What Ink Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8630 Use?

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Shopping for this printer? See all HP 950 & 951 Ink Cartridges – 950XL & 951XL → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.

Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet Pro 8630 uses four cartridges: HP 950 black plus HP 951 cyan, magenta and yellow, or the high-yield 950XL/951XL versions (about 2,300 black and 1,500 color pages). Castle Ink's remanufactured 950XL black is $17.95, 951XL colors are $14.95 each, and the 950XL/951XL 4-pack is $59.95.

CastleScore · October 2026

81/100 — Highly Recommended

HP OfficeJet Pro 8630

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 74 3.80★ average across 575 ratings at Amazon (3.8)
Expert reviews (18%) 80 PCMag 4.0/5
Cost per page (24%) 86 About 1.7¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured 950XL (2,300 pages) and 951XL (1,500 pages). Docked because the printer can reject cartridges without the maker's chip.
Reliability (13%) 80 Most-reported problems: 'Printhead missing, not detected or improperly installed' errors that survive power resets; false paper-jam errors caused by a faulty cleaning-station return spring; printhead error 0xc19a00 with the carriage stuck on the right side
Features (12%) 92 Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm).
Value (5%) 80 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Discontinued. HP no longer sells the 8630 new and points buyers to the OfficeJet Pro 8035e. HP still lists 950 and 951 supplies for it.

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 11, 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.

What Ink Cartridges Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8630 Use?

Cartridge Color Approx. yield Castle Ink
HP 950 / 951 (standard) Black / C / M / Y ~1,000 black, ~700 color Upgrade to XL
HP 950XL (CN045AN) Black ~2,300 pages 950XL black, $17.95
HP 951XL (CN046AN) Cyan ~1,500 pages 951XL cyan, $14.95
HP 951XL (CN047AN) Magenta ~1,500 pages 951XL magenta, $14.95
HP 951XL (CN048AN) Yellow ~1,500 pages 951XL yellow, $14.95
950XL/951XL 4-pack K/C/M/Y One of each 4-pack, $59.95

Yields are the manufacturer's ISO estimates at about 5% coverage; photos and heavy graphics use more ink. Castle Ink prices checked September 2026.

Which Printers Use the Same Ink as the OfficeJet Pro 8630?

HP 950/951 cartridges fit a whole generation of OfficeJet Pro printers: the 8100, 8600, 8600 Plus, 8610, 8615, 8620, 8625, 8630, 8640 and 8660, plus the OfficeJet Pro 251dw and 276dw. See what HP printers use 950 and 951 ink. Look up any model in our find ink by printer directory.

What Is the Cheapest Ink for the OfficeJet Pro 8630?

Remanufactured 950XL/951XL cartridges are the cheapest reliable option, and this family has some of the biggest savings anywhere. Original HP 950XL and 951XL cartridges are still sold, though several were backordered at one large reseller when we checked in October 2026. In our August 2026 Printer Ink Price Index, retail prices were about $72 for a 950XL black and $52 per 951XL color. Castle Ink's remanufactured 950XL is $17.95 and 951XL colors are $14.95, roughly 75% less, which works out to under 1 cent per black page.

Should I Buy HP 950/951 or 950XL/951XL?

XL, almost always. The 950XL black prints over twice as many pages as the standard 950, and 951XL colors about twice as many as standard 951s, for a much lower cost per page. These printers are built for office volumes, so XL cartridges rarely sit long enough to dry out.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the HP OfficeJet Pro 8630?

  1. Turn the printer on and open the ink cartridge access door; wait for the carriage to move to the center and stop.
  2. Press the front of the empty cartridge to release it and pull it out.
  3. Unwrap the new cartridge, holding it by the sides (don't touch the contacts), and slide it into its color-coded slot until it clicks.
  4. Close the access door. The 950/951 system uses a separate printhead that you can remove and reseat, so the printer may run a short priming or alignment routine.

Will Remanufactured Ink Work in the OfficeJet Pro 8630?

Yes, if they keep the original HP chip. Our remanufactured 950XL and 951XL cartridges are rebuilt from original HP cartridges, chip included. That matters on the 8630: it has HP dynamic security, and HP's September 2016 firmware made it reject cartridges with cloned, non-HP chips as "damaged". HP later offered optional firmware that removed the check for this family, so how your printer behaves depends on the firmware it runs. Turning off automatic firmware updates is sensible, but it won't make a cartridge with a cloned chip safe. And if the printer is enrolled in HP Instant Ink, it only accepts subscription cartridges until you cancel. See how to stop HP firmware updates from blocking your ink. Using third-party ink does not void your warranty, though HP won't cover damage it attributes to that ink (here's why).

Why Does My OfficeJet Pro 8630 Say the Cartridge Isn't Recognized?

Remove the cartridge, make sure all protective tape and caps are off, wipe the chip or copper contacts gently with a dry lint-free cloth, and reinstall until it clicks. Confirm the part number matches this printer, then restart. If the printer says the cartridge appears damaged and it carries a cloned, non-HP chip, HP's dynamic security may be rejecting it. Cartridges that keep the original HP chip avoid this. Full steps: ink cartridge not recognized.

How Do I Fix Streaky or Faded Prints on the OfficeJet Pro 8630?

Open HP Smart (or the printer's Tools/Printer Maintenance menu) and run Clean Printhead, then print a quality report. One or two cycles usually clear minor clogs. See faded or streaky prints.

What Are the HP OfficeJet Pro 8630's Key Features?

The OfficeJet Pro 8630 is a small-business 4-in-1 (print, scan, copy, fax) with automatic two-sided printing, a 50-sheet automatic document feeder that HP says scans both sides, a 4.3-inch color touchscreen, two 250-sheet paper trays, Wi-Fi, wired Ethernet, USB and NFC touch-to-print.

Is the OfficeJet Pro 8630 Still Worth Using in 2026?

Usually, yes. These OfficeJet Pro models are durable, and 950/951 cartridges are cheap in remanufactured form. The one weak point is the separate printhead: if you see "Printhead Missing or Failed" and reseating it doesn't help, replacing the printhead often costs about as much as a new printer. Compare current models in our printer buying guide, or take the ~60-second PrinterIQ Finder quiz.

For drivers and the manual, visit the HP OfficeJet Pro 8630 support page.

HP OfficeJet Pro 8630 Ink FAQs

What ink does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8630 use?

HP 950 black and HP 951 cyan, magenta and yellow cartridges, or the high-yield 950XL and 951XL versions.

Can I mix HP 950 and 951XL cartridges?

Yes. Standard and XL cartridges fit the same slots, so you can mix sizes freely.

Why does my printer say "Printhead Problem" after changing ink?

HP support's steps: open the cartridge access door, unplug the printer, lift the carriage latch, lift the printhead slightly, then push it back in while rocking it gently and close the latch. HP says to repeat this up to three times. If the error persists, the printhead may need replacing.

Will HP 952 or 902 cartridges fit?

No. Those belong to newer OfficeJet Pro models and won't fit the 950/951 series.

Can I print with a color cartridge empty?

No. All four cartridges must contain ink for the printer to work.

Are remanufactured cartridges safe for the OfficeJet Pro 8630?

Yes, if they keep the original HP chip, as ours do. Cartridges with cloned, non-HP chips can be rejected by the 8630's dynamic security. See are compatible ink cartridges safe?

Need help choosing? Contact us with your printer model. Orders placed by 4 PM ET Monday–Friday ship the same day, with free shipping over $50.

What OfficeJet Pro 8630 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.

Does the 8630 scan both sides of a page automatically?

Yes. HP markets automatic two-sided scanning through its 50-sheet document feeder. The cheaper OfficeJet Pro 8610 can't do this.

How much paper does it hold?

Two 250-sheet trays come standard, so 500 sheets in all, with a 150-sheet output tray. It takes paper up to legal size (8.5 x 14 in).

It reports a paper jam, but there is no paper stuck.

A known cause on this chassis is a worn return spring in the cleaning station. iFixit has a repair guide for replacing it.

My non-HP cartridges suddenly say they are damaged. What happened?

The 8630 was one of the printers hit by HP's September 2016 firmware, which began rejecting cartridges with cloned, non-HP chips. Cartridges that reuse the original HP chip, like our remanufactured 950XL and 951XL, are not affected.

What replaced the 8630?

HP's page for the discontinued 8630 points buyers to the OfficeJet Pro 8035e. It takes HP 910 cartridges, so leftover 950 and 951 cartridges won't carry over.

OfficeJet Pro 8630 quirks worth knowing

  • HP lists NFC touch-to-print as a feature of the 8630, along with wireless direct printing and two phone (RJ-11) ports for sharing the fax line with a phone.
  • Two-sided printing is much slower than one-sided: HP rates it at up to 10 pages per minute black and 9 color, against 21 and 16.5 (ISO) single-sided.
  • HP rates it for up to 30,000 pages a month but recommends 250 to 1,500.
  • It is an "e-All-in-One" from before HP+, so there is no HP+ lifetime lock to Original HP ink. HP dynamic security is the only cartridge check.

Other printers that use HP 950 and HP 951

HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8615 · HP OfficeJet Pro 8625

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 11, 2026 and will change over time.

Need replacement HP 950 & 951 Ink Cartridges – 950XL & 951XL? Shop HP 950 & 951 Ink Cartridges – 950XL & 951XL 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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