What Ink Does the HP DeskJet 6940 Use?

Quick answer: The HP DeskJet 6940 uses HP 98 Black or the higher-capacity HP 96 Black cartridge on the right, and HP 95 Tri-Color or the higher-capacity HP 97 Tri-Color cartridge on the left. For photos you can swap the black for an HP 99 Photo or HP 100 Gray Photo cartridge. For everyday printing, the best value is HP 96 black with HP 97 color.

HP DeskJet 6940 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

The DeskJet 6940 holds two cartridges at a time. The black slot takes HP 98 or HP 96 (HP 94 black fits too), and the color slot takes HP 95 or HP 97. The higher-capacity versions are physically larger but fit the same slots, so you can mix and match.

For better photo prints, swap the black cartridge for an HP 99 photo cartridge (or an HP 100 gray photo cartridge for black-and-white photos) and print on photo paper. Swap the black back in for text.

The 6940 is an older single-function color printer with Ethernet and a USB connection. HP has discontinued it and its genuine cartridges are getting harder to find. Remanufactured cartridges are the easiest way to keep one running — the printhead is built into every cartridge, so each new cartridge also gives you a fresh printhead.

Save on HP 98, 96, 95 and 97 Ink

Castle Ink stocks the full DeskJet 6940 lineup as tested remanufactured cartridges: HP 98 Black (C9364WN), HP 96 Black (C8767WN), HP 95 Tri-Color (C8766WN), HP 97 Tri-Color (C9363WN), plus HP 99 Photo (C9369WN) and HP 100 Gray Photo (C9368AN) for photo printing. Every cartridge carries a 1-year guarantee, and orders over $50 ship free.

Not sure it is worth keeping an older printer running? Our printer ink cost calculator shows the real cost per page.

How to Replace Ink in the HP DeskJet 6940

1. Turn the printer on and lift the top cover. The cartridge cradle moves to the center.
2. Pull the empty cartridge out of its cradle toward you. Color goes on the left, black or photo on the right.
3. Remove the new cartridge from its package and pull off the clear protective tape by its tab. Do not touch the copper contacts or the ink nozzles.
4. Hold the cartridge with the copper strip facing the printer, slide it into the cradle, and push until it snaps in.
5. Close the top cover and let the printer print an alignment page. Alignment matters on this model — skipping it can leave your prints slightly blurry.

Troubleshooting Tips

Blinking cartridge light or "incompatible cartridge": Make sure the cartridge is an HP 94/96/98/99/100 (black side) or HP 95/97 (color side). Then clean the copper contacts in the cartridge and in the cradle with a lint-free swab dampened with distilled water, let them dry, and reseat the cartridge.

Streaks or missing lines: Run "Clean the Print Cartridges" from the printer Toolbox on your computer. If that does not help, gently wipe the nozzle plate with a damp lint-free cloth. The printhead is part of the cartridge, so a replacement cartridge fixes a failed head.

Not recognized by a new computer: The 6940 needs HP's basic driver or your operating system's built-in driver. On Windows 10/11 and macOS, try adding it through the system printer settings before installing older HP software.

Official HP DeskJet 6940 Resources

• HP Customer Support — printers
• HP ink, toner and paper finder

Bottom Line

The HP DeskJet 6940 takes HP 98 or 96 black and HP 95 or 97 color. For everyday printing, the high-capacity HP 96 and HP 97 cost the least per page, and remanufactured cartridges are now the most reliable way to keep this discontinued printer printing.

Written and reviewed by William Elward — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use HP 94 black in the DeskJet 6940?
Yes. HP 94, 96 and 98 black cartridges all fit the black slot. HP 96 holds the most ink.

What is the difference between HP 95 and HP 97?
Both are tri-color cartridges for the same slot. HP 97 is the high-capacity version and prints roughly twice as many pages.

Do I need the HP 99 or HP 100 photo cartridge?
No. They are optional. Use them only for photo printing on photo paper, and swap the black cartridge back in for text.

How are these page yields measured?
They are approximate figures from HP's published yields. Real results depend on what and how often you print.

Shop Compatible Ink at Castle Ink

Find the right cartridge for the HP DeskJet 6940 and every other printer we cover on the Find Ink by Printer page, or work through a fault at our printer troubleshooting center.

Buy the HP DeskJet 6940 on Amazon: HP DeskJet 6940 on Amazon — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

See also: printer says ink cartridge not recognized | faded or streaky prints | printer printing the wrong colors