Damanged or missing cartrige

[Jeweltones]

I get an error code that says "one or more cartidges appear to be missing or damaged." even though I just put a new cartridge in it. I checked the four pins thats supposed to register the cartridge, and they're clean and not bent. Please help!

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Jeweltones,

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 printer is showing a “one or more cartridges appear to be missing or damaged” message even after installing a new cartridge. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Perform a full power reset
With the printer turned on, unplug the power cord from the rear of the printer and the wall outlet.
Wait at least 60 seconds, then plug it directly into a wall outlet and turn the printer back on.

Remove and reseat all cartridges
Open the cartridge access door and remove all cartridges, not just the new one.
Reinstall them one at a time until each clicks firmly into place.

Check for protective tape or blocked vents
Remove each cartridge and confirm all orange or clear protective tape is fully removed.
Make sure the small vent on top of each cartridge is not blocked by tape or ink residue.

Clean cartridge and carriage contacts
Turn the printer off and unplug it.
Using a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with distilled water, gently clean the copper contacts on the cartridges and inside the carriage, then let them dry for at least 10 minutes.

Install cartridges in the correct order
Insert the color cartridge first, then the black cartridge (if applicable).
Close the access door completely and allow the printer to initialize.

Test with only one cartridge (if supported)
Some models allow printing with only a black or only a color cartridge.
Remove one cartridge and restart the printer to see if the error clears.

Confirm cartridge compatibility and region
Verify the cartridge number matches exactly what the printer model requires.
Region-mismatched or incorrect cartridge numbers will trigger this error even if the cartridge is new.

Check cartridge status in printer software
Open the HP Smart app or printer software and review the ink status or error details.
This can help identify which cartridge the printer is rejecting.

Inspect the cartridge slot closely
Look for ink buildup, debris, or damaged contact pins inside the carriage.
Even if the pins are not bent, contamination can prevent proper electrical contact.

If the same error appears with multiple new cartridges and all contacts are clean, it usually indicates a cartridge carriage or internal sensor issue, not a bad cartridge. In that case, replacing additional cartridges typically does not resolve the problem.

I hope this helps.

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Best regards,