How to manage your HP Instant Ink Account Online
Stewart McCarthyShare
HP Instant Ink suits plenty of people, but it isn't for everyone. If you print less than you expected, want to stop paying a monthly fee, or simply prefer to buy ink when you need it, managing your account is straightforward.
The part that catches people out is what happens afterwards. Your Instant Ink cartridges stop working once your subscription ends, even if they're still full, so it pays to have replacements ready. This guide walks you through cancelling, what to expect, and how to find the right genuine HP cartridges for your printer.
Please note: Cartridge King is not part of HP. We can't see, change or cancel HP Instant Ink accounts, and we can't help with Instant Ink billing, payments or refunds. For anything relating to your subscription, please contact HP Instant Ink support directly through HP's website or the HP Smart app or call them on 0207 660 6027.
Before you cancel: three things to know
1. Your Instant Ink cartridges will stop working. Instant Ink cartridges are tied to your subscription. When your final billing period ends, HP disables them, regardless of how much ink is left. This includes the setup cartridges that came with your printer if they were enrolled in Instant Ink.
2. There's no partial refund. Cancelling doesn't end your service immediately. It runs until the end of your current billing period, and you'll pay for that month as normal, plus any extra pages you've printed over your plan.
3. You'll lose your rollover pages. Any unused pages you've built up disappear when the subscription ends, and they aren't restored if you sign up again later.
With that in mind, the best time to cancel is a few days before your billing date, with a set of standard cartridges already on the way.
How to cancel HP Instant Ink online
- Sign in to your HP Instant Ink account on HP's website, using the email address linked to your subscription.
- Choose the right printer. If you have more than one HP printer on your account, select the one you want to cancel.
- Go to your plan details. Look for your account overview or plan settings.
- Select the cancel option. HP updates its wording from time to time, but it will be labelled along the lines of "Cancel enrollment" or "Cancel plan".
- Confirm the cancellation. You'll be asked to acknowledge what happens next (cartridges stopping, the final charge and so on) before confirming.
- Check your inbox. You should receive a confirmation email shortly afterwards. If one doesn't arrive, contact HP Instant Ink support to make sure the cancellation has gone through.
Cancelling through the HP Smart app
If you manage your printer through the HP Smart app, you can also cancel there. Open the app, select your printer, go to the Instant Ink section of your account, and follow the cancellation steps.
What happens after you cancel
Your service continues until the end of the billing period. You can keep printing with your Instant Ink cartridges until then. HP will email you again when the subscription officially ends.
Your cartridges will then be disabled. Your printer will show a message saying the cartridges can only be used with an active Instant Ink subscription. At that point you'll need standard cartridges to keep printing.
HP asks you to return the cartridges. Instant Ink cartridges remain HP's property. Use the prepaid return envelope HP supplied with your cartridges. If you've lost it, you can request a replacement envelope through HP's Instant Ink recycling page.
Your printer is completely unaffected. Cancelling Instant Ink doesn't lock you out of your printer. Once you fit standard HP cartridges, it works exactly as before, with no subscription required.
Which cartridges do you need?
Step 1: Find your cartridge number
There are three quick ways to find out which cartridges your printer takes:
- Check your printer model. It's printed on the front or top of the printer, for example "HP DeskJet 2720" or "HP OfficeJet Pro 9010".
- Look at your current cartridge. The number printed on your Instant Ink cartridge usually matches the standard cartridge range your printer uses.
- Use our printer search. Enter your printer model on Cartridge King and we'll show you every compatible genuine HP cartridge.
Step 2: Match it to the right cartridge
Here are some of the most popular HP printers enrolled in Instant Ink, and the standard cartridges they use:
| Printer series | Genuine HP cartridge |
|---|---|
| HP DeskJet 2600 series, DeskJet 3700 series | HP 304 / 304XL |
| HP DeskJet 2700 series, DeskJet Plus 4100 series, ENVY 6000 series | HP 305 / 305XL |
| HP ENVY 5000 series, OfficeJet 3830 | HP 302 / 302XL |
| HP ENVY Photo 6200, 7100 and 7800 series | HP 303 / 303XL |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 6950, 6960, 6970 | HP 903 / 903XL |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 7720, 7740, 8210, 8710, 8720, 8730 | HP 953 / 953XL |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 8010 and 8020 series | HP 912 / 912XL |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9010 and 9020 series | HP 963 / 963XL |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 9100 series | HP 937 / 937XL |
Can't see your printer? Search by model on our site or get in touch and we'll point you to the right cartridge.
Step 3: Standard or XL?
Most HP cartridges come in two sizes. Standard cartridges cost less upfront and suit occasional printing. XL cartridges cost more but hold considerably more ink, so they work out cheaper per page and need replacing less often. If you were on a mid-sized or larger Instant Ink plan, XL is usually the better value.
Why we recommend genuine HP cartridges
Many of the printers sold with Instant Ink are HP+ printers, which are designed to work only with original HP cartridges. Many other HP printers also use firmware that can reject cartridges without an original HP chip, sometimes after a routine update.
Genuine HP cartridges are the one option you can be sure will work in your printer, deliver the print quality it was designed for, and won't raise questions if you ever need to use your printer's warranty. It's why Cartridge King has sold only genuine, original cartridges since 2007.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep using my Instant Ink cartridges after cancelling? Only until your final billing period ends. After that, HP disables them, even if they still contain ink.
Do I have to send my Instant Ink cartridges back? HP asks you to return them using the prepaid envelope provided. If you don't have one, you can request a replacement from HP.
Will my HP printer still work without Instant Ink? Yes. Fit standard HP cartridges and your printer will carry on working normally.
Can I get a refund for the rest of the month? No. Your subscription runs until the end of the current billing period and isn't refunded pro rata. For billing questions, please contact HP directly.
Can I rejoin Instant Ink later? Yes, you can re-enrol at any time, although any rollover pages and promotional offers from your previous subscription won't carry over.
