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- HP Community
- Printers
- Printer Ink Cartridges & Print Quality
- HP DeskJet 2722e cartridge failure

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06-13-2025 07:39 AM
Hoping someone can help. I've had my printer for years now and been on an instant ink subscription. As I use it so rarely, I recently changed over to a pay as you print subscription.
I've been trying to print a document today and keep running into different issues. Firstly the printer said that the colour cartridge was empty - taking it out and putting it back in solved this temporarily. Then I got the same issue with the black cartridge. Eventually both cartridges were showing up as having plenty of ink and printer showed as 'ready to print'. The print job seemed to go through, but I then received a 'printer blocked' error message. Since then I've tried various fixes to no avail - the print job appears to get sent to the printer, but never prints out. The printer status is currently showing as 'cartridge failure'.
I've spent hours trying all the various troubleshooting advice I can find with no joy.
Please help!
06-14-2025 12:57 PM
Hi @ClaireS3,
Welcome to the HP Support Community!
Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your printer!
We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.
Try these steps:
Check Cartridge Numbers:
- Ensure that the cartridges are compatible with your printer model. Refer to your printer’s manual or the cartridge packaging for the correct numbers.
Remove and Reinsert the Cartridges:
- Sometimes simply removing and reinserting the cartridges can help. Make sure they are installed correctly.
Clean the Cartridge Contacts:
- Ink or toner cartridges often have electrical contacts that must be clean to function correctly. Use a lint-free cloth to gently clean any dirt or ink residue from both the cartridges and the printer contacts.
Reset the Printer:
- Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source. Wait for about a minute, then plug it back in and turn it on. This can resolve many temporary issues.
Update Printer Firmware:
- Ensure your printer’s firmware is up to date. You can check for updates on the HP website or via the HP Smart app.
Run Diagnostic Tools:
- Use the built-in diagnostic tools available in the printer software or the HP Smart app to check for issues.
I hope this helps.
I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨
Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀
Best regards,
Kuroi_Kenshi
I am an HP Employee
06-17-2025 08:01 AM
@ClaireS3, Welcome to HP Support Community,
Thank you so much for posting your query! My colleague @Kuroi_Kenshi is currently out, but don't worry – I’ll be taking over and making sure we get this sorted for you.
I’m here to help, and together, we’ll work through this!
It sounds really frustrating that those steps haven’t worked! Since you've already done the standard troubleshooting, there are a few more things we can try to get to the bottom of this:
Run HP Smart
- Download and run the HP Smart. Follow the prompts to diagnose and fix common printing issues.
- Refer: Use Diagnose & Fix in HP Smart to repair common printing issues (Windows, macOS) | HP® Support
Try a Different Power Outlet
Sometimes, a power fluctuation or issue with the outlet can cause printer problems. Plugging the printer into a different outlet or using a different power strip might eliminate potential power supply problems.
Restart Print Spooler (Windows):
- Search services in the search box. Open the service menu.
- In the list, find Print Spooler.
- Right-click Print Spooler and click Restart.
- If it’s stopped, click Start instead.
- Close the window. Check if the issue persists.
Also, I suggest you refer to this guide for further troubleshooting steps: HP ink cartridge issues including, incompatible, missing and not recognized errors | HP® Support
I truly hope these steps help get things back on track. If you have any questions or need any further clarification, just let me know – I’m happy to guide you through it and make sure everything works perfectly.
Take care, and I hope you have an amazing day ahead! 😊
Problem solved? 🎉 That’s fantastic! If you could mark this as the Accepted Solution, it would help others find their way here faster. And if you found this helpful, a simple ‘yes’ would mean a lot – it makes my day and gives this reply a little street cred! 🏅
Regards,
Garp_Senchau
I am an HP Employee
06-17-2025 12:25 PM
Hello Garp,
thanks for your help. I had already tried most of the things you suggested before posting here, but have gone through them all again, to no avail.
On restarting the printer, before it has connected to the network, it is showing estimated ink levels for the cartridges. Once it has connected though it is simply saying 'cartridge failure'.
It has been several years since I have replaced the cartridges (as I said, I don't print very often) and last used the printer a couple of months ago. Is is possible that the cartridges have just reached the end of their life span?
06-17-2025 02:03 PM
Hi @ClaireS3,
Thank you for your response
It’s definitely possible that the cartridges have reached the end of their lifespan, especially if they've been sitting unused for a couple of months. Ink cartridges, especially older ones, can dry out or get clogged, leading to errors like the "cartridge failure" message you're seeing.
You might want to try replacing the cartridges to see if that resolves the issue. Even if the printer is detecting them at first, it’s possible that they’re no longer functioning properly once the printer fully connects to the network.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps.
Take care and have a good day.
Did we resolve the issue? If yes, please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!
Regards,
Garp_Senchau
I am an HP Employee
06-18-2025 10:46 AM
Hey @ClaireS3,
Thanks for reaching out! Since the issue remains unresolved, I suggest contacting our phone/chat support team for personalized assistance. They can provide one-on-one help and may even be able to work their remote assistance magic to fix the problem.
Note: There might be a nominal charge for the service they provide.
Regards,
Garp_Senchau
I am an HP Employee