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HP Printers - A 'Use SETUP Cartridges' Error Displays

HP printers ship with SETUP ink cartridges that are required to initialize and calibrate a new printer. If normal or non-HP cartridges are used during the first time printer setup, this error displays.

Identify your cartridge type for steps to resolve the error.

Type 1 - HP 178, 364, 564, 655, 862, 902-920, 934, 935 ink cartridges - 'Use SETUP Cartridges' error

Resolve a 'Use SETUP cartridges' message for printers that use HP 178, 364, 564, 655, 862, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 907, 908, 909, 910, 912, 914, 915, 916, 917, 918, 919, 920, 934, and 935 cartridges.

Perform the following tasks in the order given. Use the printer after each task to see if the issue is resolved.

Check the ink cartridges

Check the cartridge labels and make sure the cartridges are seated properly in the carriage.

Turn on the printer, and then open the door or lid to the cartridge access area.
Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you continue.
Check if the cartridges have 'SETUP' on the label.
- If your new printer did not come with SETUP cartridges Contact HP Customer Support . SETUP cartridges cannot be purchased from retailers and are available only with a new printer or with some replacement printhead kits.
- If SETUP cartridges are installed, or you installed new cartridges and got the error, continue to the next step.
Push in the tab on a cartridge, and then lift it out of the slot.
Reinsert the cartridge into its color-coded slot, and then press down on it until it snaps into place.
Repeat these steps to remove and reinsert the other cartridges.
Close the door or lid to the cartridge access area.

Contact HP Customer Support to resolve a 'Use SETUP cartridges' error

Contact HP Customer Support or the HP Support Community for available options to finish setting up your printer.

Go to HP Customer Support.
Enter your product serial number to view warranty status and to change your location, if necessary.
Select a support option.
- Ask the community. Post a message with your model name and number and the error message to get help with clearing the error.
- Contact an HP agent. If you are in Asia Pacific, you will be directed to a local service center in your area.

Type 2 - HP 932, 933, 936-938, 950-959, 962-969 ink cartridges - 'Use SETUP Cartridges' error

Resolve a 'Use SETUP cartridges' message for printers that use 932, 933, 936, 937, 938, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, and 969 cartridges.

Perform the following tasks in the order given. Use the printer after each task to see if the issue is resolved.

Check the ink cartridges

Check the cartridge labels and make sure the cartridges are seated properly in the carriage.

Turn on the printer, and then open the door or lid to the cartridge access area.
Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you continue.
Check if the cartridges have 'SETUP' on the label. If the installed cartridges are NOT SETUP cartridges:
- New printer: Check the printer box for a white box of SETUP cartridges. SETUP cartridges cannot be purchased from retailers and are available only in the box with a new printer or some replacement printhead kits. If you find the SETUP cartridges, install them. If you cannot find them, Contact HP Customer Support.
- Replacement printhead: If you are replacing a printhead on a printer that has already been set up, install the SETUP cartridges that came with the replacement printhead.
- If SETUP cartridges are installed, or you installed SETUP cartridges and got the error, continue to the next step.
Push the ink cartridge to remove it, and then push it into its slot until it snaps into place.
Repeat these steps to remove and reinsert the other cartridges.
Close the door or lid to the cartridge access area.

Contact HP Customer Support to resolve a 'Use SETUP cartridges' error

Contact HP Customer Support or the HP Support Community for available options to finish setting up your printer.

Go to HP Customer Support.
Enter your product serial number to view warranty status and to change your location, if necessary.
Select a support option.
- Ask the community. Post a message with your model name and number and the error message to get help with clearing the error.
- Contact an HP agent. If you are in Asia Pacific, you will be directed to a local service center in your area.

Type 3 - HP 63-65, 67, 123, 302-305, 651-653, 664, 667, 680, 682, 803-805 ink cartridges - 'Use SETUP Cartridges' error

Resolve a 'Use SETUP cartridges' message for printers that use 63, 64, 65, 67, 123, 302, 303, 304, 305, 651, 652, 653, 664, 667, 680, 682, 803, 804, and 805 cartridges.

Check the ink cartridges and initialize the printer

Check if the printer has been set up with the correct cartridges, and then initialize the printer with one cartridge installed.

When you set up your printer for the first time, you must install new unused SETUP or Instant Ink Ready cartridges to initialize the printer.

Turn on the printer, and then open the door or lid to the cartridge access area.
Check if SETUP or Instant Ink Ready is printed on the cartridge labels.
- If SETUP or Instant Ink Ready cartridges are not installed, check the printer box for them. If available and they are new and unused, install them to initialize the printer.
- If SETUP or Instant Ink Ready cartridges did not ship with the printer, Contact HP Customer Support. SETUP cartridges cannot be purchased from retailers and are available only in the box with a new printer or with some replacement printhead kits.
- If the error displays with SETUP or Instant Ink Ready cartridges installed, or you installed new cartridges and got the error, continue to the next step.
Remove both of the cartridges.
- Carriages with cartridge latches: Open the latch, and then pull the cartridge up and out of the slot.
- Carriages without cartridge latches: Gently press down on the cartridge to release it, and then pull it out of the slot.
Insert the black cartridge.
Close the cartridge access door or lid.
- If a single-cartridge mode message displays, acknowledge it to initialize the printer. An alignment page prints confirming the issue is resolved. Install the other cartridge to continue printing.
- If the error still displays, continue to the next step.
Remove the black cartridge, insert the tri-color cartridge, and then close the cartridge access lid or door.
- If a single-cartridge mode message displays, acknowledge it to initialize the printer. An alignment page prints confirming the issue is resolved. Install the other cartridge to continue printing.
- If the error still displays, continue to the next step.
Go to HP Customer Support, and then select a support option.
- Ask the community. Post a message with your model name and number and the error message to get help with clearing the error.
- Contact an HP agent. If you are in Asia Pacific, you are directed to a local service center in your area.

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