Old HP Officejet Pro 8210, hard to find 954 ink, how to switch to 952 ink

[ChosingKarma007]

Hi, bought this 8210 years ago for mother-in-law, now needing it as 8600 has ERROR INK SYSTEM. Unfortunately the 954 cartridges now are harder to get and more expensive than 952. How can I get the printer to accept 952? (I still have two full unused sets of these from an 8710 that also quit on me a while ago)

Unfortunately printer is out of warranty and HP doesn't let me get through to an actual human representative. Virtual assistant is useless it seems. Any help would be appreciated. I would love to stay with HP, but if I can't get that to work, I sadly will have to consider other brands. 

[Kuroi_Kenshi · Accepted solution]

Hi @ChosingKarma007,

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:

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8210 is designed to use 954 ink cartridges, and unfortunately, it is not straightforward to switch to using 952 cartridges. The printers are often region-locked to specific cartridges due to various manufacturing and regulatory reasons. However, here are some potential solutions:

Regional Cartridge Change: Sometimes, HP printers can be set to change regional cartridge compatibility if you move between regions.

let me know if want to regional reset your printer.

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,

[ChosingKarma007]

Wonderful, I'll gladly try that regional cartridge change. Would you have a link as how to proceed with that? Thank you very much. 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @ChosingKarma007,

Thank you for the update.

I’d be glad to assist you with the regional reset.

Could you please let me know which country you moved from and where you are located now?

Warm regards,

[ChosingKarma007]

Actually, I bought it new in 2019 in the US, set it up with the setup cartridges, been in closet since. 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @ChosingKarma007,

Thank you so much for sharing those details!
I’d like to clarify something important about how HP’s regional cartridge system works:

HP inkjet printers are region-locked, for example, the OfficeJet Pro 8210 sold in the US is locked to use 952 cartridges for North America or 954 for certain Asia-Pacific/ANZ regions.
A regional reset can only be done if the printer owner physically moved from one region to another.
This reset is a one-time process that changes the printer’s region coding permanently to accept cartridges for the new location.

So, if you haven’t changed regions (for example, you’re still in the US), then a regional reset isn’t applicable, and unfortunately, you can’t switch the printer from 954 to 952 or vice versa.
If you set up your 8210 originally with 954 setup cartridges, it’s permanently locked to that region’s supplies.

If you haven’t relocated, it’s not possible to unlock it for a different cartridge series.

If finding 954 cartridges is tough or expensive, you might consider

Checking trusted third-party ink vendors who supply genuine sealed 954s.

Or consider replacing the 8210 with a newer model that uses readily available cartridges, especially if you have unused 952s. You could look for a used HP 8710 or similar that’s still working.

I know this can be frustrating, but I’m here to help you find the best option for your situation. Just let me know if you’d like recommendations for compatible printers.

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,

[ChosingKarma007]

Thanks for your thorough answer. I did buy an 8710 in between for the 952 cartridges. To me this is all a money making scheme. I bought this printer new in the states and used it for less than ten pages. I so far believed in the superiority of original HP ink,  shelling out a lot of dough on printers, repairs and supplies and now the availability of the ink is mediocre.

I also had Pro 8600's now 8 times, in Germany and the US and every single time got the "Error of death" message that the ink cartridges system failed.

I wasted so much time, effort, money in these printers and cartridges and this merely confirms the validity of my decisions to never buy HP again. Thanks again for your efforts, I highly appreciate you trying. 

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @ChosingKarma007,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. I truly understand how frustrating this situation has been for you, especially after putting your trust (and money) into our printers and original HP ink over the years.

I completely hear your concerns about region-locking and cartridge availability, and I agree that this can be extremely challenging when supplies become limited or when printers develop recurring issues. Please know that your feedback is being heard. I’ll make sure to pass this along internally so our teams are aware of the impact these limitations have on loyal customers like yourself.

If you’d like, I can still help you look for reliable sources for genuine 954 cartridges or help you explore new printer models that might be a better long-term fit, though I completely understand if you’re considering other brands at this point.

If you’d like to give it one last try, I also recommend reaching out to a nearby HP Authorized Service Center. Sometimes, a technician can inspect the printer in person and see if there’s any possible workaround or solution that might get it back in use. Even if options are limited, it may be worth exploring once before you decide on the next steps.

You can locate the nearest HP service center using our Service Center Locator:​

🔗 HP Service Center Locator

Your feedback is incredibly important, and we truly appreciate the time you’ve spent with HP products over the years, even if this may be the point where you move on. If you ever need any assistance or recommendations down the line, please don’t hesitate to reach out, we’re still here to help however we can.

Thank you again for giving us the chance to assist you and for being candid about your experience.

Wishing you all the best ahead.

Best Regards,