Is there a way to bypass printing an alignment page when I change a cartridge?

[JaJu14]

I have the free Instant Ink account which allots me 15 pages per month.  If I get close to going over on my pages, I change to a spare cartridge that I had before signing up for the instant account, and use single cartridge printing until my new allotment month comes around.  However, when I change back to the Instant Ink cartridges, I am forced to print an alignment page which counts against my 15 page allotment and really only gives me 14 pages for the month.  Is there anyway to override or bypass this step of printing an alignment page?

[Riddle_Decipher]

@JaJu14

Welcome to our humble abode, the family and tech-friendly house of HP Forums!

I'll be your host for the day, they call me the Riddle_Decipher and so can you.

Did you check the user guide for instructions?

Click here to verify, if you haven't done that yet.

Although, I went through the details and I'm afraid that's a default printer function to ensure the ink cartridges do not dry out and continues to work properly, hence it cannot be bypassed as such.

I hope that answers your query,

If it did, Select - "Accept as solution" if you wish to help the community grow and hit the thumbs up to say thanks,

And have a good day.

[JaJu14]

I did check the manual and tried searching the site for a solution, but couldn't find one.  That's why I posted here to see if someone knew a trick to do it.  I understand the reasoning for printing the page out, I just wish HP Instant Ink wouldn't count that as a page use, since is is a printer system requirement.  But I guess there is no way for HP's programs to recognize this when the printer cartridges are installed is there?

[Riddle_Decipher · Accepted solution]

@JaJu14

Welcome back,

I know what you mean, however, there's no way of differentiating one from the other using the program,

It's all counted as a print and it's just how it is, nevertheless, I have forwarded your suggestion/feedback to the concerned team and they should work on it.

I hope that answers your query,

If it did, simply select "Accept as solution", to help the community grow, 

And if you wish to thank us for our efforts, click on the thumbs up for kudos.

Have a great day ahead.

[BobW48]

I just do not want auto alignment. We dont need exacting printing and would like to choose when to use all that ink!

[JaJu14]

As far as I know, there is no way to bypass printing the alignment page.  I even tried turning off the printer when I replaced a cartridge, but when the power was restored it still insisted on printing the alignment page.  I found out from JillSa, an P Employee, that the newer printers do not count the maintenance pages against the InstantInk allotment, but the older printers so count them.  HP is looking into a solution for this and I hope they are able to come up with a fix.  But as far as bypassing the page, I think that is going to stay as a requirement for the printer.  Good luck!