Print Capabilities using generic cartridges

Millerman79 · ‎09-30-2025

I purchased generic print cartridges for my HP 6978 Office Jet Pro Printer; and for several weeks they worked just fine. Today my printer rejects use of the cartridges, and will not print my documents. The HP printer system instructs me to replace my cartridges with HP cartridges for my printer. Can anyone help??

Kuroi_Kenshi · ‎10-02-2025

Hi @Millerman79,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

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

I understand your HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 is now rejecting generic cartridges, even though they worked fine for weeks. Let’s go through why this happens and what you can do.

1. Why the Printer Rejects Generic Cartridges

HP printers often include firmware updates that check cartridge authenticity.

After a recent automatic firmware update, the printer may detect non-HP cartridges and refuse to print.

This is a common situation with many HP OfficeJet models; it’s not a malfunction of your printer, just a compatibility block.

2. Possible Solutions

Option A: Use Genuine HP Cartridges

The simplest and most reliable method is to replace the generic cartridges with official HP 6978 cartridges.

This ensures full functionality and avoids future print blocks.

Option B: Check Firmware Version

If your printer updated recently, you might roll back or disable automatic firmware updates.

Go to Printer Menu → Settings → Printer Updates and turn off automatic updates.

Note: Not all HP printers allow rolling back firmware; this may not always work.

Option C: Try Another Generic Brand

Some third-party cartridges are better at bypassing firmware checks.

Look for brands specifically advertised as HP 6978 compatible.

Option 😧 Reset the Printer

Occasionally, a power reset can temporarily allow the printer to accept cartridges:

Turn off the printer and unplug it from power for 5–10 minutes.

Reinsert the cartridges and turn the printer back on.

Test printing a document.

I hope this helps.

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