HP Office Jet 5255 - How to bypass set up printer cartridges

[lillypgirl1972]

I got this printer from a friend and bought brand new ink cartridges. I cannot set up the printer because it says that I need the set up cartridges. Can someone tell me how to bypass this message? I need to print and scan. 

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@lillypgirl1972, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

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

The HP OfficeJet 5255 requires setup cartridges for the initial printer setup. These cartridges are specifically programmed to initialize the printer, and without them, the setup cannot proceed normally. However, since you got the printer second-hand, the setup cartridges may no longer be available. Here are some possible solutions to bypass the setup cartridge requirement:

Solution 1: Perform a Semi-Full Reset

This reset can sometimes force the printer to skip the setup mode.

1. Turn off the printer and disconnect the power cable.
2. Wait for 60 seconds and then reconnect the power cable.
3. Press and hold the following buttons simultaneously:
   • The Back (↩️) button four times (or tap the back button until you reach the Support menu).
4. Once in the hidden menu:
   • Look for Reset Menu and choose Semi-Full Reset.
5. The printer will restart. Check if it now allows standard cartridges.

Solution 2: Check for a Firmware Downgrade

Some newer HP firmware versions enforce setup cartridge requirements more strictly.

1. Check your printer’s firmware version in the settings.
2. If it's recent, search for an older firmware version on the HP website.
3. Download and install an older firmware update via USB if available.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support 

[lillypgirl1972]

Thank you so much for this help. I have been working for countless hours to bypass this message. If you had not even mentioned the side button next to the glass screen, I would have never known to hold the button. I appreciate your time helping me. Have a great day.

Lilly.

[Max3Aj]

@lillypgirl1972, A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! 

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead!  🙂

Regards, 

Max3Aj