fix a paper jam hp printer

How to fix a paper jam in a printer

When working with any printer , it's inevitable that you'll encounter a paper jam , alternatively called a misfeed. The following is a general guide for troubleshooting and removing paper stuck in one or more locations. Although most modern printers are similar in design, you may have to make slight adjustments to these steps, depending on the printer brand and model.

You'll want to avoid pulling the stuck paper out from under the front cover if possible, as it may cause damage to the printer. Instead, pull it from the back of the printer or paper tray.

Read through all the following sections to avoid damage to your printer.

Locate and remove any paper stuck in the loading tray

• Remove any loose paper in the loading tray .
• Press the Resume button on the front of the printer.

If the paper jam is cleared, skip to ensure the printer carriage can move freely section. Otherwise, continue with the steps below.

• Carefully remove stuck paper one sheet at a time , starting in the middle.
• Check for any remaining bits of paper inside the printer.

If the paper jam is cleared, skip to ensure the printer carriage can move freely section. Otherwise, continue to the next section below.

Clearing the jam from the rear of the printer

If you can't get to the paper jam from the loading tray, follow the instructions to clear the paper from the rear of the printer. Usually, the back of the printer has either a rear access panel or a two-sided printing accessory.

The type of rear access door differs by printer brand and model. If you cannot find or remove the rear access panel, check the printer manufacturer's website for specific details.

Removing a rear access panel

• Locate the knob or access tab on the back of the printer by or on the panel itself. If it's a knob, move it to the Unlocked position.
• Remove the panel and carefully pull out the jammed paper.
• Locate and clear away any small bits of paper that remain.
• Replace and secure the rear panel.

Remove the two-sided printing accessory to clear the paper jam

• Press both release buttons on either end of the module at the same time and remove it.
• Push the module back on and snap it into place.
• Press the button on top of the module and open the door .
• Close the rear module door.

Pulling the paper out from under the front cover

If all the previous steps have failed, you may attempt to remove the jammed paper by pulling it out from under the front cover carefully and slowly . Remember, as stated above, this step is generally not recommended and should only be a last resort, as it could cause damage to the printer.

If you have a laserjet printer, you may need to remove the toner cartridge before you can get full access to the paper.

Ensure the printer carriage can move freely

• Disconnect the printer from power by unplugging the power cord from the power outlet.
• Watch the carriage to see if it moves fully to the right side of the printer and out of sight. Do not force the carriage to move if it's stuck, as this may damage your printer.

If the paper jam is cleared, skip to the testing the printer section.

• Carefully remove the ink cartridge(s).
• Without removing the drawer, remove any paper in the loading tray.
• Remove the two-sided printing accessory (module) or rear access door.
• With your fingers, rotate the rollers toward the top of the printer for three full rotations .
• Replace the two-sided printing accessory (module) or rear access door.
• Replace the ink cartridges.
• Plug in and turn on your printer.

Reloading and testing the printer

Once you've removed the jam, cleared away any remaining bits of paper, and ensured the print carriage can move without issue, test your printer.

• Put some inkjet paper into the loading tray and slide it into place.
• Print a test page by performing a self-test. Usually, a self-test can be initiated by pressing and holding the Resume button until the printer starts printing.

Continued problems? Possible printer hardware problems

If the printer claims there is still a paper jam after going through the steps above, your printer may have a hardware problem. A malfunctioning roller or parts in the paper feed mechanism can make a printer think it has a paper jam.

In the case of a hardware problem, it may be possible to have the printer repaired. However, due to the low costs of printers today, it is often cheaper to buy a new printer instead of having a printer repaired.

Preventing a printer paper jam

As mentioned earlier, paper jams are an inevitability over the life of your printer. However, if you're encountering frequent paper jams, the following steps may help prevent them.

• If your printer has a paper tray, do not fill the tray. Overfilling the paper tray is frequently causes paper jams.
• Many printers have sliding mechanisms that allow different types and sizes of paper to be fed into the printer. If the slider is not correctly positioned, it can cause a paper jam.
• Use standard office paper. Folded, labeled, and specialty paper can often cause jams because they have irregular dimensions. If you're uncertain which types of paper your printer accepts, consult the printer documentation.
• If you're using photo transfer paper, make sure you're using the correct paper for your type of printer. There are different types of transfer paper for both laserjet and inkjet. Failure to use the proper type of paper can cause damage to the printer.
• If you are printing multiple pages, do not mix the paper sizes.
• Make sure your printer paper is correctly seated into the slot or tray.
• Examine the printer for any debris before printing. Previous paper jams, torn paper, printing labels, or other foreign objects in the printer can cause reoccurring jams.

Related information

• See our paper jam definition for further information and related links.
• Printer help and support.

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How to Clear a Paper Jam

Last Updated: December 12, 2023 Fact Checked

Desktop Inkjet Printer

Desktop laser printer, office printer, paper jam error with no paper.

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 28 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 446,289 times. Learn more...

However advanced your printer, one piece of wrinkled paper can grind it to a halt. Most paper jams are straightforward mechanical problems. It can take patience to remove the paper, but once you've found it, you know the solution. If you can't find the issue or the printer still won't work after the paper is removed, consult your owner's manual or an expert repairman.

• Using force may permanently damage the print head.

• Use tweezers to reach narrow areas. Pull even more slowly when using tweezers, and alternate tugging from the left and right ends of the paper.
• Whenever possible, pull in the direction the paper would travel through the printer.
• If there's no way to avoid tearing, grab the paper from both ends of the jam. Try to catch hold of all torn pieces.

• If you don't have your printer manual, search online for "manual" and the name of your printer model.

• Some models have a knob that will enlarge this slot, making removal easier.

• Many printers have a basic way to remove the back panel and/or the input tray, which are good places to start. Check for movable access panels on the back, and a plastic tab deep inside the input tray.

• Close all access panels and return all trays before you print again.

• Some printer models recommend waiting at least thirty minutes.

• If you can't reach the paper, use wide grip tweezers.

• It's best to follow user manual instructions. Do not try to force the mechanism.
• Many models use rollers attached with a "hole and pin" latch. Push down on the pin to release the roller.

• This may be worth trying again later in the process, if you have managed to remove some paper but still can't print.

• Warning: Do not reach into the printer while it is still on. This can cause serious injury.
• Some drawer-style trays can be fully removed. Look for a release catch.
• It may help to use a mirror when checking trays and panels in the back.
• If possible, have the printer moved away from the wall to allow for more access.

• For added safety, unplug the printer.

• If you cannot remove it, contact the people in charge of the office printer's repair.

• If the readout has an error message, consult the user manual to interpret it.

• If it's a laser printer, wait 10-30 minutes before reaching inside (or up to an hour for some models). Parts inside can get dangerously hot.

• If you do not see the rollers, try turning the paper upside down, or opening a back or side panel. You may need to check the manual to figure out how to remove these panels.
• If your roller is clearly broken, that's the source of your problem. Refer to your printer manual or contact the manufacturer to find out whether your roller is replaceable.

• Laser printers contain toner particles that can irritate lungs. Wear a mask that filters fine particles, and buy a special toner cloth that picks up most of these particles. Moisten it with 99% isopropyl alcohol. (Some rollers crack when exposed to alcohol. You may want to check your printer manual for advice, or use distilled water instead.)
• Inkjets printers are easier to clean. Use any lint-free cloth (such as microfiber) and moisten it slightly with isopropyl alcohol, or distilled water if you don't want to risk damage.
• For extremely dirty feed rollers, use a special rubber rejuvenator product. Read all safety instructions first. These products can cause serious skin and eye damage, and corrode plastic parts of the printer.
• Toner cloth tears easily. Move slowly to avoid leaving shreds behind that can clog your printer.

• Warning: The "output rollers" on the laser printers get hot enough to cause burns. These are actually "fusers" which bake the ink onto the paper.
• Warning: These rollers are close to delicate machinery, and on laser printers they require special treatment. It's best to refer to your printer manual for precise cleaning instructions.

Community Q&A

• Latches are usually molded in a contrasting color of plastic, different from the color of the body of the printer and the cartridges. Many will even have an imprint or decal telling you which way to push or pull them. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If your printer has had more than one paper jam recently, get it checked by a printer repairman. This could be caused by a faulty or worn mechanism not feasible to repair at home. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Check your printer's sheet guide (a small tab on the input tray). Adjust it so that it isn't loose, but doesn't apply friction to your paper. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Do not cut out the paper. This risks destroying the printer. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Parts of a laser printer get hot enough to burn you. Proceed with caution. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2
• Do not stick your hands or fingers in parts of the printer that you might not be able to get them out of. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Never push or pull too hard, either on the paper or on the various doors and latches of your printer. Things that are meant to come out should release easily. If something looks like it should come out and does not come just by pulling, look for buttons or latches to release it. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 9

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/bud09128
• ↑ http://www.tech-faq.com/how-a-laser-printer-works.html
• ↑ https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06378941
• ↑ https://ij.manual.canon/ij/webmanual/ErrorCode/TS8100%20series/EN/ERR/err_other0100.html?ref=err_other0100
• ↑ https://ij.manual.canon/ij/webmanual/ErrorCode/E470%20series/EN/ERR/err_other0100.html?ref=err_other0100
• ↑ https://files.support.epson.com/docid/cpd5/cpd53910/source/cleaning_transportation/tasks/xp8500/cleaning_spc_rollers_xp8500.html

About This Article

To clear a paper jam in a desktop inkjet printer, first turn it off and wait for it to fully shut down. Next, open up the main cover and remove any loose paper that’s inside. Make sure to pull on any stuck paper very slowly to remove it without tearing. If the paper is still stuck after this, try following the manual’s instructions for removing the print head. You should also check the output tray to see if there’s any stuck paper inside. To learn how to clear a paper jam in a laser printer, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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