Are HP 67 and 67XL Refill Methods Still Valid After HP Firmware Updates?

Question

I watched your video about refilling HP 67 and HP 67XL ink cartridges, especially Part 1 covering the refill fundamentals. Is that information still valid today? Has HP released firmware updates that block refilled cartridges from working?

Answer

Yes, the refill fundamentals for HP 67 and HP 67XL cartridges are still valid. The physical refilling method, ink handling, sponge saturation, venting, and printhead care principles have not changed. If the cartridge body, printhead, internal sponge, and electronic contacts are still usable, the cartridge can often still be refilled.

However, the important part is this: refilling the cartridge and getting the printer to accept the cartridge are two different issues.

For HP 67 and 67XL cartridges, the ink itself is usually not the main problem. These cartridges are integrated-printhead cartridges, meaning the printhead and electronics are built into the cartridge. When a refill fails, the cause is often related to one of these areas:

1. The cartridge electronics

2. The copper contacts on the cartridge or inside the printer

3. The cartridge's previous usage state

4. The printer's firmware version

5. HP cartridge protection or cartridge recognition logic

6. Region compatibility

7. A damaged or worn printhead

8. A dried sponge or air blockage inside the cartridge

HP has used firmware-based cartridge authentication on many printer models. On some printers, firmware updates may affect whether a refilled, remanufactured, third-party, or previously used cartridge is accepted. HP's own support documentation says that some dynamic-security-enabled printers are intended to work only with cartridges using new or reused HP chips or HP electronic circuitry, and firmware updates may maintain those cartridge-authentication measures.

That means the answer is not a simple "yes, refilling always works" or "no, HP blocked everything." The more accurate answer is:

The refill method is still useful, but there is no universal guarantee that every HP printer will accept every refilled HP 67 or 67XL cartridge after every firmware update.

With HP 67 and 67XL cartridges, if you are refilling the original HP cartridge and the original HP electronics are still accepted by the printer, the refill can still work. The printer may not show accurate ink levels afterward, because the cartridge memory may still report the old ink level. This is normal for many refilled HP cartridges. The printer may continue to say the cartridge is low or empty even though you physically added ink. In many cases, you can continue printing after acknowledging the warning.

Common messages you may see include:

"Used Cartridge Installed"

"Refilled Cartridge Detected"

"Previously Used Genuine HP Cartridge"

"Low Ink" or "Empty Cartridge"

"Cartridge Problem"

"Incompatible Cartridge"

"Non-HP Chip or Circuitry Detected"

"Non-HP Cartridge"

"Cartridge Protected"

"Remove and Reinstall the Indicated Cartridge"

These are not all the same type of error.

A low-ink or empty-ink warning may simply mean the printer is reading the old cartridge memory. If the printer allows you to continue, the cartridge may still print normally after refill.

A "Used Cartridge" or "Previously Used Genuine HP Cartridge" message may also be acceptable. The printer is warning you that the cartridge has been used before, but it may still allow printing.

A "Cartridge Problem" or "Remove and Reinstall" message is more serious. This may mean the cartridge contacts are dirty, the cartridge is not seated correctly, the printhead electronics are damaged, or the printer cannot communicate with the cartridge.

An "Incompatible Cartridge" or "Non-HP Circuitry Detected" message can be related to firmware, cartridge region, cartridge protection, chip/circuitry recognition, or a cartridge that the printer no longer accepts.

For HP 67 and 67XL, because the cartridge has its own printhead and circuitry, there is usually no simple chip reset like on some other cartridge systems. If the cartridge electronics are rejected, damaged, or locked out by the printer, adding more ink will not solve the problem. In that case, the cartridge may be physically full but still unusable because the printer refuses to recognize it.

Here are the practical steps I would try:

First, confirm that the cartridge is an original HP 67 or 67XL cartridge that previously worked in that same printer. A cartridge that worked before has a better chance of being accepted after refill than an unknown cartridge from another source.

Second, clean the copper contacts on the cartridge. Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water or isopropyl alcohol. Clean only the copper contact area, not the printhead nozzle plate unless you are specifically treating a clog. Let the cartridge dry before reinstalling it.

Third, clean the matching contacts inside the printer carriage. Be gentle. If ink mist, dust, or residue is blocking communication between the printer and cartridge, the printer may report a cartridge error even when the cartridge itself is good.

Fourth, reseat the cartridge firmly. Remove it, unplug the printer for a few minutes, plug the printer back in, and reinstall the cartridge. This can clear some temporary recognition errors.

Fifth, check whether the printer gives you an option to continue. Some warnings can be bypassed by pressing OK, Continue, or Resume. Other errors cannot be bypassed.

Sixth, do not rely on the ink-level display after refilling. Many HP cartridges will not reset the ink monitor just because ink was added. Instead, judge the cartridge by print output. If it prints well, the refill is working even if the printer still says low ink.

Seventh, if the cartridge prints blank or streaky but is accepted by the printer, the problem is likely ink flow, dried nozzles, air inside the sponge, or a clogged printhead. In that case, you would troubleshoot it as a print-quality issue rather than a firmware issue.

Eighth, if the printer refuses the cartridge completely, test with another known-good HP 67 or 67XL cartridge if possible. This helps separate a cartridge failure from a printer-side recognition problem.

Ninth, review firmware update settings. If your printer currently accepts refilled cartridges, you may want to be cautious about automatic firmware updates. Firmware updates can improve security, fix bugs, and improve printer performance, but they may also change cartridge authentication behavior on some models.

From a legal and repair-rights perspective in the U.S., refilling or refurbishing a cartridge you own has strong support as a form of repair. However, that does not mean a printer manufacturer's firmware will always cooperate with every refilled cartridge. Legal repair rights and real-world printer firmware behavior are not always the same thing.

So, in simple terms: the HP 67 and 67XL refill fundamentals are still valid. The ink can still be added, and many cartridges can still be reused. But whether the printer accepts the refilled cartridge depends on the exact printer model, the cartridge's condition, whether the original HP electronics are still readable, whether the cartridge is region-compatible, and what firmware is installed on the printer.

If your printer still recognizes the cartridge, refill it carefully and continue using it. If the printer shows only a low-ink warning, that is usually not a refill failure. If the printer shows a hard cartridge rejection such as "Incompatible Cartridge," "Cartridge Problem," or "Non-HP Circuitry Detected," then the issue is probably recognition, firmware, contacts, cartridge electronics, or cartridge protection rather than the ink refill itself.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair because many of these problems require hands-on inspection and testing. Because of that, we are not able to provide remote troubleshooting, detailed repair suggestions, or direct support for printer repairs. We do offer an in-person evaluation and repair service through our local diagnostic facility, BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service [https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service]. Due to high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so it may take a few weeks before your printer can be dropped off for service. Our repair options are structured for either a whole printer or specific parts, with instructions on how to proceed. However, we also understand that our rates are not the most economical option for everyone. For that reason, we strongly recommend self-help through online research whenever possible. A good place to start is YouTube, including our YouTube channel homepage, BCH Technologies on YouTube [https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies]. You can use the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar to look for videos on specific topics. I receive dozens of questions every day asking for videos on particular problems, and after creating videos for the past nine years, it is difficult to remember every single one. Using YouTube's search function is usually the fastest way to find the most relevant video. YouTube may also recommend helpful videos from other channels.

Thank you again for watching our videos and for asking this question. HP cartridge refilling is still useful, but the cartridge must be judged as both a refillable ink container and an electronic device that the printer must recognize. If both sides are still working, the HP 67 or 67XL refill method can still be a practical way to extend the life of the cartridge.