My 678 black cartridge is suddenly not compatible with 2540 series printer

[Dineshcn]

Error on black cartridge, Tried restarting  , Rebooting, Cleaning and everything else. This  error happened in working condition. Bought a new Cartridge from Amazon and error still persists, What is the solution

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Dineshcn 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Got it – that’s a frustrating issue with HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 2540 series and HP 678 cartridges. Since even a new cartridge shows the same “Incompatible Cartridge” error, the problem is most likely not with the cartridge itself, but with the printer’s firmware, contacts, or region settings.

Here’s a step-by-step approach to fix it:

Things to Try

Power Reset

Turn the printer ON.

Disconnect the power cord (without turning it off first).

Wait 60 seconds.

Reconnect and power on.
→ This clears temporary errors.

Clean Cartridge Contacts

Power off printer and remove cartridges.

Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water or isopropyl alcohol.

Gently clean the golden contacts on the cartridge AND inside the carriage.

Let dry, reinsert cartridge.

Check for Firmware Update

HP has pushed updates in the past that block certain cartridges.

On your PC, install HP Smart app → go to printer settings → check firmware update.

If the update is pending, complete it and restart.

Try Cartridges in Pairs

The 2540 requires both color & black cartridges installed (even if one is empty).

If only the black is installed, or if the color cartridge is faulty, the printer may reject the black.

Try inserting the old color cartridge + new black cartridge together.

Check Cartridge Authenticity

Even if bought from Amazon, some sellers ship refills or clones.

Go to HP Cartridge Authentication and scan the security label on the box.

If None of These Work

Since your old cartridge failed suddenly and new one also fails, the printer hardware itself is the most likely culprit.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Dineshcn]

I tried everything Step by step , nothing worked. 

[Hawks_Eye]

We sincerely thank you for your patience and co-operation during this troubleshooting process.

If after following these steps you still face issues, consider reaching out to our customer support over the phone for further assistance. 

I'm sending you a private message to guide you on the next steps.

If this resolves your issue, kindly mark this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" if it was helpful.

Take care and have a great day!

Regards,

Hawks_Eye