Does HP block third-party ink? yes, and here is exactly how

Yes. HP is the only major printer brand that ships firmware able to refuse third-party ink and toner, and it is the source of almost every 'my cheaper cartridge stopped working' story you have read. Here is exactly what HP does, which of its printers do it, and what you can do about it.

The short version: HP printers made since late 2016 can carry a feature HP calls Dynamic Security that checks for a genuine HP chip and can reject cartridges without one. HP delivers and reinforces it through firmware updates. If you own an HP+ or Instant Ink printer, genuine HP cartridges are a condition of the programme and the printer enforces it. Brother runs nothing equivalent. Epson does, without a name for it: its own guides say a firmware update can stop non-Epson cartridges working, though its EcoTank line is excluded. Canon publishes nothing either way.

What HP actually does

HP calls the feature Dynamic Security. The printer inspects the chip on each fitted cartridge and can refuse to print if the chip is not a genuine HP one, which rules out most compatibles and some refills. HP is open that this exists and that its firmware updates are meant to keep the feature working, including blocking cartridges that printed fine before the update.

So a compatible cartridge can work for weeks and then stop the morning after the printer quietly updates itself. Nothing about the cartridge changed. The printer's software did.

Which HP printers block

Not every HP model enforces Dynamic Security, but enough do that HP accounts for nearly all firmware-block complaints. The highest-risk cases are clear. HP+ printers, which you opt into at setup, require genuine HP supplies for the life of the printer. Instant Ink subscriptions require genuine HP cartridges too. Many OfficeJet, OfficeJet Pro, some LaserJet and some Envy models have shipped with the feature.

To check your exact model, look it up in our printer firmware-DRM tracker, which lists each model we track with a sourced yes or no.

Can you undo it

On most HP printers, once a hard block is installed you cannot remove it. There is one real exception. Under a 2025 US class-action settlement, owners of 21 named HP LaserJet models can decline Dynamic Security or roll it back to firmware that accepts non-HP toner. Models made before 2016 are also covered. If you own one of those, HP publishes the opt-out on its support site under your model.

For every other post-2016 HP printer, the practical fix is to stop the block arriving in the first place: turn off automatic firmware updates, and do not accept a prompted update unless you know what it changes. Our guide to disabling HP Dynamic Security walks through it per model line.

Why HP does it, and what it has cost them

Printers are sold cheap and the money is in the supplies, so blocking non-HP ink protects that revenue. It has not been free for HP. The company has paid regulatory fines and settled several lawsuits over Dynamic Security, including a 10 million euro fine in Italy and US settlements, but it has never been ordered to stop.

One point worth clearing up: using a third-party cartridge does not automatically void your warranty. US law, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, stops a maker voiding your whole warranty just because you used non-OEM ink. It can decline to cover damage a specific cartridge actually caused, which is far narrower.

Common questions

Does every HP printer block third-party ink?

No. Only models that ship with Dynamic Security enforce it, though enough do that HP is behind almost all firmware-block reports. HP+ and Instant Ink printers are the ones that always require genuine HP cartridges. Check your specific model in our DRM tracker before you assume either way.

Can I turn off HP Dynamic Security?

Only on the 21 LaserJet models covered by the 2025 US settlement, plus pre-2016 models, where HP publishes an opt-out or roll-back. On other HP printers a hard block cannot be removed once installed, so the fix is to hold firmware updates before it reaches you.

Will an HP compatible cartridge damage my printer?

A well-made compatible from a reputable seller will not. The usual problem with HP is not damage but the firmware block refusing the cartridge outright. Buy from a seller that guarantees the chip works with current HP firmware, and keep your receipt.

Keep reading

Sources

  1. HP, Cartridge and supplies security (HP's own description of Dynamic Security and cartridge authentication). hp.com
  2. HP Support, HP Inkjet Printers, Dynamic Security Feature Affecting Cartridges Using a Non-HP Security Chip. support.hp.com
  3. HP Support, HP+ printers overview and terms (HP+ requires original HP cartridges for the life of the printer). support.hp.com
  4. HP Support, Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement, Dynamic Security on certain LaserJet printers (the 21-model roll-back list). support.hp.com
  5. Reuters, Italy's antitrust fines HP 10 million euros over printer cartridges (regulatory action over Dynamic Security). reuters.com
  6. US Federal Trade Commission, Businessperson's guide to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (tie-in warranty conditions are generally prohibited). ftc.gov

Last updated . This guide is general information, not a repair warranty. Printer menus and HP's model lists change, so confirm the exact steps for your model on the manufacturer's support site before you make changes.