HP Officejet Pro 8620 with Instant Ink reports error; the printhead appears to be missing...

[Manj75]

Printing was fine then when I ran out of black ink it prompt me whether I want to print using the colour ink to print in black, which I proceeded with.  Since doing this I now get an error on my printer:

'The printhead appears to be missing, not detected or incorrectly installed'

I have tried everything to resolve the issue including removing and reinstalling the ink cartridges, printhead, and even tried a soft-reset of the printer, but with no success.  There does no seem to be anything wrong with the printhead and all contacts at the back seem fine on both the printhead and the contacts in the printer.

I am now without a printer as I continue to pay for Instant Ink subscription and therefore need this resolved as soon as possible so any HP support would be much appreciated.  It may be that a hard reset might resolve the problem and I very much doubt that the printhead is faulty.

Look forward to hearing from HP Support.

Thanks,

Manjit

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Manj75 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I'm really sorry your OfficeJet Pro 8620 is showing a printhead error—it’s especially frustrating when everything was working fine until the ink ran low. 

Let’s walk through a few focused steps to help restore proper printhead detection and get your printer back to full functionality.

Steps to Resolve “Printhead Missing or Not Detected” Error

1. Perform a Hard Reset

This clears internal memory and resets hardware communication.

• Turn on the printer
• Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer while it’s still on
• Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet
• Wait at least 60 seconds
• Plug the power cord back into the wall, then into the printer
• Turn the printer on and check for the error

 

2. Clean Printhead Contacts Carefully

Even if they appear fine, a light cleaning can help restore electrical contact.

• Turn off the printer and open the cartridge access door
• Remove all cartridges
• Lift the latch and remove the printhead
• Use a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water to gently clean:
  • The copper-colored contacts on the back of the printhead
  • The corresponding contacts inside the printer
• Let everything dry for 5 minutes
• Reinstall the printhead and cartridges firmly
• Close the latch and access door, then power on

 

3. Update Printer Firmware

Outdated firmware can cause detection issues.

• Visit the HP OfficeJet Pro 8620 Drivers and Software page
• Download and install the latest firmware update
• Restart the printer after installation

 

4. Check Cartridge Status in HP App

• Open the HP App on your computer or mobile device
• Select your printer and go to Supplies
• Confirm that all cartridges are recognized and properly seated

If any cartridge shows as missing or incompatible, remove and reinstall it. If the error persists, try replacing the affected cartridge.

Let me know if you’d like help locating the correct printhead or cartridge part number for your region. Once these steps are complete, your printer should detect the printhead and resume normal operation.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye