Unlock the Secret to Bypassing HP Printer Cartridge Errors

Question:

Hello Kevin, I saw your channel about how to refill the ink. My printer is an HP 2135 Ink Advantage. I have refilled the ink already, but the cartridge is empty, so the printer starts blinking red. Can it be bypassed similar to the Canon printer empty cartridge alert so I can continue use of the refilled ink?

Answer:

All HP printers such as the HP 2135 Ink advantage printer have a mechanism through which it tracks your cartridge usage. In contrast, HP printers have a simpler workaround, while Canon printers may require certain hacks or the resetting of empty cartridges. HP products retain the last 3 to 5 cartridge sets used. You can then switch out cartridges, avoiding the empty alert. Here’s how you can do it:

Prepare a Backup Set of Ink Cartridges:

Whether original or compatible, keep two spare sets, even if they are partially used or empty.

Rotate the Cartridges:

When the printer registers one as being empty, pull it out and slot in a cartridge from your spare set. Repeat this method with the spare cartridge one more time until the printer forgets about the original cartridge.

Insert the Refilled Cartridge Back:

After the printer has done this 3 to 5 times, forgetting the original cartridge, reinstall as per the original cartridge the refilled cartridge. Your printer should see it as new now and allow printing with no blinking red warning.

Turn off Cartridge Protection (optional):

Some models of HP printers have setting called “Cartridge Protection.” Make sure this is off, as it will prevent refilled cartridges from being useful. This option can also be found in your printer software, or the HP Smart app.

Use Ink Monitoring Software (optional):

Some third-party software may help you reset or manage your cartridge status. Caution, though — there is no official HP confirmations of these tools.

This method works, as HP will track cartridges through the chip IDs. Rotating cartridges basically “fool” the printer into believing it’s seeing brand new cartridges.

Printer issues can be a tricky thing to troubleshoot: they're quite hands-on problems. Therefore, any remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or repair efforts for the printer cannot be offered. We provide an on-site inspection and repair at our local diagnostic facility BCH Technologies Printer Repair Service (bchtechnologies.com) so we are strictly first come first serve as we are in high demand. So, we might be pulling your printer to drop this off in a couple weeks.”

Our services are designed to fix a complete printer or parts with straightforward instructions on how to handle it. But we admit we are not the cheapest around. Hence, we urge you to turn to self-help through online research. You do this first, by going to YouTube (or our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), then look for specific videos using the search icon to the right of "About" on the right side of the menu bar. I get dozens of requests every single day about videos concerning certain subjects. After nine years of making videos, it is hard to remember them all. So it would be the most effective to use YouTube's search function. Also, Youtube may recommend related videos from other channels that can help you out.