You canceled HP Instant Ink, and now your HP printer won't print. It may not scan either. Your printer isn't broken. The cartridges in it belong to a subscription that just ended, and HP designs Instant Ink cartridges to stop working when that happens.
Seeing "The indicated cartridges cannot be used until the printer is enrolled in HP Instant Ink" on your printer or in the HP Smart app? This guide explains what it means and how to get your printer working again.
The short answer
HP Instant Ink cartridges only work while the printer is enrolled in Instant Ink. To keep using your printer after you cancel, let the current billing cycle run out. Then take out the Instant Ink cartridges and put in standard HP cartridges bought at retail. On most printers that is the whole fix.
If your printer has HP+ turned on, there is a second catch. HP+ is offered on many models whose names end in "e", like the ENVY 6020e. An HP+ printer requires Original HP cartridges, even after you cancel. Refills and third-party cartridges won't work on it.
Why your printer stopped working
Instant Ink is a subscription. HP mails you cartridges and charges a monthly fee based on how many pages you print. Those cartridges are tied to your subscription, not to you. When the subscription ends, the printer is told to stop using them, even if they are still full.
HP says this is intentional. An ENVY 6020e owner posted in r/printers that their printer could not print or scan without an active subscription. HP's official support account, u/HPSupport_Team, replied:
"If the printer is enrolled in HP Instant Ink, you'll need to cancel the subscription, wait until the current billing cycle ends, remove the Instant Ink cartridges, and install standard HP ink cartridges. Once that's done, the printer can be used without an active Instant Ink subscription."
HP support agents say the same thing on HP's own community forum. In January 2026, one wrote that "Instant Ink cartridges only work in enrolled printers." The agent added that the printer was "working exactly as HP designed Instant Ink" (HP Support Community). Another said that when Instant Ink is canceled, "Instant Ink cartridges are automatically disabled" (HP Support Community).
How to fix it, step by step
- Cancel Instant Ink online. Sign in to your HP Instant Ink account and choose to cancel your plan. HP says plans can be changed or canceled online (HP).
- Use up the billing cycle. Your Instant Ink cartridges keep working until the end of the cycle you've already paid for. Print what you need before it ends.
- Buy standard HP cartridges for your model. Get standard Original HP cartridges, not Instant Ink ones. The number varies by printer and by country, so check the label on your old cartridge or your printer's manual. In Europe, for example, the ENVY 6020e takes HP 305 or 305XL (HP).
- Swap the cartridges. Remove the Instant Ink cartridges completely and install the standard ones.
- Restart the printer. Turn it off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on so it re-reads the cartridges.
- Check that it worked. The printer's screen or the HP Smart app should now show the new cartridges with no Instant Ink warning.
Still getting a cartridge error? Update the printer's firmware and try the restart again. If the printer still rejects new standard cartridges, contact HP. In at least one forum case, HP moved the conversation to private messages to handle it individually (HP Support Community).
Timing tip: buy the standard cartridges close to the end of your billing cycle. That way you aren't paying for a subscription and a box of ink at the same time. The new cartridges are ready the day the old ones stop.
What about scanning?
Scanning doesn't use ink, so it's fair to be annoyed when an all-in-one stops scanning too. Owners report it, including the ENVY 6020e owner who started the Reddit thread. HP's reply treated it as the same problem, with the same fix: once standard cartridges are in, the printer "can be used without an active Instant Ink subscription."
The likely reason is that a cartridge error puts the whole printer in an error state. It won't start other jobs until that's cleared. So fix the cartridges first. If you need a scan before your new cartridges arrive, try scanning from your computer or the HP Smart app instead of the printer's control panel. Whether that works depends on the model.
Which HP printers this applies to
The cartridge lockout applies to any HP printer enrolled in Instant Ink, old or new. What you can put in it afterward depends on whether it is also an HP+ printer.
| Your printer | Examples | After you cancel, it can use |
|---|---|---|
| HP+ printer (HP+ turned on at setup or pre-installed) | HP+ models include the ENVY 6020e, ENVY 6455e, ENVY Inspire 7955e, DeskJet 4155e, OfficeJet Pro 9025e and LaserJet M234sdwe | Original HP cartridges only, with an HP account and an internet connection |
| Instant Ink printer without HP+ | ENVY 7640, ENVY 7200, OfficeJet 5255 (all reported on HP's forum) | Original HP cartridges, and often third-party or refilled ones |
HP+ is the big one. HP's HP+ page lists Original HP ink as "required to operate" and says HP+ printers need it "even after expiration of the Instant Ink trial" (HP). HP's ENVY 6020e product page goes further: HP+ requires "exclusive use of Original HP Ink cartridges for the life of the printer" (HP). HP+ also requires an HP account and an internet connection. The HP+ page adds: "If you cancel, you can return to HP original cartridges."
How to tell if you have HP+. HP+ printers often have model numbers ending in "e", but the letter alone doesn't tell you whether HP+ is on. HP's own guide calls HP+ "optional" on some of them, like the DeskJet 4155e, and "pre-installed" on others, like the LaserJet M234sdwe (HP). If you remember creating an HP account and activating HP+ during setup, assume it's on. If you're not sure, ask HP support before buying non-HP ink.
On printers without HP+, third-party and refilled cartridges are possible. However, HP firmware updates (sometimes called "Dynamic Security") have blocked some of them in the past. Buy from a seller that tests against current firmware and offers returns.
Getting help from HP faster
HP runs an official support account on Reddit, u/HPSupport_Team, and it answers Instant Ink questions in public threads. In the ENVY 6020e thread it offered to walk the owner through each step: "Let us know if you'd like help with any of these steps."
If you're stuck waiting out a billing cycle, or your new cartridges are being rejected, it's worth asking there. Explain that you've canceled, say when your cycle ends, and ask whether they can help with the timing or check your account. They may not be able to speed anything up, but it costs nothing to ask. It can also be quicker than waiting on the phone.
Other HP channels:
- HP Support Community (h30434.www3.hp.com), HP's forum, where HP support agents answer Instant Ink posts
- Your Instant Ink account page, where you cancel or change your plan
- HP customer support, through the contact options on HP's website. Use only the phone numbers listed on hp.com. Unofficial "HP support" numbers, some of them scams, show up in search results.
Before you buy your next printer
A cheap printer tied to a subscription can cost more over its life than a pricier one that lets you choose your ink. Before you buy, check:
- Does it need an account or an internet connection to print? If yes, find out what happens when you go offline or cancel something.
- Is it locked to one brand of ink? Look for phrases like "requires Original ink" or "works only with" in the fine print.
- What does a full set of ink cost, and how many pages does it print? That's your real cost per page.
- Can you refill it? Printers with refillable cartridges or ink tanks give you the most control over cost.
Want to know your rights as a printer owner? Our guide to Right to Repair and your printer covers them, including whether other inks void your warranty in the US.
A note on who wrote this: Precision Colors makes and sells ink for Canon and Epson photo printers. As of October 2026 we don't sell any HP ink, so nothing here is a sales pitch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep using my Instant Ink cartridges after I cancel?
Only until the end of your current billing cycle. After that, HP disables them, even if they still have ink. HP support agents have confirmed this is by design.
Do I have to wait for the billing cycle to end?
HP's support replies say to wait until the current billing cycle ends before swapping cartridges. Your Instant Ink cartridges work until then, so print what you need first. If timing is a problem, ask HP's Reddit support account, u/HPSupport_Team.
Can I use third-party or refilled ink after canceling Instant Ink?
On an HP+ printer, no. HP says HP+ printers require Original HP ink "even after expiration of the Instant Ink trial." On printers without HP+, often yes, though HP firmware has blocked some non-HP cartridges in the past.
Why won't my HP printer scan without an Instant Ink subscription?
Scanning doesn't use ink, but owners report that it stops too. The likely cause is that a disabled cartridge puts the printer in an error state that blocks other jobs. HP's fix is the same: install standard HP cartridges.
Can I turn off HP+?
HP's pages don't describe a way to. HP says HP+ requires Original HP ink "for the life of the printer," so plan as if it's permanent once it's activated.
How do I know if my printer is HP+?
HP+ is offered on many models ending in "e", such as the ENVY 6020e or DeskJet 4155e. On some it is optional and on others it comes pre-installed. If you created an HP account and activated HP+ during setup, assume it's on.
What cartridges does the HP ENVY 6020e use?
In Europe, HP lists HP 305 and 305XL for the ENVY 6020e. Cartridge numbers can differ by country, so check the label on your old cartridge. Buy standard cartridges, not Instant Ink ones.
Sources
- HP, HP+ Printing: extra warranty and HP ink
- HP, Best HP+ printers
- HP Ireland, HP ENVY 6020e All-in-One Printer product page
- HP Support Community, "The indicated cartridges cannot be used until printer is enrolled", HP Support Agent reply, January 2026
- HP Support Community, Printer won't print after subscription cancelled, HP Support Agent reply, January 2026
- HP Support Community, Canceled Instant Ink but regular cartridge won't work, 2024
- HP Support Community, Envy 6020, HP moderator reply on compatible cartridges, May 2024
- Reddit, r/printers, original ENVY 6020e post
- Reddit, reply from u/HPSupport_Team, HP's official support account
Last reviewed October 2026.