To turn off HP Cartridge Protection from a Windows 10 PC, open your printer’s Embedded Web Server (EWS): type the printer’s IP address into a web browser, or open the HP Smart app, select your printer, and choose Printer Settings > Advanced Settings. In the EWS, go to Settings > Supplies (or Preferences) > Cartridge Protection, select Disable, and click Apply. Cartridges installed after that won’t be locked to your printer.
Important: disabling Cartridge Protection doesn’t unlock cartridges that were already protected. Those stay tied to the printer that protected them. Here’s how to find the setting and what else to know.
What Cartridge Protection does
When turned on, Cartridge Protection permanently links installed HP cartridges to your printer, so they won’t work in another printer if they’re stolen or moved. It’s mainly used in shared offices. It doesn’t affect print quality.
Step 1: Find your printer’s IP address
- Print a Network Configuration Page or Printer Status Report from the printer’s control panel. The IP address is listed there.
- Or on the printer’s touchscreen, tap the Wireless or Network icon to see it.
- Or in Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, click the printer, choose Manage > Printer properties, and look on the Ports or Web Services tab.
Step 2: Open the Embedded Web Server
- Type the IP address into your browser’s address bar, like 192.168.1.47, and press Enter.
- If you see a security warning, choose to continue. This is normal for printers on your home network.
- If asked to sign in, use the PIN printed on the label inside the printer or on the back, or the admin password you set.
With the HP Smart app: open it, click your printer, click Printer Settings, then Advanced Settings to open the EWS.
Step 3: Disable Cartridge Protection
- Click the Settings tab.
- Go to Supplies or Preferences, then Cartridge Protection. On some models, it’s under Supply Settings or Tools.
- Select Disable Cartridge Protection.
- Click Apply.
Menu names vary by printer model. If you can’t find it, search your model on HP’s support site for “Cartridge Protection.”
Cartridge Protection vs. Dynamic Security
These are different features. HP Dynamic Security is firmware that blocks some non-HP cartridges. It can’t be turned off with the Cartridge Protection setting, and some printers let you choose firmware update options that affect it. If a third-party cartridge suddenly stops working after a firmware update, Dynamic Security may be the reason, not Cartridge Protection.
Troubleshooting
- Can’t reach the EWS: Make sure the printer and PC are on the same network. USB-only printers may need the HP Smart app or HP printer software.
- Option grayed out: An administrator password may be required, or your organization manages the printer.
- A cartridge shows as protected and won’t work in another printer: It stays locked to the original printer. Use it there, or replace it.
Frequently asked questions
Does disabling Cartridge Protection void my warranty?
No. It’s a built-in HP setting.
Can I disable it on the printer itself?
Some models have it in the control panel under Settings > Supplies. The EWS is the most reliable way.
Does this work on Windows 11 or a Mac?
Yes. The EWS works in any web browser, so the steps are the same on any computer.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.