HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Firmware Downgrade (2022) – Fix “Non-HP Chip Detected” & Restore Third-Party Ink Support

HP 7740 Ink Fix

Download 2022 Firmware: HPOfficeJet7440.zip

The HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format All-in-One is, in my experience, an excellent printer and scanner. It performed flawlessly for years – until a recent HP firmware update prevented it from using third-party ink cartridges.

I understand the business model: sell printers at competitive prices and generate revenue through ink sales. However, I would much rather have paid more for the printer itself and retained the freedom to choose where I buy my ink.

After the firmware update, my printer became effectively unusable. Two of my cartridges had run out, and although I had brand-new replacement cartridges, the printer refused to accept them simply because they weren’t manufactured by HP.

 

Searching for a Solution

The obvious solution seemed to be downgrading the printer’s firmware. Several third-party ink suppliers offer software that claims to perform this downgrade, but none of the tools I tried worked. The latest HP firmware blocks these downgrade utilities from installing an older version.

 

The Solution That Worked

The only method I found that successfully restored the printer was installing an older firmware that was embedded in one of these .exe installers, directly from a USB flash drive.

The process was straightforward:

  1. Format a USB flash drive as FAT32.
  2. Unzip and Copy the attached 2022 firmware file onto the drive (it should be the only file on the USB stick).
  3. Remove all ink cartridges from the printer.
  4. Turn the printer off.
  5. Insert the USB flash drive.
  6. Press and hold the Power button while turning the printer on.
  7. Keep holding the button until the printer begins the recovery process. If the display doesn’t turn on after 1–2 minutes, press the Power button again until the firmware update starts.
  8. Wait for the firmware installation to complete.

After the downgrade, open the printer’s settings page (for example through macOS System Settings → Printers & Scanners) and disable automatic firmware updates as well as update notifications. Otherwise, the printer may automatically reinstall the newer firmware and you’ll be back where you started.

Hopefully this saves someone else the time and frustration I went through.

HPOfficeJet7440.zip

 

Disclaimer

The firmware file and instructions provided on this page are shared as-is and are intended solely to help owners of the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 restore functionality to their own printer. Firmware installation always carries some risk. By downloading or using the firmware, you acknowledge that you do so entirely at your own risk. I cannot be held responsible for any damage, loss of functionality, data loss, or warranty implications resulting from the use of these files or the instructions provided. Before proceeding, make sure the firmware is intended for your exact printer model. Do not attempt to install it on a different HP printer or another device. This page is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by HP Inc. All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.