A chip in a toner cartridge is a small electronic component that communicates with the printer. It provides information about toner levels, cartridge compatibility, and page count. This ensures that the printer recognizes the cartridge and can monitor its usage.
Can I use a toner cartridge without a chip?
Some original HP and Canon products are equipped with chips, so when you use a compatible no-chip version, you need to install the original chip before using it. For example, HP 206A / X, HP CF258A / X, HP 414A / X, Canon 055 (H), etc.
However, there are also some HP and Canon products come without chips, such as HP CE285A, HP CF248A, Canon 137, etc. There is no need to install additional chips when using these models.
Before you buy a toner cartridge, you must clearly understand whether the toner cartridge model corresponding to the printer you use is with chip or without chip.
Is the no chip cartridge adaptable for the same printer model as the cartridge with chip?
The compatible no chip toner cartridge is made with the original toner cartridge as the template. There is basically no difference in shape or structure from the original toner cartridge. The main difference is whether it is equipped with a chip. Therefore, the no chip cartridge is suitable for the same printer model as the toner cartridge with chip.
What should I do when printer display "Low toner" or "replace toner"?
After you install the new compatible toner cartridge correctly, the printer may show " Low toner" or "Used" because the new toner cartridge are installed with the original chip and the chip has remembered the capacity of your old toner cartridge. But don’t worry, you just need to ignore the error message and print until you simply run out of toner.
Why Do You Need to Install a Chip?
HP toner cartridges often come with an embedded chip that communicates with the printer. This chip helps the printer keep track of toner levels and alerts you when the toner is low or needs to be replaced. Without this chip, the printer may not recognize the cartridge, leading to error messages or printing issues.
Materials Needed
Before you begin, gather the following materials:
- New HP toner cartridge (without a chip)
- Original HP toner cartridge (with the chip)
- Small flathead screwdriver or tweezers
- Clean, well-lit workspace
How to install the chip for the new toner cartridge?
Installation guide for toner cartridge without chip (Structure A), you can follow the steps listed below (Take HP CF258A for example):
- Find your old toner cartridge to pull open the plastic in the red circle of the picture.
- Use the tweezers to take out the chip from the old toner cartridge slightly.
- Install the chip into the new toner cartridge
- Please check if you have installed it correctly like the picture. Remind to insert the chip into the inner-edge of the chip slot and aim to the middle line.
If the chip in your old toner cartridge come with glue (Structure B), please follow the step below (Take HP 414A for example):
- Pull out the chip recovery drill screw and install it on the OEM cartridge. Rotate the chip recovery drill screw to the bottom to extrude the chip.
- Use the tweezers to take out the chip from the old toner cartridge slightly.
- Scissor the unnecessary plastics around the chip.
- Take the removed chip into the chip carrier in the correct orientation and then put it on the toner cartridge.
Tips: Most of our cartridges come with tools (tweezers and pliers) and instructions on how to remove and reinstall the chip. You can also watch some of our videos on our other blogs or product detail pages, which will show you how to replace the chip.