HP Ink not working

[LonelyFanz]

HP OfficeJet 4650 stopped printing randomly. Changed the ink to an HP Ink cartridge and it says I cannot use until I register on hp instant ink, but all it will do is let me sign up for a subscription.

How are you going to gatekeep printing with your own ink catridges!?

[VikramTheGreat · Accepted solution]

Hi @LonelyFanz,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

I understand why that message would be frustrating, especially when you purchased an HP cartridge and simply want to print.
 

Based on the message you are seeing, it sounds like the cartridge you installed may be an HP Instant Ink cartridge, rather than a regular HP retail cartridge. HP Instant Ink cartridges are specifically designed to work only with a printer that is enrolled in an active Instant Ink plan.
 

Could you please share clear photos of the cartridges currently installed in your HP OfficeJet 4650, including the front and the label/part number? Please make sure any personal information is not visible. I would like to check exactly which cartridges you have before advising you further.
 

Also, please look at the cartridge itself and check whether it says “HP Instant Ink” anywhere on the label.
 

If the cartridges are HP Instant Ink cartridges, the printer will require enrollment in an active Instant Ink plan before those cartridges can be used. If you do not want an Instant Ink subscription, you can instead purchase the regular HP cartridges compatible with the OfficeJet 4650. HP lists the standard cartridges for this printer separately from Instant Ink cartridges.
 

Once you send the cartridge photos, we can confirm what you have and make sure you purchase the correct regular HP cartridges so you can print without having to enroll in Instant Ink.

Take care and have an amazing day!

[LonelyFanz]

That explains that, but not why my previous ink suddenly stopped working. Those were generic cartridges

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @LonelyFanz,

That helps explain part of the situation. Since the previous cartridges were generic (non-HP) cartridges, HP cannot guarantee their compatibility, reliability, or continued operation. Generic cartridges can sometimes work for a period of time and then stop being recognized due to factors such as the cartridge chip, cartridge condition, printer firmware changes, or compatibility issues with the cartridge electronics.
 

To better understand exactly what type of cartridges you were using, could you please share:

• A clear photo of all the cartridges (showing the labels and cartridge numbers)
• A close-up photo of the electronic chip/contact area on the cartridges
• The exact printer model
• A photo of the error message displayed on the printer

With images of the cartridges, we can check whether they are refilled, remanufactured, region-specific, or use a third-party chip and try to determine why they suddenly stopped working.
 

If the cartridges are non-HP products, you may also need to contact the cartridge manufacturer for compatibility information. HP recommends using genuine HP cartridges for the best compatibility and printer performance.
 

Once you share the cartridge photos and the printer model, we can try to find more help and guide you on the next steps.