HP Printers locking functionality behind ink availability: Difference between revisions
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[[HP]] produces all-in-one printers, which are marketed as a complete solution for printing, scanning documents, and sending faxes. However, these printers enter an error state when the ink level in one of the cartridges is too low, disabling all functionalities—including scanning and faxing—even though these features do not require ink.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=15 Aug 2023 |title=Requiring ink to scan a document—yet another insult from the printer industry |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/the-printers-that-require-ink-to-scan-and-fax/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2022 |title=can't scan due to low ink. I shouldn't need ink to scan a document. Is there a work around for this? |url=https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Scanning-Faxing-Copying/can-t-scan-due-to-low-ink-I-shouldn-t-need-ink-to-scan-a/td-p/8308292 |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[HP]]}}</ref> HP has faced legal actions<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shaak |first=Erin |date=1 Jul 2022 |title=Design Flaw? HP Printers Won’t Scan, Fax When Ink Is Low, Class Action Alleges |url=https://www.classaction.org/blog/design-flaw-hp-printers-wont-scan-fax-when-ink-is-low-class-action-alleges |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=ClassAction.org}}</ref><ref>https://regmedia.co.uk/2023/08/11/freund-hp-judge-order.pdf</ref> because it sells its products as all-in-one solutions but does not clearly disclose that ink is necessary to use any of the functionalities. | |||
[[HP]] produces all-in-one printers, which are marketed as a complete solution for printing, scanning documents, and sending faxes. However, these printers enter an error state when the ink level in one of the cartridges is too low, disabling all functionalities—including scanning and faxing—even though these features do not require ink.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Harding |first=Scharon |date=15 Aug 2023 |title=Requiring ink to scan a document—yet another insult from the printer industry |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/the-printers-that-require-ink-to-scan-and-fax/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250804190507/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/the-printers-that-require-ink-to-scan-and-fax/ |archive-date=4 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2022 |title=can't scan due to low ink. I shouldn't need ink to scan a document. Is there a work around for this? |url=https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Scanning-Faxing-Copying/can-t-scan-due-to-low-ink-I-shouldn-t-need-ink-to-scan-a/td-p/8308292 |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[HP]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708171636/https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Scanning-Faxing-Copying/can-t-scan-due-to-low-ink-I-shouldn-t-need-ink-to-scan-a/td-p/8308292 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> HP has faced legal actions<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shaak |first=Erin |date=1 Jul 2022 |title=Design Flaw? HP Printers Won’t Scan, Fax When Ink Is Low, Class Action Alleges |url=https://www.classaction.org/blog/design-flaw-hp-printers-wont-scan-fax-when-ink-is-low-class-action-alleges |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=ClassAction.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250906013120/https://www.classaction.org/blog/design-flaw-hp-printers-wont-scan-fax-when-ink-is-low-class-action-alleges |archive-date=6 Sep 2025}}</ref><ref>https://regmedia.co.uk/2023/08/11/freund-hp-judge-order.pdf ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708171634/https://regmedia.co.uk/2023/08/11/freund-hp-judge-order.pdf Archived])</ref> because it sells its products as all-in-one solutions but does not clearly disclose that ink is necessary to use any of the functionalities. | |||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Printer manufacturers often sell their printer hardware at a loss, knowing they will profit significantly from subsequent ink cartridge sales. | Printer manufacturers often sell their printer hardware at a loss, knowing they will profit significantly from subsequent ink cartridge sales. | ||
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===HP's response=== | ===HP's response=== | ||
HP initially declined to comment publicly on the issue, citing pending litigation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=David |date=15 Aug 2023 |title=HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on multifunction printers when ink runs low |url=https://apnews.com/article/hp-printers-scanner-disabled-low-ink-9d8a0e3b5b49bb408467f7f75735ab0a |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=APNews}}</ref> | HP initially declined to comment publicly on the issue, citing pending litigation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=David |date=15 Aug 2023 |title=HP fails to derail claims that it bricks scanners on multifunction printers when ink runs low |url=https://apnews.com/article/hp-printers-scanner-disabled-low-ink-9d8a0e3b5b49bb408467f7f75735ab0a |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=APNews |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250917022345/https://apnews.com/article/hp-printers-scanner-disabled-low-ink-9d8a0e3b5b49bb408467f7f75735ab0a |archive-date=17 Sep 2025}}</ref> | ||
==Lawsuits== | ==Lawsuits== | ||
The case against HP states that this is a design flaw, and points to the advertising not disclosing it and instead calling the printers "convenient because you don’t have to buy a separate device for each task".<ref>https://www.classaction.org/media/freund-et-al-v-hp-inc.pdf</ref> | The case against HP states that this is a design flaw, and points to the advertising not disclosing it and instead calling the printers "convenient because you don’t have to buy a separate device for each task".<ref>https://www.classaction.org/media/freund-et-al-v-hp-inc.pdf ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708171631/https://www.classaction.org/media/freund-et-al-v-hp-inc.pdf Archived])</ref> | ||
[[File:HP support forum printer-scanner not scanning without ink.png|alt=user asks on HP support forum why their scanner will not properly scan without ink| | [[File:HP support forum printer-scanner not scanning without ink.png|thumb|alt=user asks on HP support forum why their scanner will not properly scan without ink|User asks on HP support forum why their scanner will not properly scan without ink.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230811234030/https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Scanning-Faxing-Copying/Scanning-without-a-working-ink-cartridge/td-p/6777739</ref>]] | ||
[[File:HP support rep | [[File:HP support rep ignoring that customer is asking about the scanner portion.png|thumb|alt=HP support rep says that the printer needs ink to work, ignoring the fact that the customer is asking about the SCANNER portion of the printer/scanner combo.|HP support rep says that the printer needs ink to work, ignoring the fact that the customer is asking about the SCANNER portion of the printer/scanner combo.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230811234030/https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Scanning-Faxing-Copying/Scanning-without-a-working-ink-cartridge/td-p/6777739</ref>]] | ||
==HP's official support response== | ==HP's official support response== | ||
In the now-archived official HP support forums<ref>[[:File:Scanning without a working ink cartridge - HP Support Community - 6777739.pdf]] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20260405145804if_/https://consumerrights.wiki/images/5/5e/Scanning_without_a_working_ink_cartridge_-_HP_Support_Community_-_6777739.pdf Archived])</ref>, users were trying to scan documents; but they had low or damaged ink cartridges. HP's official representatives consistently confirmed that their printers are intentionally designed to prevent scanning when ink is low or missing. | |||
In the now-archived official HP support forums<ref>[[:File:Scanning without a working ink cartridge - HP Support Community - 6777739.pdf]]</ref>, users were trying to scan documents; but they had low or damaged ink cartridges. HP's official representatives consistently confirmed that their printers are intentionally designed to prevent scanning when ink is low or missing. | |||
When users asked how to bypass error messages to perform scanning functions that technically do not require ink, HP support agents responded with statements such as: | When users asked how to bypass error messages to perform scanning functions that technically do not require ink, HP support agents responded with statements such as: | ||
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===Canon=== | ===Canon=== | ||
[[Canon]] faced similar charges, but they settled privately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=15 Aug 2023 |title=Canon is getting away with printers that won’t scan sans ink — but HP might pay |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/11/23067867/canon-hp-class-action-lawsuit-scan-without-ink-settlement |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> Canon's requires all ink tanks to be installed on certain all-in-one printer, and support instead prompts consumers to disable the function that detects ink levels if they want to scan with empty ink tanks.<ref name=":0" /> | [[Canon]] faced similar charges, but they settled privately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=15 Aug 2023 |title=Canon is getting away with printers that won’t scan sans ink — but HP might pay |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/11/23067867/canon-hp-class-action-lawsuit-scan-without-ink-settlement |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=The Verge |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251211050708/https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/11/23067867/canon-hp-class-action-lawsuit-scan-without-ink-settlement |archive-date=11 Dec 2025}}</ref> Canon's requires all ink tanks to be installed on certain all-in-one printer, and support instead prompts consumers to disable the function that detects ink levels if they want to scan with empty ink tanks.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==Consumer response== | ==Consumer response== | ||
Consumers state that not only the ink levels are required, but that there are other practices regarding the ink levels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HP and anti-consumer practices just found this in one of the YouTube comment sections, this is outrageous. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/1bd4ho3/hp_and_anticonsumer_practices_just_found_this_in/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> These range from cartridge [[DRM]] to ink sensors which are too sensitive, meaning they report empty ink too early with still ink present, causing waste with serious environmental concerns and additional consumer cost. | Consumers state that not only the ink levels are required, but that there are other practices regarding the ink levels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HP and anti-consumer practices just found this in one of the YouTube comment sections, this is outrageous. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/1bd4ho3/hp_and_anticonsumer_practices_just_found_this_in/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260405145820/https://old.reddit.com/r/printers/comments/1bd4ho3/hp_and_anticonsumer_practices_just_found_this_in/ |archive-date=2026-04-05 |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> These range from cartridge [[DRM]] to ink sensors which are too sensitive, meaning they report empty ink too early with still ink present, causing waste with serious environmental concerns and additional consumer cost. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Lawsuits]] | |||
[[Category:HP Printers]] | |||
[[Category:HP Inc.]] | [[Category:HP Inc.]] | ||