Cartridge not compatible

[MizzRSullivan]

I have an HP OfficeJet 3830. I have had it for years and I love it. Lately,  it started getting "Cartridge not compatible" message before the ink was gone. I purchased new ink and it does the same thing. I only buy real HP Ink. I tried the solutions on another post of removing, cleaning the electrical contacts and replacing and nothing work. Is this a known issue. Please tell me it is not planned obsolescence! Help!

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @MizzRSullivan,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your HP OfficeJet 3830 is showing “Cartridge not compatible” even with new genuine HP ink, and you’ve already tried cleaning and reseating the cartridge without success. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Power reset the printer
Turn the printer off using the power button and unplug the power cord from the rear.
Wait about 60 seconds, plug it back into a wall outlet, and turn it on again.

Reinstall the affected cartridge
Open the cartridge access door and remove the cartridge showing the error.
Reinsert it firmly until it clicks into place, then close the door and let the printer initialize.

Clean the cartridge and printhead contacts
Remove the cartridge and gently clean the gold electrical contacts on both the cartridge and the printhead with a lint‑free cloth.
Dry them for a moment, reinstall, and check again.

Check for firmware updates
Firmware controls cartridge authentication.
Use HP Smart or the printer menu to check for and install any available firmware updates — sometimes updated firmware fixes cartridge recognition quirks.

Check cartridge region and part number
Even genuine HP cartridges can have region coding.
The OfficeJet 3830 uses cartridges like HP 63 or HP 63XL — make sure the printed part number on the box matches exactly the cartridges your printer requires.

Try a different new cartridge
Although the one you bought is new and original, the chip on the cartridge itself can sometimes be defective.
Try another brand‑new cartridge of the same type if possible, especially if a store or neighbor can lend one.

Check cartridge status in HP Smart
Open the HP Smart app and go to Printer Details → Supplies.
See if the black/colored cartridge shows as Installed, Incompatible, or Empty — this can help confirm whether it’s a chip reading issue.

Prepare for deeper error codes
If the printer gives more details (codes on the screen or HP Smart), note them down.
Some printers have specific error codes for incompatible cartridge issues that point to chip communication problems.

I hope this helps.

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Best regards,