat! 🙌 Many thanks from Australia! 🏆

Thank you so much! I just used the link and it still works!

THANK YOU for sharing your research and the link! Same as many have stated- your efforts really helped me avoid a new $$$ purchase for absolutely no reason. I too plan to contact HP and give them a piece of my mind...

This worked perfectly for my HP 7740! Thank you! P.S. It's nonsense that HP said the new firmware *will* allow non-HP cartridges if the 7740 was manufactured before Dec 1, 2016. If previous firmware allowed non-HP cartridges, then they can make any new firmware support it too - regardless of manufacture date.

This worked for my HP6968. Thank you so much!!

Thank you for sharing. I am using the same ink brand you are using. They are great.

Thank you! It worked, and you saved my sanity!

Followed the instructions and downloaded it from reddit site. It worked. Thanks a lot !!

So what I did is, i had a set of cartridges that did work in the printer but the new ones I ordered didn't so I got my pick set and pulled the chip out, there is a little plastic thing that goes around the chip with legs on it that go in the holes. then I switched them over. it was very easy and it worked.

Thanks alot you helped me save my company from unnecessary costs be blessed.🙏🏿

This worked an absolute treat! thank you!

Thanks Matthew, that (latest) link worked a treat 👍

Worked first time - thank you so much!

Thanks for the video advice! Tried it! All went well! Perfect! 😊

Thank you!!!! Solved my problem. Loved the video, swearing and all. :)

This worked for the HP OfficeJet Pro 8710! After installing turn off updates go to Settings- printer maintenance- update printer - printer update options- Select do not check.

This worked for me, THANK YOU!! HP does really suck. My work sent me an HP printer so have been using that, but I bought the same cartiridges you had, and it just refused these. I always used Brother before, and never had these problems. How do you prevent software from updating? Otherwise we have to do this every time we install new cartridges? I guess the other option is to turn off wifi so it can't update itself.😄

I am enrolled in their ink program and they did this to me! They are the ones that sent me the cartridge! The only thing I can do is buy another printer as I don’t think I can manage what you did!

Awesome, worked a treat on my HP 6968

Thank you so much for sharing this video the firmware worked great.

Try going into your firewall settings, there is a page that tells you what the firewall let's go through to update settings and what it blocks. In the allows list look for your printer and block it. Hope this helps I did it to my hp 8000 enterprise. I still fight with it now to recognise the chip info that it won't let me see. Good luck

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH it worked!!! You are amaziing!

Fantastic, just worked on my Officejet 7720 a treat!! How dare you HP, there are laws against this!!

Thanks, I fixed my HP 7740 using your methord. Definitely I will never buy HP printer anymore. Thanks again, that is really a good solution ...

Many many thanks, Matthew!!

THANK YOU so much for this!!!

Very helpful video!! Thank you so much!!

It worked! Yay and thank you, Matt! On the printer itself, I reset to factory settings, then turned off automatic updates. On my PC, I reinstalled my HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 printer, disabled the HP cartridge protection via the printer’s IP address typed into a browser, installed the older HP driver via the Reddit link, restarted, and voila! The only problem that I encountered was that, instead of searching for that original Reddit post to get the right driver, I lazily clicked a link posted in a comment thinking that it would take me to it. It didn’t. The original Reddit post is still online and working fine though. You just have to search for it. I saved a copy of the driver to my “bag o’ tricks” folder in case I ever need it again. The generic cartridges are working great now. Thanks so much, Matt!

Just did it today worked as advertised don't forget to turn off web services and auto updates

This worked on my 8740!!! Thanks!

the steps worked like a charm..thank you so much, you saved $

It worked thank you, you are a life saver!! :)

Thanks a lot Matthew, you save my time and money.

thanks I did it the way you showed and it works great

The downgrade i got from the new link worked perfektly with my HP OfficeJet Pro 8718. Thank you so much!

GRACIAS POR TANTO !!! Lo hice en una hp 6970 todo un lujo. Gracias !

Hell yeah! Thank you for this video

amazing ! I tried via wifi but was not working but then I tried the ethernet cable and it worked after 3/4 goes, it suddenly the printer screen went black and it done the update back to the old Firmware.

There was an update Nov 14. How do I uninstall it on the Office Jet Pro 9025e

this has worked on my hp 6978. thank you for helping us saving money

Huge thank you!!!

Thanks so much for this fix. It will be a cold day in ____ before I buy another HP printer.

Thank you very much my 8710 now is working very Good

Thank you, saved me a big headache!

Hi there, Thanks for the info - just a note, the link would not work in Duck Duck Go. Was able to open in Safari but did not find any help to remove Dec 2022 firmware update for HP OfficeJet Pro 8715. Does anyone know where I can find help to remove the update? Working on a 24 hour timeline.

Worked a treat! Many thanks.

OMG! Thank you! You helped save me time and $$$. I've been considering switching to a lazer printer - but wanted to use the last set of cartidges I bought - which are off brand. Totally blocked me out and could not print. Followed your instructions and I am back in business. Next printer though - NO to HP!!!! LOL

Thank you so much!