Healthy-Again Computers
Keeping Your Computers Healthy

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How To Avoid The HP "Firmware Update"
(And To Repair Your Printer If The "Firmware Update"
Is Already Installed And Your Printer Has Stopped Working)

If your printer is currently working, then the easy approach to keep it working is to set the printer update software so it does not automatically install updates from HP.

Check for the software program HP Update. Left click the Start button, and type HP Update, and left-click on it.
1. When the application starts, click on Settings. For Notifications, set to Automatically check the web for updates. Then for Check for software updates on the web, set to Never.
2. If HP Update does not exist, search for HP Smart, and click on it. Click on Printer Settings, click on Advanced Settings, click on Firmware Updates under Printer Updates, scroll down to Printer Update Options, and click on Do not check for updates.
3. The same option is available on some printers with LCD touch screens. Use google to find out how to get to the Firmware Update settings, and set to Do not check for updates.

If HP has already installed the firmware update and your printer is malfunctioning, you will need to use one of the Firmware Downgrade tools, described below, to install the previous version of the printer firmware.

HP Printer Firmware Downgrade Links

The premier distributors of re-manufactured ink cartridges for HP, Canon, Epson, and other printers - CompAndSave, ComboInk, and 4InkJets - have published comprehensive documents and downgrade versions for most HP printers that precede the HP "updated firmware" versions. Their downgrade links are listed below, along with a list of affected printers, which I will keep updated as I learn new information.

There are downgrade tools at these websites for most of the HP printer product line. The only ones missing are the newest of HP's printer product line - the 9000 printer series - which uses the new HP 962 cartridges.

I certainly cannot guarantee that the downgrade firmware will work for your printer. However, the worst that can happen is that you can get back to the new HP firmware update (using the printer update firmware button), and obtain new cartridges from CompAndSave. According to one of their customer service agents, their new cartridges are compatible with this firmware update.

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Here are the HP printer firmware downgrade links.

Technical note: The fundamentals of using these downgrades are:
1. The printer update software must be set to not perform automatic firmware upgrades
2. The downgrade firmware is installed

The order of these  two operations appears to vary according to people who have used them. Most users report that stopping automatic firmware updates should be done first. Others - myself included - found that this step could be done after the downgrade firmware is installed. Additionally, some printers may need a "factory reset" operation to be done before the downgrade firmware is installed.

CompAndSave - In addition to an excellent firmware downgrade page, they also sell very high quality HP-compatible cartridges that are compatible with the recent HP firmware update. Check with their chat agents before ordering if you cannot downgrade your firmware. CompAndSave is a professionally-run organization, and they have live chat agents (not "chat-bots").
https://www.compandsave.com/hp-printer-firmware-downgrade
for 90x, 95x, 97x

ComboInk
https://www.comboink.com/hp-printer-firmware-downgrade
for 90x, 95x, 97x

4InkJets - In addition to an excellent firmware downgrade page, 4InkJets gets top rating by Top Ten Reviews in "Best discount ink cartridges 2021." Check with their chat agents - to make sure their cartridges are compatible with the new HP firmware upgrade - before ordering if you cannot downgrade your firmware.
https://www.4inkjets.com/firmware-downgrade
For 202 A/X, 902 XL, 952 XL

Please note that the CompAndSave printer list is incomplete. Use the download specified for the cartridge series for your printer.

Printers affected by HP's "firmware upgrade:"

HP 90x series (CompAndSave)
HP OfficeJet Pro 6950, 6951, 6954, 6956, 6958 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 6960, 6962, 6968 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 6970, 6975, 6978 All-in-One Printer
 

HP 95X Series (CompAndSave)
HP OfficeJet Pro 7720, 7730, 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8210, 8216, 8217 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8700, 8710, 8714, 8715, 8716, 8717, 8718, 8719 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8720, 8724, 8725, 8727, 8728 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8730, 8732M, 8734, 8735, 8735, 8736 All-in-One Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 8740, 8743, 8744, 8745, 8746, 8747 All-in-One Printer
 

HP 97x Series (CompAndSave)
HP Pagewide 352dw
HP Pagewide MFP 377dw/dn
HP Pagewide Pro 452dw/dn
HP Pagewide Pro MFP 477dw/dn
HP Pagewide Pro 552dw
HP Pagewide Pro MFP 577dw/Z
HP Pagewide Managed P55250dw
HP Pagewide Managed MFP P57750dw
 

HP 202A/X Printers (4InkJets)+
HP Color LaserJet Pro M254 dw / nw Downgrade
HP Color LaserJet Pro M280 / M281 Downgrade
HP Color LaserJet Pro M153 / M154 Downgrade
HP Color LaserJet Pro M180 / M181 Downgrade

HP 951
OfficeJet Pro 8600, 8600 Premium, 8610, 8615, 8616, 8620, 8625
The printer firmware for this series has not yet been updated by HP, that is, the current firmware at HP's web pages for these printers accepts "non-HP" cartridges. However, there were reports in the past that some of these printers suddenly stopped working after some firmware upgrade, and they were not allowing the download of the functional firmware version. I am guessing that a factory reset of the printer would facilitate downloading the functional version. In any case, if your HP 8600 series printer is currently working, I recommend that you set the firmware update software to avoid further updates, as described above.
 

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of all HP printers. I am collecting information and firmware links for others.