Latest update 20201021 blocking 3rd party toner cartrides

[UnNamed1]

I own a Color Laserjet Pro MFP M281fdw printer. As soon as I installed the latest firmware update (20201021)  it killed all my printer cartridges. Yes, I use 3rd party cartridges. They have worked great till now. My printer is now out of warranty so that is not an issue. So, YES or NO has HP intentionally blocked 3rd party toner cartridges in the latest update? It sure seems that way to me. Just between you and me I'd just as soon chuck the printer into the dump than put up with that sort of coercion. If the answer is yes then you guys are no better than the people who put out ransomware.

UPDATE:  I have just confirmed that firmware upgrade 20201021 blocks 3rd party cartridges by downgrading my firmware back to 20200612. Low and behold all of my cartridges were once again recognized and all the error messages went away. All I got to say is this - if you really care about your customer's and you see the need for a firmware upgrade that's great, but don't  mess with my right to use 3rd party cartridges. Don't use it as an opportunity to take us hostage so that we have to buy just your supplies.

By the way who doesn't keep a file of previous firmware versions around just in case such an issue arises or if your update has issues. You make it impossible to go back to a previous version, even though you make that an option in your printers, because you don't have such a file of previous versions available.

[BTinDC]

Where did you find the firmware to downgrade to? I can't find a Mac version of 20200612 ... 

[BakaNeko]

• I emailed the manufacturer of my tone (JX Toner) and they provided a link for the Windows version of the previous firmware, but they didn't include a Mac version. They also said they should have new chips available in a couple weeks that will make their cartridges compatible again. They will ship them to me to make my current cartridges work with HP's latest firm98ware. 

Before they responded I had found a previous version of the firmware using archive.org.  I found a Mac version for you at https://web.archive.org/web/20190822151326/https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software13/FW_CPE_Consumer...

[UnNamed1]

Sorry, I don't know where you can find a MAC version. However BakaNeko has posted in other threads and here where you can find a Mac version.

[UnNamed1]

First you need to obtain or have a previous firmware version. Then you have to enable firmware downgrades on your printer. Then you follow the same steps you would to upgrade your firmware from a computer. You may have to try different methods depending on your printer. I found direct wifi link worked best for me. However I've read in other posts on the forum that direct usb connections work good too.

[Vale76]

Same issue happened to me last Friday. I have a Color Laserjet Pro MFP M181fw. How can I downgrade to the previous version?

[BakaNeko]

You need to find a source for an earlier version of your printers software. You might try finding it on the Internet Archive like I did for the Mac user above. Or you could contact your toner manufacturer and see if they have a link, or maybe updated chips. I just received a set of upgraded chips that let my printer work after updating. 

[Diana7]

Please post a link to the Windows 10 version of the previous firmware you used to get your printer working again.

Thank you,

Diana