HP Officejet 6978 says "cartridges missing" after installing several new HP cartridges

[HowardBK]

HP Officejet 6978 says "cartridges missing" after installing several new HP cartridges

I updated software and followed instructions from HP but nothing worked.

[Garp_senchau]

@HowardBK, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Double-check Cartridge Installation

Power off the printer, open the ink cartridge access door, and remove all cartridges.

Reinsert each cartridge slowly and firmly until it clicks into place. Pay close attention to whether they feel secure.

Power the printer back on.

Check for Protective Tape

Sometimes new cartridges come with orange protective tape on the copper contacts or nozzles. If you missed removing it, the printer won’t detect them.

Remove and inspect each cartridge again for any tape or packaging left on.

Clean Electrical Contacts

Dirty or oxidized contacts can cause recognition errors.

Turn off the printer and unplug it.

Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water or isopropyl alcohol.

Gently clean the gold contacts on both the cartridges and inside the printer’s cartridge slot.

Let dry completely before reinserting.

Hard Reset the Printer

Turn the printer on.

Disconnect the power cord from the printer (while it’s on).

Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.

Wait 60 seconds.

Plug back into wall outlet first, then the printer.

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

Update Printer Firmware (Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support)

• Go to the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page. Enter your printer model number and search for the latest firmware update. Follow the instructions to download and install the firmware update.

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. 

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Regards,