Why Won’t My HP 9018e Recognize New Cartridges After Cancelling Instant Ink? Troubleshooting HP Instant Ink Errors

Question:

After cancelling my HP Instant Ink subscription, I installed new HP-brand ink cartridges into my HP 9018e all-in-one printer. However, I’m receiving an error that the cartridges can't be used until the printer is enrolled in HP Instant Ink. These were bought on Amazon and seem to be official HP cartridges. What can I do to resolve this issue? Would it help to send the empty and replacement cartridges to BCH Technologies for chip swapping, as I saw in a YouTube video?

Answer:

Understanding the HP Instant Ink Lock-In

When you enroll in HP’s Instant Ink subscription service, HP provides ink cartridges that are locked to the program. These cartridges do not function as regular cartridges and are technically "leased" by HP. Upon cancellation of your Instant Ink subscription, those cartridges become deactivated, regardless of the remaining ink levels. The error you’re seeing—often something like “Cartridges cannot be used until printer is enrolled in HP Instant Ink”—is HP's way of blocking further use of those subscription-bound cartridges.

Even though your new cartridges were purchased from Amazon and labeled as HP brand, there’s a strong chance they were still tied to Instant Ink, possibly due to being sourced from returned printers, resold subscriptions, or repackaged Instant Ink supplies. HP’s firmware can identify these and will disable them accordingly.

Why Chip Swapping Might Not Work

You mentioned seeing a video where we swapped chips from OEM cartridges to transparent refillables. While this works with many printer models that use non-DRM (Digital Rights Management) chips, the HP 9018e utilizes sophisticated encryption protocols on its cartridges, particularly with HP+ and Instant Ink-capable units. Chip swapping on these models typically does not yield reliable results, and there's no effective workaround we can offer for this specific printer when it comes to overriding the Instant Ink lock.

Additionally, at BCH Technologies, we don’t work on cartridge chips or provide cartridge modification services for HP models—especially those enrolled in the HP+ or Instant Ink systems—due to the legal and functional limitations imposed by HP’s firmware and agreements.

What You Can Do

1. Confirm Cartridge Source
   Ensure the cartridges are not Instant Ink and were sold as standard retail HP cartridges. If the box says “Instant Ink Ready” or “Subscription Cartridge”, they are likely locked. Contact the Amazon seller for clarification or a refund.

2. Try Genuine Retail HP Cartridges
   Purchase new HP 962 or 962XL cartridges directly from HP or a major retailer (such as Best Buy or Staples) that clearly states they are non-subscription-based.

3. Printer Factory Reset (Low Success Rate)
   Some users attempt a factory reset of the printer to remove HP+ or Instant Ink dependencies, but this has a very low success rate and may not work on newer firmware versions.

4. Replace the Printer
   If you frequently refill cartridges or use third-party ink, a printer without HP+ or Instant Ink dependencies may serve you better in the long term. Consider models that are refill-friendly or designed for remanufacturing.

Please Note:

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it might take a few weeks before we can get your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thanks again for your trust and support. We hope this information helps you navigate the frustrating world of printer DRM and find a solution that works for your needs.