Quick answer
Roll back the printer firmware to the version that was installed before the update, or replace the third-party cartridge with one that has a chip matching the new firmware. In many cases, a factory reset plus a firmware downgrade clears the 'Erroneous Cartridge' error in about 15 minutes.
Why this happens
HP started pushing firmware updates around 2016 that check for a specific chip signature on the cartridge. Third-party ink makers clone the chip, and the update catches the clone. Once the printer sees a chip it doesn't recognize as genuine HP, it stops printing and shows 'Erroneous Cartridge' or a similar message on the LCD. The cartridge itself isn't broken. The firmware just refuses to talk to it.
I've seen this most often on the OfficeJet Pro 8600 series, the DeskJet 2600/3700 line, and the Envy 4500/5500 family. A customer calls because the printer worked fine yesterday, then HP pushed an update overnight and now nothing prints. If you're using refilled cartridges or a brand like LD Products, InkOwl, or G&G, you're the target of that update.
The printer model matters. Newer models like the OfficeJet Pro 9015e and Envy Inspire 7900e have a permanent hardware lock that no firmware rollback can undo. If you have one of those, you're stuck buying HP cartridges or replacing the printer. Older models (pre-2020) usually let you downgrade the firmware and keep using third-party ink.
Main fix: roll back the firmware
This works on older HP models where the firmware isn't locked at the hardware level. You'll need a USB cable, a computer, and about 20 minutes.
- Check your current firmware version. On the printer touchscreen, tap Settings (or the gear icon), then Tools, then Printer Information. Write down the firmware version — it'll look something like
CLP1CN2035ARorWMP1CN2150AR. You'll need this to know which version to roll back to. - Find an older firmware file. Go to the HP support page for your exact model and look under 'Firmware.' Most pages only list the latest version, so you'll need to search third-party archives or HP's FTP if it's still up. Sites like h30434.www3.hp.com forum threads often have mirrors. Match the model number exactly — flashing the wrong firmware bricks the printer.
- Disconnect the printer from Wi-Fi. On the touchscreen, go to Settings > Wireless > Wireless Setup Wizard and choose 'Disable' or turn off the wireless radio. This stops HP from re-pushing the new firmware while you work.
- Connect the printer to your computer with a USB cable. Don't use Wi-Fi for this. Windows should detect it and install a basic driver. If it doesn't, install the full driver package from HP first, then plug in.
- Run the older firmware installer. Double-click the .exe file you downloaded. It'll open a window that says something like 'HP Printer Update Utility.' Click Next. The utility should show your printer's current firmware and the version you're about to install. After clicking Update, you'll see a progress bar. Don't unplug anything. This takes 3–5 minutes.
- Wait for the printer to restart. It'll reboot on its own. When the home screen comes back, go back to Settings > Tools > Printer Information and confirm the firmware version matches the older one you just installed.
- Reinstall the third-party cartridge. Open the cartridge access door, pull the cartridge out, and put it back in. The printer should read the chip and stop throwing the error. Print a test page from Settings > Tools > Print Quality Report.
If the firmware installer says 'Printer not supported' or 'Firmware downgrade not allowed,' your model has the newer hardware lock. Skip to the alternative fixes below.
Alternative fixes if the rollback fails
1. Reset the cartridge chip
Some third-party cartridges have a resettable chip. Buy a chip resetter for your cartridge model (they run about $15–$30 on eBay or Amazon). Pull the cartridge, place it in the resetter, and hold for 5 seconds until the LED blinks. Put it back in the printer. This tricks the firmware into thinking it's a fresh cartridge. It won't work on every model — the HP 63 and 302 chips are usually resettable, but the 902 and 952 chips often aren't.
2. Disable automatic firmware updates
If you can't roll back, at least stop the problem from getting worse. On the printer touchscreen, go to Settings > Printer Maintenance > Update the Printer > Automatically Check for Updates and set it to Off. On newer models, this setting is buried under Settings > Advanced Settings > HP Web Services. You'll also want to block the printer's MAC address in your router's firewall so it can't phone home. That won't fix the current error, but it stops HP from pushing another update next month.
3. Replace the cartridge with an HP original
I hate recommending this because it's exactly what HP wants, but if you're on a 9015e, 8025e, or any model with the 'e' suffix, you have no choice. The hardware chip on those printers won't accept anything but genuine HP cartridges. Buy the XL size to cut down on how often you're replacing them.
4. Buy a different printer
If you print a lot and third-party ink matters to you, sell the locked HP and buy a Brother or Epson. Brother's recent firmware also has some lockout behavior, but Epson's EcoTank and WorkForce lines are far more forgiving with third-party ink. The Epson ET-2800 is a solid budget pick that doesn't fight you on cartridges.
Prevention
Turn off automatic firmware updates the day you unbox the printer. Every HP printer I've set up in the last three years has had this turned on by default. Leaving it on means HP can change the rules on your hardware overnight. Also, if you're using third-party ink, buy from a seller who advertises 'firmware-update resistant' chips and check reviews for recent complaints. If the seller's last five reviews mention the 'Erroneous Cartridge' error, find another supplier. Last thing: keep a spare genuine HP cartridge in a drawer. When the error hits and you need to print something urgent, you'll be glad you have a fallback while you sort out the firmware.