What Ink Does the HP DeskJet 3630 Use?
Last Updated:Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said HP 63XL prints roughly 2x more black pages and 2.5x more color pages than the standard cartridges. It is the other way round: about 2.5x for black and about 2x for color.
Quick answer: The HP DeskJet 3630 series (3630, 3631, 3632, 3633, 3634, 3635, 3636, 3637, 3638) uses HP 63 Black and HP 63 Tri-color ink cartridges. For a much lower cost per page, choose the HP 63XL high-yield versions, which print roughly 2.5x more black pages and 2x more color pages than the standard cartridges. HP is now replacing HP 63 with a merged HP 63/65 line that fits the same printers.
2026 change: HP has merged HP 63 and HP 65 into a single HP 63/65 cartridge line and is phasing out the old HP 63. HP says the new cartridges work in every printer that took HP 63, including the DeskJet 3630, but they are rated for fewer pages: about 300 for the new high-yield black and 100 for the new tri-color.
CastleScore · October 2026
78/100 — Recommended
HP DeskJet 3630
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 80 | 4.10★ average across 387 ratings at Amazon (4.1) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 81 | About 5.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 63XL (430 / 300 pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 90 | No recurring hardware or connection complaints in owner reviews. |
| Features (12%) | 56 | Print, copy, scan, Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 80 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Discontinued. HP's product page lists the DeskJet 3630 as discontinued and points to the DeskJet 3755 as the newer model.
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
HP 63XL 2-packF6U64AN + F6U63AN
HP 63XL BlackF6U64AN · ~430 pages
HP 63XL Tri-colorF6U63AN · ~300 pages
HP 63XL 2-pack
HP 63XL Black
HP 63XL Tri-colorOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
HP DeskJet 3630 Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Part Number | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| HP 63 Black (standard) | F6U62AN | ~170 pages |
| HP 63 Tri-color (standard) | F6U61AN | ~150 pages |
| HP 63XL Black (high-yield) | F6U64AN | ~430 pages |
| HP 63XL Tri-color (high-yield) | F6U63AN | ~300 pages |
| HP 63/65XL Black (new line) | B7RT5AN | ~300 pages |
| HP 63/65 Tri-color (new line) | B7RT2AN | ~100 pages |
The HP DeskJet 3630 takes one black and one tri-color cartridge at a time. You can mix yields — for example, an XL black with a standard tri-color — but for most households the matched HP 63XL pair gives the best cost per page.
How to Replace Ink in the HP DeskJet 3630
- Make sure the printer is turned on and the paper tray has paper loaded. Open the front access door — the cartridge carriage will slide to the center and stop.
- Press down gently on the front of the cartridge you want to replace, then pull it up and out of its slot. The black cartridge sits in the right slot; the tri-color sits on the left.
- Remove the new cartridge from its packaging and pull the orange plastic tab to remove the protective tape. Do not touch the copper contacts or the ink nozzles.
- Slide the new cartridge into its slot at a slight upward angle, then press down until it clicks into place.
- Close the access door. The printer will run a short alignment routine — print the alignment page when prompted and follow the on-screen instructions in HP Smart.
Troubleshooting Tips
"Cartridge not detected" or "Incompatible cartridge" error: Power the printer off, remove the cartridge, wipe the copper contacts gently with a dry lint-free cloth, reseat firmly until it clicks, then power back on. If the message persists, remove and reinstall both cartridges to reset the connection.
Streaky, faded, or missing colors: Run the printer's built-in cleaning cycle from HP Smart (Printer Settings → Maintenance → Clean Cartridges). Two cleaning cycles usually clears clogged nozzles. If streaks remain after three cleanings, the cartridge is likely empty or the nozzles are permanently dry.
Alignment page prints blank: Check that you removed the protective tape from the new cartridge. Re-seat the cartridge and try the alignment again from Printer Settings → Maintenance → Align Cartridges.
Printer rejects a cartridge after a firmware update: The 3630 is not an HP+ printer and isn't on HP's published dynamic-security model list, but HP updates have blocked cartridges with non-HP chips on other models. Our remanufactured HP 63XL cartridges reuse the original HP chip. If one of ours is rejected, contact Castle Ink support at 917-364-6232 and we'll help you get printing again.
What DeskJet 3630 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.
Do the new HP 63/65 cartridges fit the DeskJet 3630?
Yes. HP says HP 63/65 works in every printer that used HP 63, with no new printer or settings change needed. Expect fewer pages per cartridge than the old 63XL.
Is there a high-yield color cartridge in the new 63/65 line?
No. HP's new line has a 63/65XL black but no XL tri-color, and the 63/65 tri-color is rated about 100 pages. Legacy 63XL tri-color is rated about 300.
Can it print two-sided automatically?
No. Two-sided printing is manual: the printer prints one side and you flip the stack when prompted.
I bought my 3630 in the UK. Why don't HP 63 cartridges fit?
In the UK and Europe the same printer takes HP 302 cartridges instead of HP 63. Buy cartridges for the region where the printer was sold.
What replaced the DeskJet 3630?
HP's product page for the 3630 points to the DeskJet 3755 All-in-One as the newer model.
DeskJet 3630 quirks worth knowing
- It has a Quiet Mode that cuts noise noticeably, at the cost of speed.
- HP recommends only about 250 pages a month. The input tray holds 60 sheets and the output tray 25.
- Under ISO testing it prints about 8.5 pages per minute in black and 6 in color. The "up to 20 ppm" figure is draft mode.
- When any one color in the tri-color cartridge runs out, the whole cartridge has to be replaced, which reviewers flagged as a running-cost problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which HP DeskJet 3630 models use HP 63 ink?
Every printer in the 3630 family uses HP 63 / 63XL, including the DeskJet 3630, 3631, 3632, 3633, 3634, 3635, 3636, 3637, and 3638 all-in-one models.
Can I use HP 63XL in an HP DeskJet 3630 if it shipped with standard HP 63 setup cartridges?
Yes. The DeskJet 3630 accepts both HP 63 standard and HP 63XL high-yield cartridges interchangeably. The XL versions are the same physical size — they just hold more ink.
Will compatible HP 63XL cartridges void my HP DeskJet 3630 warranty?
No. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in the United States, using third-party ink does not void your printer warranty. HP can only deny warranty coverage if the third-party cartridge directly caused a specific failure.
Which other HP printers use HP 63 ink?
The HP 63 / 63XL family is also used by the HP Envy 4520, OfficeJet 4650, OfficeJet 3830, OfficeJet 4655, and Envy 4516.
Why does my HP DeskJet 3630 keep saying low ink right after I install a new cartridge?
HP's ink-level estimator is based on usage telemetry, not a physical ink gauge. After installing a new cartridge, the estimator can take a few print jobs to recalibrate. Ignore the warning unless print quality actually degrades.
Other printers that use HP 63
HP Envy 4520 · HP OfficeJet 4650 · HP OfficeJet 5255 · HP DeskJet 1112 · HP OfficeJet 3833 · HP OfficeJet 5258 · HP OfficeJet 4655 · HP Envy 4512
More HP ink guides: HP OfficeJet 3830 · HP Envy 5000 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 · 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 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.