On the other hand, it is a process fraught with risk, is explicitly not supported by HP, and may even violate the terms of service. Users who choose to proceed must carefully weigh the potential benefits against the real possibility of "bricking" their device. For many, the economic incentive of using cheaper ink makes the risk worthwhile. For others, the frustration of a malfunctioning printer purchased from HP leaves them with little alternative but to take the plunge.

, a feature designed to prevent the use of cartridges that do not have an original HP security chip. If your printer suddenly rejects cartridges that previously worked, it is likely due to an automatic update. Reverting to an older version (like version FDP1CN1416AR

To know if you need a downgrade, check your current version:

This official stance is the primary reason why third-party tools and community-developed workarounds are the primary focus of this article.

Proceed at your own risk. The following methods have been documented by the community. They are not guaranteed to work for all firmware versions, and HP has made it increasingly difficult to perform downgrades over the years.

| Problem | Solution | |--------|----------| | Downgrade fails (error 0x6) | Use USB, disable antivirus temporarily | | Printer touch screen unresponsive | Install matching screen firmware (rare for 8620, try factory reset) | | “Update available” keeps popping up | Disable updates again — downgrade resets the setting sometimes |

This happens if the updater tool cannot communicate with the printer over USB, or if the printer's current firmware is actively blocking an older version from rewriting it. Try using a different USB port, restarting both devices, or searching for an older version of the firmware installer that bypasses version-checking.

connection between the printer and your PC; network connections are more likely to fail or brick the device during the process. Disable Updates

Downgrading firmware carries a small risk of bricking the device if interrupted. Ensure you meet these conditions before proceeding:

HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Firmware Downgrade: Step-by-Step Guide

As the progress bar crawled across the tiny touchscreen, the printer groaned. A "Non-HP Chip Detected" error flashed one last time, like a dying threat. Then, the screen flickered, the gears whirred, and a single page slid out, perfectly crisp and printed with "black market" ink.