"indicated cartridge is not communicating with printer..."

[GigiWC]

My HP OfficeJet 5255 printer continues to display the message:  The indicated cartridge is not communicating correctly with the printer.  I have taken all the advice of unplugging the printer and trying again, cleaning both cartridges with a swab and distilled water, and even spent $95 for brand new cartridges to replace the (still full) cartridges.  Those did not work.  Any ideas?

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @GigiWC ,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you've already taken many of the recommended steps to resolve the cartridge communication issue on your HP OfficeJet 5255, including cleaning and replacing the cartridges. Here are a few additional suggestions to help resolve the problem:

1. Power Reset with Cartridges Removed:

• Turn off the printer and disconnect it from the power source.
• Remove both ink cartridges from the printer.
• Wait for about 1-2 minutes before reconnecting the printer to power.
• Turn the printer back on without the cartridges installed.
• Wait until the printer prompts you to insert the cartridges, then reinsert them one by one.
• Check if the error message persists.

2. Clean the Cartridge Contacts and Printer Carriage:

• Use a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with distilled water to clean the gold or copper-colored contacts on the cartridges.
• Also, clean the corresponding contacts inside the printer's cartridge carriage (the area where the cartridges are inserted).
• Ensure everything is completely dry before reinserting the cartridges.

3. Update the Printer Firmware: Update the firmware on an HP printer 

• Sometimes, outdated firmware can cause communication issues with cartridges.
• Update the printer's firmware by visiting the HP support site, downloading the latest firmware update for your model, and following the installation instructions.

4. Try an HP Diagnostic Tool:

• Use HP’s Print and Scan Doctor (available on the HP website) to troubleshoot the issue. This tool can automatically diagnose and fix many common problems, including cartridge communication issues.

5. Test with One Cartridge at a Time:

• Try using the printer with just the black or color cartridge individually.
• Insert one cartridge at a time to check if the issue is related to a specific cartridge.

6. Check for Printer Hardware Issues:

• If none of the steps work, it could be an issue with the printer’s printhead or internal hardware.

Refer to this document: HP OfficeJet 5255 All-in-One Printer User manual 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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