Beware: Opting in can hijack your printer

HP is a household name when it comes to printers, but the company employs questionable practices to maximize profits. Much like Apple, HP aims to create a closed ecosystem, forcing you to use only its ink with its printers—especially if you opt into HP+.

Recently, I was at my inlaws’ home and signed up for HP+ for them through the app, only to discover that once you accept, the printer firmware is updated permanently. There’s no way to undo it, and you’re locked into using HP ink cartridges to print anything.

It straight-up blocked me from printing on my inlaws’ printer because they were using third-party cartridges. Below, I get into the whole saga about HP+, how I wasted hours trying to find a workaround, only to learn there’s no way out, and how HP has been hit with multiple lawsuits over this.

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Credit: HP

What is HP+ and why you may want to avoid it

HP+ is an optional service available with select HP printers. It’s free and offers cloud connectivity, an extended warranty, and more. In HP’s own words, “HP+ is an innovative smart printing system that comes with select HP printers. It offers several benefits, including up to three months of free Instant Ink with compatible printers.”

It might sound harmless initially, but when you dig into the details, you’ll find that the subscription blocks you from using ink other than HP’s. Plus, it requires a constant internet connection just to work. HP+ was introduced in 2020, with the HP LaserJet M200 Series and the HP OfficeJet Pro 8000e and 9000e series being among the first supported printers.

Credit: HP

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Once you install HP+ is there a way to reverse or opt out?

The best solution is to avoid signing up for HP+ in the first place, but unfortunately, that wasn’t an option for me. So, I called customer support, hoping to find a solution. However, even after spending over an hour on the phone, I didn’t get one. The customer service rep told me that once you sign up, there’s no turning back. They then said the only option to fix what had been done and allow my inlaws to return to using their 3rd party cartridges is to send them back the printer. 

On a related note, normally, you can use any brand’s ink with your printer, which makes things easier and more affordable since you can choose ink that fits your budget. A while back, I wrote a guide about the cheapest printer ink and how to make cartridges last longer. You might want to check it out to get the most out of your printer.

Back to my story.  HP told me they were willing to replace my printer with a new one (without HP+), but I’d have to cover the shipping costs.  As another option they said they’d send me four HP cartridges—just once, though—so it’s not exactly a long-term fix.  We opted for the four HP cartridges for the time being while we consider replacing the printer with an entirely other brand. 

What a headache.

Credit: HP

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The HP printer ink issue is now in court

HP+ hasn’t just been a headache for me—many others have had issues, too, and some even took HP to court. One lawsuit filed by Mobile Emergency Housing Corp., Performance Automotive & Tire Center, and David Justin Lynch has reached a settlement in principle, and HP is working on finalizing the agreement.

The lawsuit claimed that HP pushed a software update to its printers, making them incompatible with other brands’ ink cartridges. It is looking to represent anyone nationwide who had an HP Color LaserJet Pro M254, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M280, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281, or any other model affected by HP malware transmissions, reported Top Class Actions.

Another lawsuit, which kicked off in January, makes a similar claim. It focuses on a firmware update from late 2022 to early 2023 that allegedly disabled printers if non-HP cartridges were used.

We reached out to HP for a response to our article but did not hear back before our deadline.

Credit: HP

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Kurt’s key takeaway

The HP+ service just doesn’t make sense to me as a consumer, and it won’t to anyone else who values their money. If I can get the same ink for cheaper, or if I already have third-party ink on hand, why would I spend extra cash on HP-branded ink? If I’m paying for the printer hardware, I should be able to use it however I want, not as the company dictates. As a word of caution, avoid signing up for HP+ if you’re looking for more choices in ink options.

Do you think printer manufacturers should have the right to restrict which ink cartridges you use, or should that choice be up to the consumer? Let us know in the comments below. 

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