What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Use?

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Shopping for this printer? See all HP 952 Ink Cartridges – 952 & 952XL → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.

Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said a "Non-HP cartridge" warning can be cleared by clicking OK, that cancelling Instant Ink lets any compatible HP 952XL work, and that turning off firmware updates stops cartridges being blocked. The 7740 uses HP dynamic security, which can block cartridges with non-HP chips, and firmware updates can block cartridges that worked before. The guide also left out the HP 956XL black.

The HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 wide-format all-in-one uses HP 952 or HP 952XL ink cartridges. The 952 series ships in four cartridges — black, cyan, magenta, and yellow — with high-yield XL options for this 11x17 office printer. For North America HP also lists an HP 956XL black rated at about 3,000 pages.

CastleScore · October 2026

82/100 — Highly Recommended

HP OfficeJet Pro 7740

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 82 4.20★ average across 4,100 ratings at Amazon (4.2)
Expert reviews (18%) 80 PCMag 4.0/5
Cost per page (24%) 80 About 3.4¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 952XL (2,000 black / 1,450 color pages). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip.
Reliability (13%) 80 Most-reported problems: 'Problem with the supply system' error persisting after replacing cartridges; single-colour cartridge errors even with new genuine HP 952 cartridges; critical system error B80CD5A4
Features (12%) 92 Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm).
Value (5%) 81 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Older model, still listed. Office Depot still lists the 7740 and new units turn up on eBay. HP's current wide-format all-in-one is the OfficeJet Pro 9730, though HP hasn't called it the 7740's replacement.

CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 12, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The cartridges, pictured

Our own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.

Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Cartridge Color Approx. Page Yield
HP 952 Black Black ~1,000 pages
HP 952 Cyan Cyan ~700 pages
HP 952 Magenta Magenta ~700 pages
HP 952 Yellow Yellow ~700 pages
HP 952XL Black Black ~2,000 pages
HP 952XL Cyan Cyan ~1,450 pages
HP 952XL Magenta Magenta ~1,450 pages
HP 952XL Yellow Yellow ~1,450 pages
HP 956XL Black Black ~3,000 pages (North America)

The HP 952 family is also used in the HP OfficeJet Pro 7720, 7730, 8210, 8216, 8218, 8710, 8715, 8720, 8725, 8730, and 8740 — so if your office runs multiple HP Pro printers, you can often stock a single XL set.

Shopping beyond genuine HP? Our HP 952XL compatible ink buying guide compares the main alternatives.

How to Replace Ink in the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740

  1. Power the printer on and open the front access door.
  2. Wait for the carriage to slide to the center.
  3. Press down on the old cartridge to release it, then pull it straight out.
  4. Remove the protective tape from the new cartridge and slide it into the matching color slot until it clicks.
  5. Close the door and let the printer run its short alignment routine.

Troubleshooting Tips

"Cartridge problem" alert: Reseat each cartridge and wipe the gold contacts with a lint-free cloth.

Streaky prints: Run Tools > Clean Printhead from the 7740 touchscreen. Repeat once if streaks persist.

Alignment off: After installing a new cartridge, print an alignment page from Setup > Tools.

Blocked cartridges: The 7740 uses HP dynamic security, and it is one of the models in HP's settlement over firmware that rejected third-party cartridges. Cartridges with non-HP chips can be blocked, and a firmware update can block cartridges that worked before. Remanufactured cartridges that keep the original HP chip are the safer choice.

What OfficeJet Pro 7740 owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, HP's support forum and owner reviews, answered in our words.

Can I print and scan 11x17 on the 7740?

Yes. HP lists borderless printing up to 11 x 17 in, and the flatbed glass scans up to 297 x 432 mm (11 x 17). Two-sided scanning through the document feeder tops out at letter or A4.

What does "Problem with the supply system" mean?

HP support treats it as a contact problem between the cartridges and the printhead. Turn the printer off and on, then take out, clean and reseat all four cartridges. If the error stays, HP's next step is to remove, clean and reinstall the printhead.

One color says it is bad or not communicating, even with a new HP cartridge. Why?

Owners report this with brand-new genuine HP 952 cartridges too, so the cartridge isn't always the problem. If cleaning and reseating don't clear it, HP has sent owners to a service center.

Why is the 7740 named in a settlement about ink?

It is on the list in HP's dynamic-security settlement with Euroconsumers, which covered owners between September 2016 and November 2020 whose printer firmware rejected third-party cartridges.

How much paper does it hold?

Two 250-sheet trays, 500 sheets in all, plus a 75-sheet output tray. The second tray takes plain paper only, from letter or A4 up to A3.

OfficeJet Pro 7740 quirks worth knowing

  • The printhead is a separate, removable part. HP support has owners take it out, clean it and reinstall it when supply-system errors won't clear.
  • For North America HP also lists an HP 956XL black rated at about 3,000 pages, more than the 952XL most guides stop at.
  • The same cartridges carry different numbers by region: HP 953 in Europe, HP 954 in Latin America and HP 955 in Asia-Pacific.
  • HP rates it for up to 30,000 pages a month, a high duty cycle for an inkjet all-in-one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use HP 952 standard and HP 952XL together?
Yes — you can mix yields across colors. Many offices run XL black plus standard color tanks.

Does the OfficeJet Pro 7740 need a setup cartridge?
No, your replacement cartridges install directly. Setup ink is only used the first time you unbox a brand-new printer.

Do Castle Ink HP 952XL cartridges work with HP Instant Ink?
No. Instant Ink uses Original HP cartridges enrolled in the program. Cancelling Instant Ink doesn't change how the printer treats other cartridges: dynamic security can still block cartridges with non-HP chips, so remanufactured cartridges that keep the original HP chip are the safer choice.

How long do HP 952XL cartridges last?
The XL black yields about 2,000 pages and each XL color yields about 1,450 pages, depending on coverage.

Why does HP show "Non-HP cartridge"?
HP shows it for any cartridge that isn't new Original HP, including remanufactured ones. Don't count on printing carrying on: on the 7740, HP dynamic security can reject cartridges with non-HP chips outright, including after a firmware update.

Other printers that use HP 952

HP OfficeJet Pro 8710 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8210 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8740 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8715 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8730

More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on October 12, 2026 and will change over time.

Need replacement HP 952 Ink Cartridges – 952 & 952XL? Shop HP 952 Ink Cartridges – 952 & 952XL at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.

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

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