HP Smart Tank 580 - HP Protected Printhead Installed

[Flor0125]

Good evening.

I bought my printer in December, it has everything original, I bought absolutely nothing extra. The ink refill is what came in the box and what it contains is the printer's own from the factory.

Today I cleaned the printhead for maintenance, then I was printing all day. Until I scanned the last thing, I was going to print another sheet and I dismissed the sheet without printing, and I see the yellow light flashing with the sign of the head tri color, I go to the app, and it says "HP Protected Printhead Installed".

I have not changed the region, I removed the printhead, cleaned the connections and nothing, unplugged the printer for 60 seconds, and 10 minutes, and the message has not changed.

How could this have happened, just because of the head cleaning? why? i use the printer every day, and also in my country, there is a holiday of 4 days in a row, and i have to use it for those days. how do i do if supposedly the hardware tells me that i have a corrupt head from another printer that i have never tested and does not exist.

Please, I need a quick solution, because I have already exhausted all the alternatives and I don't know what else to do.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Flor0125 

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your query! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I see how that could be a hassle, let’s troubleshoot it. The HP Protected Printhead Installed error usually means the printer believes the printhead is from another device, even if it’s the original one. 

Here are some steps to resolve it:

Reseat the Printhead

• Open the printer’s front door and remove the printhead.
• Clean the gold-colored contacts with a lint-free cloth.
• Reinstall the printhead and ensure it clicks into place.

Reset the Printer

• Turn off the printer and unplug it for 60 seconds.
• Plug it back in and turn it on.

Check for Firmware Updates

• HP regularly releases firmware updates that may resolve printhead recognition issues.
• Update your printer’s firmware using HP’s official guide here.

Perform a Factory Reset

• On the printer’s touchscreen, go to Setup > Printer Maintenance > Restore Defaults.
• This will reset all settings, including printhead recognition.

Let me know how it goes!

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Flor0125 · Accepted solution]

Hi, I've solved it. I called HP technical support in Argentina, and they validated my warranty by replacing the tricolor printhead. The fault was with the printhead because I followed all the steps indicated, and the printhead remained the same.

[Hawks_Eye]

@Flor0125 

That’s great news! I’m really glad HP support was able to validate your warranty and replace the printhead. 

It sounds like you went through all the right troubleshooting steps before confirming the issue. 

Hopefully, your printer is now working smoothly! 

Thanks for sharing the resolution—it might help others dealing with a similar issue. Let me know if you ever need help with anything else!

Take care, and stay fantastic! 

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye