How to Check Ink Levels on HP Officejet 4620

To check ink levels on the HP Officejet 4620, press the Setup button (the wrench icon) from the Home screen on the printer, select Ink Information, and then select Estimated Ink Levels. The display shows a gauge for each cartridge. You do not need a computer for this method.

You can also read the same estimate on a printed Printer Status Report, in HP software on a Windows PC or Mac, or on the printer’s built-in web page. The steps below follow HP’s Officejet 4610/4620 user guide and HP’s current support article on checking HP printer ink levels.

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Before You Start

• Which printers this covers: the HP Officejet 4620 e-All-in-One series. HP’s user guide also covers the Officejet 4610, which has the same control panel menus but no wireless features.
• What you will see: an estimate, not a measurement. HP states that ink level alerts and indicators provide estimates for planning purposes only.
• For the control panel methods: the printer only needs to be turned on.
• For the computer methods: the printer must already be installed on that computer. HP Printer Assistant is only present on Windows if you installed HP’s full software package, not just a basic driver.
• For the web page method: the Officejet 4620 must be connected to your network. If it is not yet, see how to set up the HP Officejet 4620 on a wireless network.

Checking ink levels does not change any setting on the printer, so there is nothing to undo afterward.

How to Check Ink Levels on the Officejet 4620 Control Panel

This is the method HP documents first for this printer, and it works even when no computer is connected. The Officejet 4620 does not have a touchscreen. You choose menu items with the row of buttons to the right of the display.

1. Press the Home button so the printer shows its Home screen. HP’s steps start from this screen.
2. Press the Setup button. It is marked with a wrench icon. HP describes it as the button that opens the Setup menu for reports and maintenance settings.
3. Use the buttons on the right of the display to select Ink Information. If you do not see it, scroll through the menu.
4. Select Estimated Ink Levels.
5. Read the gauge for each cartridge. A shorter bar means less estimated ink for that color.

When you are done, press the Back button to return to the previous menu, or press Home to go straight back to the Home screen. Nothing is saved or changed by viewing this screen.

How to Print a Printer Status Report

A Printer Status Report is a printed page of information about the printer. It is useful when you want a paper record, or when you also need the cartridge part numbers before buying ink. Load plain paper in the tray first.

1. From the Home screen, press the Setup button.
2. Use the buttons on the right to scroll to and select Reports.
3. Select Printer Status Report. The printer prints the report.
4. Find the section named Ink Delivery System Information. HP’s guide lists it as the second section of the report.

According to HP, that section shows the estimated ink levels as gauges, along with the part numbers and warranty expiration dates for the installed cartridges. The first section lists printer details such as the model number, serial number and firmware version, which HP support may ask for if you ever call.

How to Check Officejet 4620 Ink Levels From a Windows Computer

On Windows, the ink gauge is part of HP Printer Assistant. This is HP’s printer management program for Windows. It is installed with the full feature software, and HP says it appears on the desktop and in the Start menu under the name of your printer model rather than under the name HP Printer Assistant.

1. Make sure the printer is turned on and connected to the computer or network.
2. Click the Windows search box or the Start button, and type the name of your printer, such as HP Officejet 4620.
3. Select the printer in the results. HP Printer Assistant opens. You can also double-click the printer’s icon on the Windows desktop if one is there.
4. Look at the menu bar across the top of the window and click Estimated Ink Levels. HP’s current support article calls this item Estimated Levels, so the wording depends on your software version.
5. Read the gauge shown for each cartridge.

The screenshots above come from an older version of the HP software, so your window may look a little different. On older versions of Windows, you can reach the same program by opening Devices and Printers from the Start menu, double-clicking the HP Officejet 4620 icon, and then double-clicking HP Printer Assistant.

HP’s user guide for this printer also describes a program called the Toolbox, which provides maintenance information. To open it from the HP software window, select Print, Scan & Fax, and then select Maintain Your Printer under Print.

For other brands, or if you would rather use Windows’ own tools, see our guide on how to check printer ink levels in Windows 11.

If HP Printer Assistant Is Not Installed

If searching for your printer’s name finds nothing, the full software is probably not on the computer. HP’s HP Printer Assistant FAQ says to download the full feature software for your printer model from HP’s Software and Driver Downloads page. You can reach the downloads and manuals for this model from HP’s Officejet 4620 support page.

The Officejet 4620 is an older printer. HP’s download page decides which software it offers for your version of Windows, and this guide cannot confirm that the full feature package is offered for every current version. If it is not, use the control panel or the status report instead. Both work without any software.

How to Check Officejet 4620 Ink Levels on a Mac

HP Printer Assistant is not available for Mac computers. HP’s current support article gives this route through the Mac’s own printer settings instead.

1. Click the Spotlight icon, then search for and open Printers & Scanners.
2. Select your Officejet 4620 in the list of printers.
3. Click Options & Supplies.
4. Click the Supply Levels tab and read the level for each cartridge.

The printer’s original user guide describes a second tool called HP Utility. HP says its icon is in the Hewlett-Packard folder inside the Applications folder. That guide was written for much older versions of Mac OS X, so HP Utility may not be on your Mac. If you do not see a Supply Levels tab either, check the levels on the printer itself.

How to Check Ink Levels From the Printer’s Web Page

The Officejet 4620 has an embedded web server, often shortened to EWS. This is a small set of web pages stored inside the printer that you open in a browser to see its status and settings. HP says it is available when the printer is connected to a network, and that it works without an Internet connection, although some features are then unavailable. The Officejet 4610 does not have it.

1. On the printer, press the Wireless button.
2. Use the buttons on the right to scroll to and select View Wireless Summary. Write down the IP address that is shown. It is a set of four numbers separated by periods.
3. On a computer connected to the same network, open a web browser and type that IP address into the address bar, then press Enter.
4. When the printer’s home page opens, click the Tools tab.
5. Under Product Information, click Ink Gauge.

HP’s guide names the Ink Gauge page as one of the places to find your cartridge numbers. HP also suggests bookmarking the printer’s page so you can return to it quickly. If you need other ways to find the address, see how to find a printer’s IP address.

HP’s support article also lists the HP app as a general way to see estimated supply levels next to the printer image. HP’s instructions do not say which older models the app supports, so treat it as an option to try and not a sure thing for the Officejet 4620.

What the Ink Level Estimates Mean

The printer does not weigh or measure the ink. HP’s support article says the levels shown in its software are estimates calculated from usage. That is why HP repeats the same advice wherever the gauge appears: use it for planning.

• A low-ink alert is not a stop sign. HP says to consider having a replacement cartridge available when you see one, and that you do not have to replace the cartridges until the print quality is unacceptable.
• Some ink is used for maintenance. HP notes that ink is used during initialization and printhead servicing, and that some residual ink is left in a cartridge after it is used.
• Refilled cartridges confuse the gauge. HP says the indicator might be inaccurate or unavailable with a refilled or remanufactured cartridge, or one that has been used in another printer.

Before you act on a low reading, keep two of HP’s cautions in mind. Wait until you have the new cartridge in hand before you remove the old one. And do not leave an ink cartridge outside the printer for an extended period, because HP warns this can damage both the printer and the cartridge.

Which Ink Does the Officejet 4620 Use?

HP says to buy only replacement cartridges with the same cartridge number as the one you are replacing. Its user guide lists four places to find that number: the Ink Gauge page in the embedded web server, the Printer Status Report, the label on the cartridge you are replacing, and a sticker inside the printer. HP also notes that not all cartridges are available in all countries or regions.

In the United States, the cartridges sold for this printer are HP 564. Confirm the number on your own cartridge label or status report before you order, since this guide could not confirm it against a current HP page.

If you need ink for this printer, you can order HP 564XL black ink from Amazon. The color cartridges are available as an HP 564 color 3-pack.

Troubleshooting

• You cannot find Ink Information on the printer: press Home first, then Setup. HP notes that the Setup button opens different settings when you press it from the Copy, Fax or Scan menus.
• There is no ink level item in HP Printer Assistant: HP says that if you do not see this feature in the menu bar, you should try one of the other methods. The control panel is the most dependable.
• HP Printer Assistant shows Connect a new printer: HP says this can happen after a Windows upgrade. Click Connect a new printer and follow the prompts to set up the connection again. HP adds that reinstalling the HP software is sometimes required.
• The computer says it cannot communicate with the printer: check that the printer is turned on, that its cables are firmly connected, and that the wireless connection has not dropped. These are the causes HP lists for that message.
• The printer’s web page does not open: confirm that the printer is on the network and that you typed the IP address from the Wireless Summary exactly. The address can change, so read it again from the printer.
• A gauge is blank or looks wrong: this is expected with a refilled, remanufactured or previously used cartridge. Judge by the printed page instead.
• Prints are faded but the gauge shows ink: HP says a drop in quality can come from a depleted cartridge or from a clogged printhead. The Toolbox has a Clean Printheads option on its Device Services tab. HP warns not to clean the printhead unnecessarily, because cleaning uses ink and shortens the life of the cartridges.
• A Cartridge Problem message appears: HP’s first two fixes are to turn the printer off and on, and then to reseat the cartridge. Open the ink cartridge access door, push the cartridge in to release it, pull it out, and press it firmly back into its slot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check Officejet 4620 ink levels without a computer?

Yes. From the Home screen on the printer, press the Setup button, select Ink Information, and then select Estimated Ink Levels. You can also select Reports and then Printer Status Report from the same Setup menu to print the levels on paper.

How accurate are the ink levels on the Officejet 4620?

They are estimates. HP says ink level alerts and indicators are for planning purposes only, and that the levels in its software are calculated from usage. They are less reliable with refilled, remanufactured or previously used cartridges.

Do I have to replace a cartridge when the printer says it is low on ink?

No. HP says you do not need to replace cartridges until print quality becomes unacceptable. A low-ink message is a reminder to have a replacement ready so a print job is not delayed.

Where is the Setup button on the Officejet 4620?

It is one of the buttons on the printer’s control panel and is marked with a wrench icon. Pressing it from the Home screen opens the Setup menu, which contains Ink Information and Reports.

Why is there no HP Printer Assistant on my computer?

HP Printer Assistant is only installed with HP’s full feature software for Windows. It is listed under your printer’s model name, so search for that name first. It is not made for Mac computers, where you use Printers & Scanners instead.

Does the Officejet 4610 work the same way?

The control panel steps and the Printer Status Report are the same, because HP covers both models in one user guide. The embedded web server and the Wireless button are only on the Officejet 4620 series.

Next Steps

If a cartridge is running low, note its number from the cartridge label or the status report and have a replacement ready before a large print job. If you own a different HP model, see how to check ink levels on the HP Photosmart 6510.

Want to print from your phone? See how to print to the OfficeJet 4620 from an iPhone.