By Russow Senz on April 23, 2025
Beginner

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 is a versatile and powerful all-in-one printer that offers fast printing, scanning, copying, and faxing, making it a great choice for both home offices and small businesses. To ensure that your printer works efficiently and remains compatible with the latest technology, it is important to regularly update the printer driver.

A printer driver acts as the middleman between your computer and the printer, translating the print job data into a format that the printer can understand. Updating your printer driver not only ensures that your printer functions at its best but also fixes any bugs, provides security patches, and enables compatibility with the latest operating systems. This article will guide you through the process of updating your HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 printer driver on both Windows and macOS operating systems.

Why Should You Update Your HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Printer Driver?

Before diving into the process of updating your printer driver, it’s important to understand why it’s necessary. Updating your printer driver brings several advantages:

1. Improved Performance

Printer manufacturers, like HP, release driver updates that often contain performance enhancements. These updates may help increase the speed of printing, reduce delays, and fix any issues that may be affecting the print quality.

2. Bug Fixes

Like all software, printer drivers can have bugs or compatibility issues. Sometimes, an outdated printer driver may cause problems such as print jobs being queued but not printed, print quality issues, or even the printer not responding at all. By updating the driver, these bugs are often fixed, improving the overall reliability of your printer.

3. New Features and Functionality

Printer drivers are regularly updated to provide new features or functionality, such as additional printing modes, improved mobile printing options, and support for new types of documents. These updates also make it easier to integrate the printer with other hardware or software in your home or office setup.

4. Operating System Compatibility

Each time there is an update to an operating system (OS), such as Windows or macOS, compatibility issues may arise. An updated printer driver ensures that your HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 works smoothly with the latest versions of Windows or macOS, preventing any problems that may otherwise occur.

5. Security Enhancements

Older printer drivers can contain security vulnerabilities that make your printer susceptible to potential attacks or malware. By updating your printer driver, you ensure that your device is secure from cyber threats.

Methods to Update the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Printer Driver

There are several methods you can use to update the printer driver for the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620, including manual downloads from the HP website, using automatic update tools like HP Support Assistant, or even updating through your computer’s operating system. Below, we’ll walk you through each method for both Windows and macOS users.

Method 1: Updating Driver Manually Using the HP Website (Recommended)

The most reliable way to update your HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 printer driver is by downloading it directly from the HP Support website. This method ensures that you get the latest driver, which is specifically designed for your printer and operating system.

For Windows Users:

  1. Open Your Web Browser
  2. Launch your preferred web browser on your Windows computer.
  3. Go to the HP Support Website
  4. Type HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 into the search bar or visit the HP Support website directly. You will find a list of product support pages.
  5. Select Your Printer Model
  6. Click on the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 to navigate to its support page.
  7. Choose Your Operating System
  8. The website will prompt you to select the version of Windows you are using (e.g., Windows 10, Windows 11). Select the correct version from the dropdown menu.
  9. Download the Latest Printer Driver
  10. Under the Drivers & Downloads section, you will find the latest printer driver for your system. Click the Download button to start downloading the driver.
  11. Install the Driver
  12. Once the file is downloaded, go to your Downloads folder and double-click the file to begin the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.
  13. Restart Your Computer
  14. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure that the driver is applied successfully.

For macOS Users:

  1. Open Your Web Browser
  2. Open the browser of your choice on your macOS computer.
  3. Navigate to HP Support
  4. Type HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 in the search bar or visit the HP Support website.
  5. Select Your Printer Model
  6. Click on the correct printer model from the search results to go to the product page.
  7. Choose macOS as Your Operating System
  8. From the dropdown menu, select macOS and ensure that you choose the appropriate version of macOS (e.g., macOS Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, etc.).
  9. Download the Latest Driver
  10. Under the Drivers & Downloads section, locate and download the latest printer driver that is compatible with your macOS version.
  11. Install the Driver
  12. Once the download is complete, open the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.
  13. Restart Your Mac
  14. Restart your Mac to ensure that the new driver is fully installed and applied.

Method 2: Using HP Support Assistant (Windows Only)

HP Support Assistant is a free tool offered by HP that helps keep your HP devices, including printers, up to date. It automatically detects and installs updates for your HP printer.

Steps to Update Your Driver Using HP Support Assistant:

  1. Download and Install HP Support Assistant
  2. If you haven’t installed HP Support Assistant, visit the HP website to download and install it.
  3. Open HP Support Assistant
  4. After installation, open HP Support Assistant by searching for it in your Start Menu.
  5. Check for Updates
  6. Once the software is open, it will automatically scan your system for any available updates for your printer. If there is a printer driver update, it will be listed under the Updates section.
  7. Install the Update
  8. Click Install next to the available driver update, and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
  9. Restart Your Computer
  10. After the update is installed, restart your computer to finalize the update.

Method 3: Using Device Manager (Windows Only)

Device Manager allows you to manually update drivers through Windows. It is another effective method to ensure that you have the latest driver for your printer.

Steps to Update Driver Using Device Manager:

  1. Open Device Manager
  2. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
  3. Find Your Printer
  4. In Device Manager, expand the Printers section and locate your HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 printer.
  5. Update the Driver
  6. Right-click on the printer and select Update Driver.
  7. Search for Updated Driver
  8. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will search for any available updates and install them automatically.
  9. Restart Your Computer
  10. Once the driver is updated, restart your computer to complete the process.

Method 4: Updating on macOS Using Apple Software Update

Apple has built-in support for updating drivers through the Software Update feature in macOS.

  1. Check for Updates
  2. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Preferences.
  3. Go to Software Update
  4. In the System Preferences window, click on Software Update.
  5. Install Updates
  6. If there is a printer driver update available, it will appear here. Click on Update Now to install the latest driver.
  7. Restart Your Mac
  8. After the update is installed, restart your Mac to complete the update.

Method 5: Using HP Smart App (Windows and macOS)

HP Smart is an app available for both Windows and macOS that makes it easy to manage your printer and check for updates.

Steps to Update Your Driver Using HP Smart:

  1. Download and Install HP Smart
  2. Download and install the HP Smart app from the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store.
  3. Open HP Smart
  4. Launch the app and add your HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 printer by following the on-screen instructions.
  5. Check for Updates
  6. In the app, go to the Settings section and select Check for Updates. If an update is available, it will be listed.
  7. Install the Update
  8. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the available driver update.
  9. Restart Your Computer
  10. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Troubleshooting Printer Driver Update Issues

While updating your printer driver is usually straightforward, you might encounter some issues. Here are some common troubleshooting tips:

1. Printer Not Recognized After Update

  1. Solution: Ensure that your printer is connected to your computer, either through a USB cable or Wi-Fi. If using Wi-Fi, ensure both the printer and computer are connected to the same network.

2. Installation Fails

  1. Solution: Try running the driver installation as an administrator. Right-click on the installer file and select Run as Administrator.

3. Print Quality Issues After Update

  1. Solution: Run a printer maintenance cycle such as printhead cleaning or alignment. This can often resolve print quality issues.

4. Printer Not Printing After Update

  1. Solution: Restart both the printer and the computer. Ensure the printer is set as the default device in your system settings.

Conclusion

Updating the driver for your HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 printer is crucial for ensuring it performs at its best. Whether you choose to manually download the driver from HP's official website, use HP Support Assistant, or utilize other update methods, keeping your printer’s driver up to date is essential for improved performance, bug fixes, and compatibility with new operating systems.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 continues to deliver high-quality prints and operates smoothly with the latest technology. If you encounter any issues during the update process, the troubleshooting tips provided can help resolve most problems efficiently. Regularly updating your printer driver ensures a seamless and efficient printing experience for all your office needs.


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