HP DeskJet 3630: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the HP DeskJet 3630 right for you?

The DeskJet 3630 series is a decade old now but still turns up constantly in support forums because it was sold everywhere at a very low price. It predates HP+ entirely, so it accepts refilled HP 63 cartridges and never phones home. Its age shows in the single-band Wi-Fi and the HP Smart app occasionally dropping support for older setup paths, so owners increasingly connect it by USB or keep it on a static address.

Best for: Owners keeping an older budget printer running with refilled ink

Setting up the HP DeskJet 3630

HP Smart still supports the 3630, but the legacy HP Printer Assistant software is often easier on older Windows PCs. Connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only; the printer cannot see 5 GHz networks at all. If the icon display shows E3, open the door and free the carriage; E4 means a jam, usually in the rear cleanout area.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use HP's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The HP DeskJet 3630 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• HP 63 Black
• HP 63 Tri-color
• HP 63XL high-yield
• HP 302 (UK/EU)

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications