What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8120e Use?

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Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said the OfficeJet Pro 8120e uses HP 923 and 923e with no regional note. HP 923 / 923e is for Americas 8100-series printers; the 8120e sold in Australia and other HP 924 regions takes HP 924 / 924e.

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8120e takes HP 923 and HP 923e ink cartridges in the Americas, and HP 924 and HP 924e in Australia and other HP 924 regions — four individual tanks in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. There is no "HP 923XL": the high-yield version is the 923e, and it prints roughly twice as many pages as a standard HP 923.

Check where your printer was sold: HP cartridges for the OfficeJet Pro 8100 series are region-coded. The 8120e we found on sale is the Australian model (405U4B), which takes HP 924 / 924e. HP 923 / 923e is the Americas version, and a 923 will not work in a 924 printer. We sell remanufactured standard HP 923 cartridges only, not 923e or 924.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

HP OfficeJet Pro 8120e

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) — No retailer rating with enough reviews to use.
Expert reviews (18%) — No published numeric expert score we could verify.
Cost per page (24%) 68 About 6.7¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 923 (500 black / 400 color pages; we do not sell 923e). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip.
Reliability (13%) 84 Most-reported problems: error F0.01.01.04 after replacing ink cartridges on an 8120e; setup loop: cartridge 'not communicating correctly' then 'Use SETUP Cartridge', blocking menus and firmware update
Features (12%) 86 Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm). No fax.
Value (5%) — Running cost and owner satisfaction

Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars. With neither owner ratings nor a published expert score, we cap this printer at 69 (Situational) until better data is available.

Still sold new in Australia (model 405U4B, which takes HP 924 / 924e). We could not confirm a U.S. 8120e; the U.S. 8100-series models we found are the 8125e, 8135e, 8138e and 8139e.

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 8, 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.

HP OfficeJet Pro 8120e Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Cartridge Color Approx. Page Yield
HP 923 Black ~500 pages
HP 923 Cyan / Magenta / Yellow ~400 pages each
HP 923e Black ~1,000 pages
HP 923e Cyan / Magenta / Yellow ~800 pages each

Because each color is its own cartridge, you replace only the one that runs out. In the Americas, HP 923 / 923e also fits other OfficeJet Pro 8100-series printers, including the 8125e, 8135e, 8138e and 8139e. Models such as the 8120e, 8122e and 8124e are mostly sold in regions that use HP 924 / 924e, so check the cartridge number your printer lists before you order.

What the "e" in HP 923e Actually Means

It does not mean Instant Ink, and it is not an "evergreen" cartridge. HP 923e is an EvoMore cartridge — HP's high-yield, lower-carbon line — and you buy it at retail like any other cartridge. Aftermarket listings often label it "923XL" because that is what shoppers search for, but HP has never made a cartridge with that part number. If a seller quotes you an "HP 923XL," they mean the 923e.

Before You Buy: HP+ Is a One-Way Door

The "e" in the printer's name means it ships with the option to activate HP+. Turning HP+ on extends the warranty from one year to two, but it requires an HP account and an internet connection, and it locks the printer to Original HP cartridges for the life of the machine. HP+ can only be skipped during setup, and HP documents no way to reverse it. If you want the option of remanufactured ink, decline it then. Even without HP+, HP dynamic security blocks cartridges with non-HP chips, so choose remanufactured cartridges that keep the original HP chip.

How to Replace Ink in the HP OfficeJet Pro 8120e

  1. Power the printer on and open the ink cartridge access door — the carriage slides to the center.
  2. Press down on the old cartridge to release it, then pull it straight out toward you.
  3. Unwrap the new cartridge and remove the protective tape. Do not touch the gold contacts or the ink nozzles.
  4. Match the color-coded letter on the cartridge (K, C, M or Y) to the same letter on the slot, then push it in until it clicks.
  5. Close the access door. The printer runs an alignment page automatically — keep it for reference.

Troubleshooting Tips

Cartridge not recognized: Remove the cartridge, wipe the gold contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, and reseat it until it clicks. Power-cycle the printer if the error persists.

Streaks or faded prints: Run Tools > Maintenance > Clean Printhead from the control panel or the HP Smart app. Two cycles usually clears a partially clogged nozzle.

Compatible ink stops working after an update: Dynamic Security is enabled on this model, and firmware updates can block cartridges that use a non-HP chip. HP says the printer works with cartridges that carry a new or reused HP chip, so cartridges built on an original HP chip are the safer choice. Leaving automatic updates off is a sensible precaution.

Low-ink warnings too early: HP estimates ink levels conservatively. Keep printing until quality actually drops rather than swapping on the first warning.

What OfficeJet Pro 8120e 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.

My 923 cartridges won't work in an 8120e I bought in Australia. Why?

Australian and other Asia-Pacific 8120e units (405U4B) are listed for HP 924 / 924e. HP 923 / 923e is the Americas version, and the printer rejects cartridges from the wrong region.

I get error F0.01.01.04 after changing cartridges. What does it mean?

HP Community treats it as a startup fault. The suggested steps are to unplug the printer for a minute, try starting it with the cartridges removed, reseat them, confirm they match your printer's region, and disconnect other cables.

A new printer keeps asking for the SETUP cartridge. What happened?

New 8100-series printers expect to be set up with the SETUP cartridges in the box. Owners of the sister 8135e and 8130e report a "not communicating correctly" then "Use SETUP Cartridge" loop when retail cartridges go in first, so install the setup cartridges before anything else.

Can it scan two-sided originals automatically?

No. It has a flatbed and a 35-sheet single-sided document feeder. Only printing is automatically two-sided.

How many pages a month is it built for?

HP rates the 8100 series for up to 20,000 pages a month but recommends no more than 800.

OfficeJet Pro 8120e quirks worth knowing

  • HP tests HP 923 yields in the "OfficeJet Pro 8120 series", so HP treats the 8120 and 8130 models as one cartridge family.
  • HP's wording is that the printer works only with cartridges that have a new or reused HP chip. That is why remanufactured cartridges that keep the original HP chip are accepted while third-party chips are blocked, with or without HP+.
  • HP+ on an "e" model needs an HP account and an ongoing internet connection as well as Original HP ink. In exchange, HP extends the warranty from one year to two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an HP 923XL cartridge? No. HP makes the 923 (standard) and the 923e (high yield). "923XL" is an aftermarket search term for the 923e.

Will compatible HP 923 cartridges void my printer warranty? No. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, using compatible or remanufactured cartridges does not void your HP warranty. Damage caused by a specific cartridge is not covered, but the rest of the warranty stands.

Can I use third-party ink if I activated HP+? No. HP+ printers accept Original HP cartridges only, permanently. This is the single most important thing to know before you set up an 8120e.

What other printers use HP 923 ink? In the Americas, the OfficeJet Pro 8100 series, including the 8125e, 8135e, 8138e and 8139e. Printers sold in HP 924 regions, such as the Australian 8120e, take HP 924 / 924e instead.

How many pages does an HP 923e cartridge print? About 1,000 pages in black and 800 pages per color, per HP's published yields. Heavy graphics will reduce that.

Other printers that use HP 923

HP OfficeJet Pro 8125e · HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e · HP OfficeJet Pro 8130e · HP OfficeJet Pro 8138e · HP OfficeJet Pro 8139e

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 8, 2026 and will change over time.

Need replacement HP ink cartridges? Shop HP ink cartridges 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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