Quick answer: The HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 still prints on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but it’s an older model and HP’s newer tools don’t all support it. Get the driver from HP’s own support page for the OfficeJet Pro 8600 e-All-in-One series (N911). If the page only lists Windows 10, switch the operating system selector to Windows 11: users report the same package appears and works. Choose the full feature software if you scan, or the basic driver if you only print. Don’t rely on the HP Smart app; an HP Community moderator says it isn’t supported for this model.
Applies to: HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 (N911a), 8600 Plus (N911g) and 8600 Premium (N911n) e-All-in-One printers on Windows 11 and Windows 10, connected by USB, Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
In this guide
Does the OfficeJet Pro 8600 work on Windows 11?
Yes, for printing. The 8600 series is more than a decade old, so HP no longer develops new software for it, but its existing Windows driver package installs on 64-bit Windows 11. On HP’s support site the 8600 driver may be listed under Windows 10 64-bit; when you change the selector to Windows 11, HP shows the same download. People in the HP and Windows 11 community forums report printing normally with it.
Two things are different from newer HP printers:
- HP Smart isn’t supported. An HP Community moderator states that the HP Smart app is not supported for this model, so set it up with the driver instead.
- Driver-only installs may lose extras. The full package adds HP’s scan software and printer tools; a basic or Windows-supplied driver covers printing.
Which driver to choose
| Option | What you get | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|
| Full feature software and driver (HP) | Print and scan driver, HP Scan and HP printer tools | You scan, fax or want ink-level tools |
| Basic driver (HP) | Print driver only, smaller download | You only print, or the full package fails to install |
| Windows Add device | A driver Windows finds itself, if one is available | You want a quick test that the printer is reachable |
All three 8600 models (standard, Plus and Premium) share the same N911 driver family, so pick the model name that matches the label on your printer. Download only from HP’s support site. Third-party “driver download” sites for this printer are common, and some bundle unwanted software.
Install the full feature software
- Remove old copies first: open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and uninstall anything named HP Officejet Pro 8600. Then go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer if it’s listed and choose Remove. Restart the PC.
- If you connect by USB, unplug the cable for now.
- On HP’s support site, open Software and Drivers, choose Printer and search for your exact model, such as HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus e-All-in-One.
- Check the detected operating system. If it shows Windows 10 or the list looks empty, use the operating system selector on the page to pick Windows 11.
- Download the full feature software and driver package. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
- When the installer asks how the printer is connected, choose Wireless, Network or USB. For USB, plug the cable in only when the installer tells you to.
- Restart the PC when setup finishes and print a test page.
Download page labels change over time, so the package may be named slightly differently. Look for the one described as the full software, not an update or firmware file.
Install the basic driver
If the full package won’t install, or you only print, use HP’s basic driver for the 8600 instead. On the same HP download page, expand the driver list and look for the Basic driver for 64-bit Windows. Run it as administrator and follow the prompts. This is the package an HP Community volunteer pointed to in a solved thread where an 8600 Plus printed only one line per page on Windows 11.
Add it with Windows’ own Add device
- Make sure the printer is on and connected to the same network as the PC, or plugged in by USB.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners and select Add device next to Add a printer & scanner.
- If the 8600 appears, select Add device. If not, select Add a new device manually and add it by its IP address, which you can find by printing a network configuration page from the printer’s setup or wireless menu.
If Windows adds it but the driver later shows Unavailable or pages print garbled, install HP’s package over it as above. On Windows 11 PCs with Windows protected print mode turned on, HP’s own drivers are blocked, so check that setting if the HP package keeps disappearing.
How to scan on Windows 11
- HP Scan: comes with the full feature software. Open it from the Start menu, pick a scan type and select Scan.
- Windows Fax and Scan: search for it in Start, select New Scan and choose the 8600. This uses the scan driver from the full package.
- Scan to a network folder or email: on models that offer it (mainly the Plus and Premium), set it up in the printer’s built-in web page by typing its IP address into a browser, then scan from the printer’s panel without PC software.
If no scanner appears in these apps, the scan part of the driver isn’t installed. The basic driver and Windows’ own driver usually don’t include it, so install the full feature package.
If the driver shows Unavailable or the printer won’t print
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| “Driver is unavailable” in Printers & scanners | Remove the printer, uninstall the HP software, restart, then install the full or basic package from HP as administrator. |
| Prints one line, then blank or garbled pages | The wrong driver is in use. Remove the printer and install HP’s basic or full driver for the 8600 instead of a generic one. |
| Shows Offline on Wi-Fi | Restart the printer and router. The 8600 uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, so check your router still offers it, and reserve the printer’s IP address in the router so it doesn’t change. |
| Installer stops partway | Restart, temporarily turn off third-party antivirus, and run the package as administrator again. HP’s Print and Scan Doctor tool can also repair the connection. |
| Error 0x0000011b on a shared 8600 | See how to fix error 0x0000011b. |
| “The print processor does not exist” | See print processor does not exist. |
Related guides
- HP Envy 4500 driver for Windows 11 and 10: download and install
- Printer sharing in Windows 11 and 10: how to share a printer on your network
- Error 0x0000011b: how to fix “Windows cannot connect to the printer”
- The print processor does not exist: how to fix it
- Code 28: “The drivers for this device are not installed” (7 fixes)
Official sources: for more detail, see these pages:
- HP Support: HP Officejet Pro 8600 e-All-in-One series (N911) software and drivers
- Microsoft Support: Download and install the latest printer drivers
Frequently asked questions
Is the HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 compatible with Windows 11?
For printing, yes. HP’s driver package for the 8600 installs on 64-bit Windows 11 and users report it working. HP no longer releases new software for this model, so newer tools such as HP Smart don’t support it.
Why does HP only show a Windows 10 driver?
HP’s site detects your system and sometimes lists the 8600’s package under Windows 10. Change the operating system to Windows 11 on the download page and the same package appears.
Can I use HP Smart with the OfficeJet Pro 8600?
An HP Community moderator says HP Smart isn’t supported for this model. Use the full feature software for printing and scanning instead.
Do the 8600 Plus and 8600 Premium use different drivers?
They’re in the same N911 family and use the same driver set. Choose the exact model on HP’s download page so you get the right full feature package.
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