Printer Firmware Updates: Why Your Generic Cartridges Might Stop Working
Heads up, printer users! Those convenient firmware updates you keep seeing might have a hidden cost: they can render your trusty generic cartridges incompatible.
Think of it this way: each update subtly tweaks your printer’s internal software, turning it into a slightly different beast – one your generic cartridges may not recognise anymore.
What Are Firmware Updates?
Your printer is a computer just like it is a hardware device. The software that runs and controls the printer is called firmware. Firmware updates can be downloaded manually from your printer’s display screen, or if you turn on the automatic updates setting on your printer, updates will be downloaded and installed automatically.
A manufacturer may release a firmware update for a number of reasons, including improving product performance, fixing bugs, or adding security patches.
How Firmware Updates Affect Generic Cartridges
When a compatible cartridge maker produces a cartridge for a particular printer model, it works perfectly for that model with that firmware version. If your printer has updated its firmware, this means that your printer has, in practical terms, changed to a slightly different model that the non-genuine cartridges may no longer be compatible with.
For example, if you have a printer model MB5360 and you have purchased generic cartridges that work in the MB5360 machine, a firmware update could effectively turn your printer into an MB5360 ‘2’. The generic ink cartridges that are in the printer will not work with the MB5360 ‘2’. The only option you have is to try to undo the firmware update or go back to using original printer cartridges.
Compatible cartridges are sold for current machine software, firmware, and drivers at the time of purchase. If you have updated firmware, drivers, etc., it makes the compatible cartridge incompatible with your printer.
Common Issues and Solutions
Firmware updates are released frequently, and messages such as ‘Cannot Detect Ink’ or ‘Ink Cartridge Cannot Be Recognized’ are telltale signs that your printer has updated its firmware. If this has happened, you may not be able to continue using compatible (generic) cartridges.
In such cases, you can try to revert the firmware update to the previous version, if possible, or switch to using genuine (original) printer cartridges to ensure compatibility.
Our Recommendation
If you are unsure if your machine has updated or can update automatically, our advice is to use genuine (original) products to ensure the operation of your machine.
Refund Policy
Please be aware that we will not process refunds for generic/compatible cartridges due to firmware updates.