HP 218 toner: chip vs no chip

Often, but with a real risk. HP labels the 3201dw and 3301 models "dynamic security enabled": HP says such printers are intended to work only with cartridges that have new or reused HP chips, and that firmware updates can block other cartridges — including ones that work today.

Remanufactured cartridges that reuse an HP chip (Staples, Clover) and compatibles with their own chip (Swift Ink, True Color Toner, INKFUN) are sold for these printers. We have not tested any of them; we report what each seller states and what its return policy is.

It is HP's name for printers that check the chip or circuitry of each cartridge. HP's U.S. support document says dynamic-security printers are intended to work only with cartridges that have new or reused HP chips or circuitry, and that firmware updates can block cartridges with non-HP chips — including ones that work today.

HP's U.S. product pages call the 3201dw, MFP 3301sdw and MFP 3301fdw "dynamic security enabled"; no HP page was found for the Costco 3301cdw. With Original HP 218 toner you will not notice it; it matters when you consider compatible or remanufactured cartridges.

Yes. HP states that firmware updates "can also block cartridges using a non-HP chip or modified or non-HP circuitry from working in the printer, including cartridges that work today." Most HP printers can be set to notify you before installing updates instead of updating automatically; HP notes that services like Instant Ink require automatic updates.

If you rely on compatibles, keep a spare Original HP black cartridge and buy from a seller with a clear return or replacement policy.

The chip tells the printer which cartridge is installed and tracks the toner level. On dynamic-security printers it is also what the printer checks before it accepts the cartridge.

For compatibles we show four chip states from the listing: chip included; no chip; move your old HP chip over; chip not stated. Only "chip included" counts as ready to install, and none of them guarantees the cartridge survives a later HP firmware update.

The most likely explanation is a firmware update: HP says updates can block cartridges with non-HP chips, "including cartridges that work today." Check your printer's firmware update history. Contact the seller — many compatible sellers offer a replacement chip or cartridge — and keep an Original HP cartridge as a fallback.

A remanufactured cartridge is a used Original HP cartridge that has been cleaned, refilled and re-chipped or reset — Staples and Quill sell their own. Staples says its remanufactured 218X reuses a reset HP chip, does not support toner-low messages and may make the printer report a "reused" or "non-HP" cartridge.

A compatible ("new-build") cartridge is made new by a third party with its own chip. Both are non-HP supplies for warranty purposes; the reused-HP-chip route is the one HP itself says dynamic security does not target.