HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 Driver Setup and Installation

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 is part of HP’s 8600‑series business inkjets, built for higher page volumes, duplex printing, automatic document feeding, and reliable networking. When the driver is installed correctly, the 8610 works smoothly for printing, scanning, and faxing. When the driver is wrong or the network port drifts, you’ll see problems like “printer offline,” “driver unavailable,” or missing scan features. This guide walks you through choosing the right HP driver package, installing it on Windows or macOS, connecting the printer by Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, or USB, and tuning the setup so it stays stable over time.

Pick the Right Driver Package

HP offers two main options for the OfficeJet Pro 8610:

• Full Feature Software and Drivers: Best for most users. It includes HP scanning apps, fax utilities, ADF controls, ink monitoring, and maintenance tools.
• HP Smart / Basic Driver: A lighter install that still supports printing and simple scanning. Good for Chromebooks or a quick setup, but some advanced shortcuts may be missing.

Always download from HP’s official support site for the OfficeJet Pro 8610/8620/8630/8640/8660 series. Avoid third‑party driver sites, as they often bundle outdated or unsafe installers.

Before You Install

Do a quick prep to prevent setup loops:

• Confirm your Wi‑Fi password and that the network is not a guest SSID with client isolation.
• The printer prefers 2.4 GHz; if your router uses one name for both bands, connect your computer/phone to 2.4 GHz during setup.
• If the printer was used on a different network, reset its wireless settings from the control panel before starting.
• Temporarily disable VPNs and firewalls that may block printer discovery.

Connect the 8610 to Wi‑Fi

On the touchscreen, tap the Wireless icon, then Settings > Wireless Setup Wizard. Select your network name (SSID), enter the password, and confirm. When the Wi‑Fi light is steady, print a Network Configuration Page fromSetup to record the IP address. If you can’t find your SSID, move the printer closer to the router and make sure your router is broadcasting 2.4 GHz.

If you need a fresh start, open Settings > Wireless > Restore Network Defaults. Reboot the printer and run the wizard again.

Ethernet or USB Setup

For offices, Ethernet is the most reliable. Plug the cable into the printer and router/switch; the printer will obtain an IP automatically. Reserve that IP in your router so the Windows port never changes. USB is best for a single computer or troubleshooting. Use a direct connection to a main USB port on the PC, not a hub.

Install Drivers on Windows

Run the HP Full Feature installer or HP Smart. Choose your connection method and let the installer detect the printer. If detection fails on Wi‑Fi, connect USB temporarily so the installer can push credentials, then remove the cable once connected. After installation:

• Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
• Select HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 series and print a test page.
• Set the printer as default if you use multiple devices.

Install Drivers on macOS

Download HP Easy Start or HP Smart for macOS, then follow the prompts. When adding the printer in System Settings > Printers & Scanners, choose the HP driver (not AirPrint‑only) to enable maintenance and scan shortcuts. If the printer doesn’t show up automatically, click Add Printer > IP, enter the IP address, and select protocol IPP.

Enable Scanning and ADF Features

The 8610’s automatic document feeder works best with the full feature driver. In HP Smart, enable Scan to Computer so scans can be started from the printer panel. If scans have streaks, clean the ADF strip glass and the main platen. For large PDFs, lower the scan resolution a bit to reduce file size while keeping readability.

Fax Setup Tips

To use fax, plug a phone line into the LINE port on the back. Run the fax setup wizard from the touchscreen. If you have DSL, add a DSL filter; if you share the line with a handset, connect it to EXT. Send a test fax to confirm signal quality.

Fix “Printer Offline” or Connection Drops

Most offline errors come from Windows using a WSD port that breaks when the IP changes. Fix it by:

• Printing a network page to get the current IP.
• Opening Printer properties > Ports and selecting a Standard TCP/IP Port matching that IP.
• Unchecking Use Printer Offline and clearing the print queue.
• Reserving the printer IP in your router to keep it constant.

On macOS, remove the printer and re‑add it by IP if it goes offline repeatedly.

Driver Unavailable or Missing Features

If Windows reports “driver unavailable,” remove the printer, uninstall HP software from Apps, restart the PC, and reinstall the latest package. On macOS, delete the printer, install HP Smart, and add it again with the HP driver selected. Missing scan buttons almost always mean the basic driver is installed instead of the full feature suite.

Maintenance After Setup

Run a Print Quality Report and use the printer’s Clean Printhead and Align Printhead tools if lines are missing or colors look weak. Printing a few pages a week prevents nozzle drying. The 8610 uses HP 950/951 cartridges; high‑yield XL versions lower cost per page for heavy users.

Quick Checklist

• Download the HP 8610 full feature driver or HP Smart from HP.
• Connect by Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, or USB and note the printer IP.
• Install on Windows/macOS, then print a test page.
• Enable Scan to Computer and check ADF/fax settings.
• Reserve the IP and use a TCP/IP port to prevent offline errors.

Once the correct driver and a stable port are in place, the HP OfficeJet Pro 8610 is a dependable workhorse for documents, scanning, and faxing.