HP LaserJet Printers: How to Use Out Override Setting to Extend the Life of HP Toner Print Cartridges

Have you ever been in the middle of a print job using an HP LaserJet printer, only to have it stop printing and display "Replace Supplies"? You know there is still plenty of toner in the cartridge to finish the job. Instead of replacing the expensive HP toner cartridge, check to see if your HP LaserJet printer has the option of a Cartridge Out Override.

I have an HP Color LaserJet 2650dn, so the following steps may differ slightly from your model.

1. Find your printer's Control Panel Menu on the front of your printer.

2. Check to see that your printer is turned on. The Control Panel Menu should read, "Ready".

3. From the Main Menu, hit the right arrow button until you see "Main Menu System Setup."

4. Press the Select button (on my printer it is a green check mark.)

5. Press the right arrow until you see, "System Setup Print Quality."

6. Select this option by pressing the green check mark.

7. Press the right arrow until you see, "Print Quality Replace Supplies."

8. Select this option by pressing the green check mark.

9. Press the right arrow until you see, "Replace Supplies Override Out."

10. Select this option by pressing the green check mark.

11. When you see "To accept press check mark" press the green check mark.

The printer's control panel menu will then return to the Main Menu.

Hewlett Packard recommends keeping your printer settings on "Stop at Out" which means your printer will stop printing when the toner cartridge is running low. This setting will ensure that you achieve optimal print quality.

But for those of us who cringe at the thought of replacing our HP toner cartridges when there is still plenty of toner left, the cartridge override feature can definitely come in handy.