HP Refilled Cartridge Says "Used or Counterfeit" and Won't Print: Causes and Solutions

Question

I followed the refill instructions in the Freedom to Refill HP Instant Ink Cartridge 902, 910, 915, 934, 935, 564, and 920 video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Y1nk-D5cc). After refilling my cartridges, the printer reported that they were "used or fake" and would not attempt to print. Why is this happening, and is there a way to continue using the refilled cartridges?

Answer

The "used," "fake," or "counterfeit" cartridge message is often related to the cartridge chip rather than the actual amount of ink inside the cartridge. Refilling the cartridge restores the physical ink supply, but it normally does not reset the electronic information stored on the cartridge chip. As a result, the cartridge can be completely full while the printer still sees the old ink-level record and identifies the cartridge as previously used, depleted, modified, or potentially non-genuine.

This is one of the ways HP discourages cartridge refilling and encourages users to install newly purchased cartridges. When the ink level recorded by the chip becomes low, the printer may begin displaying warnings such as:

• "Used cartridge"

• "Previously used cartridge"

• "Counterfeit cartridge"

• "Non-HP cartridge"

• "Cartridge depleted"

• "Cartridge problem"

• "Cartridge cannot be used until printer is enrolled"

• "Cartridge intended for another printer"

Based on practical experience, these warnings often begin when the chip reports approximately 25% ink remaining or less. However, this is not an officially confirmed threshold, and the behavior varies among printer models, cartridge families, firmware versions, and regional configurations. Some printers may show the warning while the chip still reports a considerably higher level, sometimes near 50%.

The important word in your message is "used." In many cases, "used" simply means that the printer has already recognized the cartridge and does not consider it a newly installed cartridge. It does not automatically mean that the cartridge is physically damaged or counterfeit.

When the printer asks whether you purchased the cartridge as new, select "No" if it is a cartridge that you previously used and refilled. The printer may then ask whether you still want to use it. Depending on the printer model and firmware, select "Yes," "OK," "Continue," "Use Anyway," or a similarly worded option.

Read each message carefully before selecting an answer. HP's prompts can be confusing, and the correct response depends on exactly how the question is phrased. For example, answering "Yes" to "Did you purchase this cartridge as new?" may tell the printer that you believe a previously used cartridge was sold to you as new. That can lead to additional counterfeit warnings or reporting prompts. If you personally used and refilled the cartridge, the appropriate answer is normally "No."

The word "counterfeit" can sound alarming, but it does not necessarily prove that the cartridge is fake. The printer may use that term whenever the cartridge's stored data, serial number, ink history, or authentication response does not match what the firmware expects. A genuine HP cartridge that has been refilled can still trigger a counterfeit or non-genuine warning because the chip continues to report its previous usage history.

However, there is an important difference between a warning and a hard cartridge rejection. Some HP printers allow you to acknowledge the warning and continue printing. Others block printing completely. Whether the warning can be bypassed depends on several factors.

Check Whether the Cartridge Was Previously Used in This Printer

A cartridge that was previously accepted by the same printer is generally more likely to work after refilling than a cartridge obtained from another printer. Some HP cartridge chips become associated with the first printer in which they are installed.

This behavior is often connected to HP's Cartridge Protection feature. When Cartridge Protection is enabled, a cartridge may become locked to a particular printer or group of printers. If you move that cartridge to another machine, the second printer may reject it even when the cartridge is genuine and full.

If the cartridge originally came from another printer, reinstalling it in the original printer may help determine whether Cartridge Protection is involved.

Check for an "OK," "Continue," or "Use Anyway" Option

Look carefully at the printer's control panel and any message displayed in the HP software or HP Smart application. The physical printer screen may provide a continuation option that does not appear clearly on the computer.

Possible options include:

• Continue

• OK

• Use Anyway

• Proceed

• Accept

• Yes

• Resume

Some printers require you to press and hold a physical button, such as the Resume, Cancel, Information, or OK button, for several seconds. The exact method varies substantially by model, so avoid following a button sequence intended for a different printer.

If the printer gives you an option to disable ink-level monitoring, understand that the printer may then show the cartridge as empty for the rest of its usable life. You would need to monitor the cartridge manually and refill it before it runs dry.

Instant Ink Cartridges May Stop Working Outside the Subscription

The video title mentions HP Instant Ink cartridges, which introduces another possible restriction. Instant Ink cartridges are connected to HP's subscription program. They are not treated in the same way as ordinary retail HP cartridges.

An Instant Ink cartridge may stop working if:

• The Instant Ink subscription has been canceled.

• The printer has been removed from the subscription.

• The printer cannot connect to HP's servers.

• The subscription payment is overdue.

• The cartridge was installed in a different printer.

• HP has remotely deactivated the cartridge.

• The cartridge is no longer associated with an active Instant Ink account.

Refilling an Instant Ink cartridge does not remove its subscription status. Even when the cartridge is physically full, the printer may refuse to use it because the chip identifies it as an Instant Ink cartridge that is no longer authorized.

If the subscription has ended, replacing the Instant Ink cartridges with compatible retail cartridges is usually necessary. A refilled Instant Ink cartridge may remain electronically locked even though the ink chamber has been successfully refilled.

HP+ Printers Can Have Additional Restrictions

If your printer is an HP+ model or was activated under HP+, it may be required to use original HP cartridges with active HP chips. HP+ enrollment is generally tied to the printer and can impose stricter cartridge-authentication requirements.

A refilled original cartridge may continue working in some HP+ printers, but third-party replacement chips, remanufactured cartridges, or cartridges whose authentication data has changed may be rejected. The exact behavior can also change after a firmware update.

Dynamic Security May Block the Cartridge

Many newer HP printers use Dynamic Security. This system checks the cartridge's security chip and may block cartridges that do not contain the expected HP authentication data.

A cartridge might work for a period of time and then stop working after a printer firmware update. This can happen when the update changes how the printer validates cartridge chips.

Dynamic Security is especially relevant when:

• The cartridge uses an aftermarket replacement chip.

• The original chip was removed or damaged.

• The cartridge was remanufactured.

• The chip previously worked but stopped after an update.

• The printer reports a cartridge communication or authentication problem.

If the original HP chip remains attached and electrically functional, the cartridge has a better chance of being accepted. However, the printer may still report the cartridge as used or empty because the chip's ink-level history normally cannot be reset through refilling alone.

Inspect and Clean the Cartridge Contacts

A hard rejection can also be caused by poor electrical contact rather than an intentional firmware restriction. Remove the cartridge and inspect the gold or copper-colored contact area.

Look for:

• Ink contamination

• Fingerprints

• Adhesive residue

• Scratches

• Corrosion

• Bent or damaged contacts

• Moisture from the refilling process

• A loose or shifted chip

Turn off and unplug the printer before cleaning the contacts. Use a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water or high-purity isopropyl alcohol. Do not soak the chip, scrape the contacts, or reinstall the cartridge while it is still wet. Allow all cleaned surfaces to dry completely before reinstalling the cartridge.

Also inspect the matching contacts inside the carriage. A cartridge that leaked during refilling can deposit ink on the carriage contacts and cause the printer to misread more than one cartridge.

Make Sure the Cartridge Was Not Overfilled

Overfilling can cause ink to leak into the cartridge's air vents, electrical contacts, or internal pressure-regulation system. A cartridge may be full but unable to deliver ink properly if its air path is blocked.

Possible signs of overfilling include:

• Ink leaking from the printhead or outlet

• Ink around the chip or electrical contacts

• Droplets forming under the cartridge

• Blotchy or overly saturated printing

• Missing colors after installation

• Cartridge errors that began immediately after refilling

If ink reached the electrical contacts, clean and dry them thoroughly. If the cartridge is dripping, remove a small amount of ink and allow the internal pressure to stabilize before reinstalling it.

Do Not Allow the Cartridge to Run Completely Dry

Integrated-printhead cartridges, including many HP cartridge families, can be damaged if they print without ink. The ink helps cool the microscopic heating elements in the printhead. When the cartridge runs dry, those elements may overheat and fail.

Refilling a cartridge restores the ink supply, but it cannot repair electrically burned nozzles, damaged resistors, or a failed chip. If the printer detects an electrical problem in the cartridge, it may reject it rather than simply reporting a low ink level.

For the best chance of successful refilling, refill the cartridge before print quality deteriorates severely and before the cartridge becomes completely empty.

Try Reinstalling the Cartridge

You can also try a basic cartridge reinstallation:

1. Turn on the printer.

2. Open the cartridge-access area.

3. Remove the affected cartridge.

4. Inspect and clean the electrical contacts if necessary.

5. Wait until the contacts are completely dry.

6. Reinstall the cartridge firmly.

7. Close the access door and follow the messages on the printer screen.

If the printer provides a continuation prompt, select the option that confirms the cartridge is used and that you want to continue printing.

Avoid repeatedly removing and reinstalling the cartridge dozens of times. Excessive handling can damage the contacts, introduce ink contamination, or wear the carriage latch.

Restart the Printer Without the Cartridge Installed

A power reset may clear a temporary cartridge communication error, although it will not remove chip restrictions or reset the recorded ink level.

You may try the following:

1. Remove the affected cartridge.

2. Turn off the printer.

3. Disconnect the power cable from the printer and wall outlet.

4. Wait approximately one minute.

5. Reconnect the printer directly to a wall outlet.

6. Turn the printer on.

7. Reinstall the cartridge when prompted.

If the cartridge is still rejected, the issue is more likely related to the cartridge chip, cartridge history, printer firmware, Instant Ink authorization, or an electrical failure.

Try a Different Known-Working Cartridge

Installing another known-working cartridge is one of the most useful diagnostic steps. It helps separate a printer-side problem from a cartridge-side problem.

If another cartridge works correctly, the refilled cartridge likely has one of the following problems:

• A failed chip

• Damaged electrical contacts

• A printer-association restriction

• Instant Ink deactivation

• Dynamic Security rejection

• An electrically damaged printhead

• A cartridge that has reached the end of its service life

If the printer rejects multiple known-working cartridges in the same slot, the problem may be inside the printer, such as contaminated carriage contacts, damaged wiring, a failed cartridge reader, or a mainboard issue.

Rotating Multiple Cartridge Sets May Work on Some Older Printers

Another possible workaround is to keep several sets of cartridges and rotate them. Some older HP printers remember only a limited number of cartridge serial numbers. After enough different cartridges have been installed, the printer may forget one of the earlier serial numbers and recognize that cartridge again.

For example, a user might install cartridge set A, then B, then C, and later return to set A. On certain older models, this can cause the printer to treat set A differently because its serial number is no longer retained in the printer's recent cartridge memory.

However, this method is not universal. It may not work with:

• Newer HP firmware

• HP+ printers

• Active or deactivated Instant Ink cartridges

• Printers using Dynamic Security

• Cartridge Protection

• Cartridges with physically failed chips

• Cartridges with electrically damaged printheads

Rotating cartridges also does not truly reset the ink gauge stored on the cartridge chip. Even if the printer accepts the cartridge, it may continue displaying low or empty ink.

Refilling Does Not Normally Reset the Ink Gauge

It is important to separate the physical ink level from the electronic ink-level estimate. The printer usually estimates ink use by counting printed pages, fired nozzles, or recorded cartridge activity. It does not directly inspect the cartridge and confirm how much ink you added.

Therefore, after refilling:

• The cartridge may remain displayed as empty.

• The estimated level may not increase.

• Ink-level monitoring may become unavailable.

• The printer may continue issuing low-ink warnings.

• You may need to monitor the cartridge manually.

A low or empty gauge does not necessarily prevent printing. The critical question is whether the printer offers a continuation option or imposes a hard electronic lockout.

When the Cartridge Cannot Be Recovered

Unfortunately, not every refilled cartridge can be reused. Replacement may be necessary when:

• The chip has failed.

• The cartridge contacts are damaged.

• The integrated printhead is electrically burned.

• The cartridge was deactivated by Instant Ink.

• The cartridge is locked to another printer.

• Dynamic Security rejects the chip.

• The cartridge is leaking internally.

• The cartridge has been refilled too many times and its internal foam or pressure system has deteriorated.

• The printer provides no continuation option.

In that situation, try a standard retail cartridge that is specifically listed for your printer model and region. Installing a known-compatible cartridge can also confirm whether the printer itself is functioning correctly.

Addressing printer issues can be complicated because many problems require direct inspection, testing, and hands-on diagnosis. For this reason, we are unable to provide individualized remote troubleshooting, repair instructions, or ongoing repair support. We do offer in-person evaluation and repair through our local printer diagnostic and repair facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take several weeks before an appointment or drop-off opportunity becomes available.

Our services can be arranged for either a complete printer or certain removable printer components, with instructions provided for the appropriate service process. However, we recognize that professional repair is not always the most economical solution. For that reason, we strongly encourage self-guided research whenever practical. You can begin with YouTube or visit the BCH Technologies YouTube homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). To locate a specific topic, use the channel search icon near the "About" section on the right side of the channel menu.

We receive dozens of questions each day asking whether we have videos covering particular printer problems. Since we have published videos for more than nine years, it is difficult to remember every individual topic and video title. Using YouTube's channel-search feature is usually the fastest way to find relevant BCH Technologies content. YouTube may also recommend helpful videos from other creators that address the same cartridge or printer model.

Thank you again for contacting BCH Technologies and for taking the time to share your experience. We sincerely appreciate your support of our channel and hope this explanation helps you better understand why a physically full refilled cartridge may still be reported as used, counterfeit, or unavailable by an HP printer.