What Ink Does the HP DeskJet 2600 Use?

Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said HP 63 cartridges will not fit the DeskJet 2600. That is still true of the old HP 63, but HP's combined HP 63/65 cartridges, sold since July 2026, do fit.

Quick answer: The HP DeskJet 2600 series uses HP 65 ink — one black and one tri-color cartridge. The high-yield HP 65XL cartridges (65XL Black and 65XL Tri-Color) print about 300 pages each, compared with 100–120 for standard HP 65, so XL is the one to buy.

The cartridges, pictured

• HP 65XL 2-packBlack + Tri-color
• HP 65XL BlackN9K04AN · ~300 pages
• HP 65XL Tri-colorN9K03AN · ~300 pages

Our own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.

HP DeskJet 2600 Ink Cartridges at a Glance

The N9K part numbers are HP's original HP 65 cartridges, which still work. HP is phasing them out in favor of the combined HP 63/65 line.

The DeskJet 2600 is a two-cartridge printer: the tri-color cartridge holds cyan, magenta and yellow in one unit, so when one color runs dry you replace the whole cartridge. The same HP 65 / 65XL cartridges fit the entire 2600 series — including the DeskJet 2620, 2622, 2624, 2630, 2632, 2633, 2634, 2635, 2636, 2652 and 2655 — as well as the DeskJet 3720, 3752 and 3755 and the ENVY 5052 and 5055.

The 2600 series is a budget home all-in-one (print, scan, copy) with Wi-Fi and a 60-sheet input tray. It is cheap to buy and expensive to feed with standard cartridges, which is why the ink choice matters more than it does on bigger printers.

Do not confuse HP 65 with the old HP 63 or with HP 67. They look alike, but they will not fit the DeskJet 2600. The exception is HP's new combined HP 63/65 cartridge, sold since July 2026, which HP says works in every printer that took HP 63 or HP 65.

How to Replace Ink in the HP DeskJet 2600

1. Turn the printer on and open the ink cartridge access door (lift the scanner lid area and pull the front door down). Wait for the carriage to move to the center and stop.
2. Press down lightly on the cartridge you are replacing to release it, then pull it out toward you. The tri-color cartridge sits on the left, black on the right.
3. Take the new cartridge out of its packaging and pull off the plastic tape by its pink or orange tab. Do not touch the copper contacts or the ink nozzles.
4. Slide the cartridge into its slot at a slight upward angle, nozzles facing the printer, and push it forward until it snaps into place.
5. Close the access door. The printer may print an alignment page — scan it if the control panel or HP Smart app asks you to.

Troubleshooting Tips

"Cartridge problem" or "incompatible cartridge": Check the cartridge number first — it is the most common cause. Then remove the cartridge, wipe the copper contacts with a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water, let them dry, and reseat it firmly.

Streaks or missing colors: Run "Clean Printheads" from the HP Smart app or the printer's Tools menu. The printhead is built into each cartridge on this printer, so if one cleaning cycle does not fix it, the cartridge itself is the likely culprit.

Low-ink warning on a brand-new printer: The cartridges that ship in the box are lower-yield setup cartridges. That early warning is normal — it is not a fault.

What DeskJet 2600 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.

HP now sells "HP 63/65" cartridges. Will they fit my DeskJet 2600?

Yes. HP says the merged HP 63/65 line works in every printer that previously took HP 63 or HP 65, with no hardware change. Only old cartridges labelled plain HP 63 (made for the DeskJet 1110/3630 and OfficeJet 3830) won't fit.

Do my HP 65 cartridges still work now that HP renamed the line?

Yes. HP says existing printers keep working. The old HP 65 part numbers are being phased out as HP 63/65 replaces them, but the cartridges themselves still fit.

Will remanufactured cartridges work?

HP says the printer works with cartridges that have new or reused HP circuitry, so remanufactured cartridges on original HP chips, like ours, are supported. Cartridges with non-HP chips can be blocked.

Can it print two-sided automatically?

No. Two-sided printing is manual: the driver prompts you to flip and reload the pages.

What paper sizes does it take?

HP lists custom sizes from 3 x 5 in up to 8.5 x 14 in, so legal paper is fine.

DeskJet 2600 quirks worth knowing

• Since the July 2026 merger, the DeskJet 2600 shares HP's own cartridges with the DeskJet 1110/3630 and OfficeJet 3830 families, which used to take the separate HP 63.
• HP has not said whether the merged HP 63/65 cartridges change how the chip is checked. Remanufacturers are watching this closely.
• An Adorama reviewer noted some stores carry no XL version of the new HP 63/65 tri-color, even though HP's explainer lists an HP 63/65XL Tri-Color.
• The 2600 predates HP+, so there is no HP+ ink lock. HP still says it works only with cartridges that have new or reused HP electronic circuitry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print with only one cartridge in the DeskJet 2600?
Yes. HP's single-cartridge mode lets the printer keep printing with only the black or only the tri-color cartridge installed, but printing is slower and quality drops. Replace the empty cartridge as soon as you can.

Does using remanufactured HP 65XL cartridges void my warranty?
No. Under the U.S. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, HP cannot void your printer warranty only because you used compatible or remanufactured cartridges.

How are these page yields measured?
They are approximate figures based on HP's ISO/IEC 24711 testing. Real results depend on what and how often you print.

Other printers that use HP 65

HP Envy 5000 · HP Envy 5055 · HP Envy 5052 · HP DeskJet 2652 · HP DeskJet 2655 · HP Deskjet 3755 · HP DeskJet 3752 · HP DeskJet 3772

More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · HP DeskJet 4100 · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

• Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
• HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw (laser) — CastleScore 82
• HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e — CastleScore 79

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on October 7, 2026 and will change over time.

• HP DeskJet 2655 product page (specs, cartridge rules)
• HP explainer: the HP 63/65 and HP 61 cartridge changes
• Adorama: HP 63/65 tri-color (B7RT2AN)
• The Recycler: HP explains its ink cartridge consolidation