Printer Region Coding Explained | Why Cartridges Don’t Work Across Countries

Posted by Cartridge World on 16th Feb 2026

Why Printer Cartridges Aren’t Always Compatible Between Countries (and What You Can Do)

If you’ve ever bought printer cartridges abroad or moved countries with your printer, you might have run into a frustrating issue: perfectly new cartridges being rejected by the printer. In many cases, this isn’t a fault with the cartridge at all — it’s due to printer region coding.

What is Printer Region Coding?

Most major manufacturers, including HP, Canon, Epson and Brother, assign printers to specific geographic regions. Cartridges are then produced to match those regions.

For example, a printer originally sold in the UK will normally only accept cartridges manufactured for the UK/European region. If cartridges from North America or Asia are installed, the printer may display errors such as:

  • Cartridge not recognised

  • Incompatible ink or toner

  • Supply system problem

This system exists mainly for supply chain control, pricing structures, and anti-grey-market measures, but unfortunately it can cause headaches for customers.

Why Your Printer Might Reject New Cartridges

There are two common causes:

1. Stored cartridge data
Printers remember information from previously installed cartridges. Sometimes this stored data causes the printer to reject newly installed supplies, even if they are correct.

2. Region mismatch
If the printer was originally set up in a different country, it may still be locked to that region. This is especially common if:

  • The printer was purchased abroad

  • The printer was relocated internationally

  • Previous cartridges were sourced from another region

How to Fix the Problem

Step 1: Try a Hard Reset

A hard reset can clear stored cartridge data and often resolves recognition issues.

Typical reset method:

  • Reinstall the old cartridge (if available) so the printer returns to a low-ink warning

  • With the printer powered on, remove the power cable (do not switch it off first)

  • Leave unplugged for several minutes

  • Hold the power button for 30 seconds

  • Reconnect power and allow the printer to initialise

  • Install the new cartridges one at a time, starting with black

This resolves many supply recognition problems.

Step 2: Request a Region Reset

If the reset doesn’t work, the printer is likely locked to another region.

In this case, the only reliable fix is to request a region reset from the manufacturer. For HP printers, this can often be done via HP Support or their community forum. They may ask you to:

  • Install cartridges from the original region

  • Open a hidden region settings screen using HP Smart

  • Provide screenshots for verification

Once approved, HP can remotely update the printer so it accepts cartridges from your current country.

The Takeaway

Printer region coding is rarely discussed, but it’s a common reason for cartridge compatibility problems. If your new supplies are being rejected:

  1. Try a hard reset first

  2. Check where your printer was originally purchased

  3. Contact the manufacturer for a region change if needed

If you’re unsure whether your cartridges match your printer’s region, feel free to contact our team — we’re always happy to help you troubleshoot before you buy replacements.

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