My HP Officejet6500 E7n

[Lavala]

Hi Community - Retired now, I have failed to sort an error with the printer inks. The flashing message directs me to 'print cartridges cyan magenta yellow print cartridges appear to be missing Click cartridges into their slots'.

I bought a new set of HP colour cartridges and replaced the old ones. It isn't used as often as before, but it's still necessary. 

The message remains. Nothing I do removes it.

Greatful for any advice, please.

[zoey7886]

@Lavala, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding HP Officejet 6500! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

That error message — “cartridges appear to be missing” — usually points to a contact issue, even if the cartridges are brand new. Here’s a quick, hands-on fix to try:

Power off the printer and unplug it. Let it rest for about 60 seconds.

Gently remove all the cartridges.

Using a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water, gently clean the copper contacts on the cartridges and the matching contacts inside the printer (just be gentle — think feather dusting!).

Let everything dry fully, then reinsert the cartridges firmly until they click into place.

Plug the printer back in and power it on.

Sometimes, if it’s been sitting for a while, the printer just needs a little extra attention to recognize the new cartridges.  

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing 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, 

[Lavala]

Hi Zoey and thank you for your kind advice. I bought distilled water, washed an old lint free duster and sat down with my printer. Following your instructions, I removed the cartridges - recently bought for £170!!! in case they helped correct the error message. Gently wiped both connections on cartridge and printer, clicked them back in.... Same error message. Groan. Switched off printer for a few minutes to settle. Error message still showing. Broken-hearted! We've had such a successfully long and brilliant relationship. I couldn't afford another one. Ho hum. But I appreciate your help.

Thanks

Val

[Max3Aj]

@Lavala, Thank you so much for your kind update. 

@zoey7886 is away at the moment.  

I’m really sorry to hear that the issue is still unresolved despite all your careful efforts. I completely understand how frustrating (and heartbreaking!) this must feel, especially after such a long and loyal run with your printer.

Let’s see if we can give your Officejet 6500 one more gentle nudge back to life.

Cartridge Authenticity & Expiry
Just to be sure, are the cartridges genuine HP ones? If so, could you check if they’re within their expiry date? Sometimes even new cartridges can cause issues if they’re expired or not recognized by the printer.
HP anti-counterfeit | HP® Official Site

Hard Reset the Printer

• With the printer on, unplug it from the wall and from the printer itself.
• Wait 2–3 minutes.
• Plug it back in directly to a wall outlet (not a surge protector).
• Turn it on and see if the message clears.

Inspect the Cartridge Carriage
When you open the printer, does the cartridge carriage move freely?
Please check for any broken clips or springs where the cartridges click in, if something’s loose or damaged, the printer might not detect the cartridge properly.
 

Try the Old Cartridges (if you still have them)
If you still have the previous set, try inserting them to see if the error changes. This can help us figure out whether the issue is with the printer or the new cartridges.

Firmware Update
If your printer is still connected to a computer, we can check HP website for a firmware update, sometimes that can help resolve cartridge recognition issues.
Official HP® Support

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Yes” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support