Third-party status
WorksBottle-fed: no cartridge chip to block
Mostly yes. The 7602 is filled from HP 32XL and HP 31 bottles, and we found no source of a chip or firmware check blocking non-HP ink. HP warns non-HP ink can clog the printheads, and damage it causes is not covered.
What to do now
- Use ink sold for HP 31/32XL Smart Tank printers, never mix dye ink (for example Epson's) into the pigment black tank, and print a little every week so nozzles don't dry.[6][7]Owner advice from r/printers, not HP's. Different ink chemistry can clog a thermal printhead, and HP says non-HP ink contaminates any HP ink added later.
What to buy instead
- Genuine HP 31 / 32XL bottles. The safe default for printhead warranty claims.
- Compatible HP 31 / 32XL bottles. Much cheaper. Pick a seller with a return policy.
- Account required
- No
- Cartridges
- HP 32XL black and HP 31 cyan, magenta and yellow ink bottles
- Blocking firmware
- None reported
- Last checked
Also applies to: HP Smart Tank 7601, which HP lists with the same 32XL/31 bottles. Other Smart Tank models (5100 series, 6001, 7301) take the same bottles but have their own printheads.
Third-party and remanufactured cartridges
- HP lists HP 32XL black and HP 31 cyan, magenta and yellow bottles as the replacement supplies for the Smart Tank 7602, and the printer ships with an HP black printhead and an HP tri-color printhead.[1]
- HP's supplies compatibility guide lists the Smart Tank 7601/7602 under 32XL and HP31 bottles and calls Smart Tank a cartridge-less design.[2]
- Tank & Toner, a review site, says HP Smart Tank printers are bottle-fed, so the cartridge-chip issue does not apply to them (checked 27 Sep 2026).[3]
- HP's own stance: it recommends genuine HP ink and says it cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of non-HP ink in Smart Tank printers. That is a recommendation, not a block.[4]
HP account, HP+ and Instant Ink
- The HP product page we read for the 7602 lists no HP+ plan, HP account or subscription requirement to print. This is a non-'e' model.[1]
Firmware that blocked cartridges
- We found no source tying a Smart Tank firmware update to rejecting third-party ink. HP's Dynamic Security messaging describes blocking cartridges with non-HP chips, which a bottle does not have.[5][3]
To see your version, print a printer status report or open the printer's web page. Compare it with the firmware list.
Workarounds that sources back up
- Use ink sold for HP 31/32XL Smart Tank printers, never mix dye ink (for example Epson's) into the pigment black tank, and print a little every week so nozzles don't dry.[6][7] Owner advice from r/printers, not HP's. Different ink chemistry can clog a thermal printhead, and HP says non-HP ink contaminates any HP ink added later.
What does not reliably work
- Counting on HP's warranty to cover printhead damage: HP's supplies warranty says HP is not responsible when failure is attributable to non-HP ink. HP also says using refilled supplies alone does not void the printer warranty.[8][9]
- Running endless back-to-back cleanings after a clog: HP's Smart Tank guide says replace the printhead if cleaning doesn't fix it, and an r/printers owner thread (Sep 2026) on a Smart Tank 6001 lost cyan after a two-month idle stretch following a refill.[4][6]
What to buy instead
- Genuine HP 31 / 32XL bottles. The safe default for printhead warranty claims. Shop
- Compatible HP 31 / 32XL bottles. Much cheaper. Pick a seller with a return policy. Shop
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What we could not verify
- Any dated Smart Tank 7602 owner report of non-HP ink being rejected by the printer. We found none.
- Whether the 7602's printheads (sold separately by HP) check for anything beyond being HP printheads.
- Long-term printhead wear with third-party bottle ink in this model.
- Whether HP+ or an account is needed on any regional or 'e' variant of the 7602.
Know something we missed? Dated sources beat opinions. Corrections go on the page with a date.
Related guides
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Sources
- HP Store: Smart Tank 7602 All-in-One product page (read Oct 30, 2026)
- HP: Original HP ink and toner supplies compatibility guide (PDF) (read Oct 30, 2026)
- Tank & Toner: which printers accept third-party ink (published Sep 27, 2026)
- HP Support: Smart Tank printers, color or black ink not printing (read Oct 30, 2026)
- HP Dynamic Security messaging guide (retailer-hosted PDF) (read Oct 30, 2026)
- r/printers: HP Smart Tank 6001 not printing cyan (published Sep 10, 2026)
- r/printers: Epson ink on HP Smart Tank (published Aug 22, 2025)
- HP Support: Ink supplies limited warranty (read Oct 30, 2026)
- HP help desk: do refilled cartridges affect my warranty? (read Oct 30, 2026)