How to Fix a Printer Paper Jam – Guide to Fix the Issue

Are you dealing with another Paper jam in printer?

Well, you are not alone; many people sail in the same boat. It was rather hard to believe if you would have said that you haven’t encountered a printer paper jam issue to date.

Despite the printer brand/model you have, your printer is bound to face such timely glitches. Be it HP, Canon, Brother or Epson; all printers do face paper jam issue in routine.

Google has reported that one search string that he receives around millions of time in a week is: “Why does my printer keep jamming paper?” So we decided to come up with this post to provide a quick and handy printer help guide. We guarantee that if you read this post till the end, your knowledge for printers will be enhanced.

You will learn about the reason for getting frequent paper jams. Besides, you will also learn the most secure tricks to clear the paper jam.

So let’s roll the ball and start our discussion.

Reasons for Paper Jam in Printer

There could be various reasons for Paper jam on Printer, but the common is about papers (loaded in the tray). Following check out the list of possible reasons that could result in a paper jam on the printer:

• • Wrong paper placement in the paper tray.
  • Loading wrong size paper.
  • Using moist papers for printing.
  • Paper corners are turned in or out.
  • Using uneven or twisted papers.
  • Loading dusty paper in the paper tray.

Tip: Remove the papers from the tray when not using the printer.

• A dirty or uneven paper feed roller can also cause paper jam in printers.

Now when your query, “Why does my printer keep jamming paper?” has been appropriately addressed. You might have learned what should you avoid to get rid of these printer paper jams. (It is understood that you should avoid all the above-stated things.)

Seems it’s high time now, to learn about how can you clear paper jams from your printer.

So let’s jump to the next section.

Fixing: Paper Jam on Printer issue

If you are getting paper jam in printer error time and again, don’t ignore the problem. There are specific steps that you should apply to get rid of a printer paper jam situation.

Following check out these:

• Manually pull out the paper
• Power recycling Printer.
• Reinstall the printer driver.
• Restart the system.
• Remove /add the printer to system.
• Deep cleaning your printer.

You should approach a professional printer support team to get help if you are not so technical. The jobs like Reinstall the printer driver, Remove /add the printer to system or setting printer configuration needs special attention.

Troubleshooting: Paper Jam on Printer issue

Check out some particular printer paper jam situation. Maybe you can relate to any of these. This section will make you expert in fixing these printer paper jam issues in no time.

Situation 1: Clearing Paper Jam in the printer

To clear paper jam, pull out the stuck paper with required force. Don’t pull paper that hard that it will tear away and you get only a part of it. The rest stuck part will create more problem. There are several ways to pull out, such as:

• Remove the stuck paper from the loading tray.
• Pull out the paper from rear access part of the printer.
• Carefully pull out the stuck paper from under the front cover.
• Pull the paper out from the output tray side.
• Restart the printer. (Sometimes while restarting the printer itself push the paper out.

Tip: For a laser printer, first remove the toner cartridge carefully. Only then you can access the stuck paper.

After clearing stuck paper and all its parts from the printer, try giving the print command again. Do not forget to restart your printer as well as system once. If you still getting error, then you better contact the printer support helpline.

Situation 2: Paper jam in Printer but no paper

Sometimes even after removing the paper from all parts of the printer, it still shows the paper jam error. There might be some small paper piece left somewhere inside the printer. Or the ink got clogged under the Bottom Plate. To fix printer jam error when no paper situation, try the following tricks.

Trick 1: Clean the bottom plate of your printer.

• Power own your printer.
• Half-fold a clean A4 sheet.
• Load only this single sheet in the paper tray.
• Remove the output tray and its extension.
• Hold the stop button until “the alarm light” flashes eight times.
• Paper will feed through the machine.

This will clean all the clogged particle (paper/ink/dust) at the bottom plate. If this couldn’t make your error go away, then try the next trick.

Trick 2: Examine paper feed rollers

If it was not the ink clogged or paper piece. Then the possibility is the printer roller gears are jammed. To make the printer roller move freely, do the following:

• Locate paper feed rollers inside your printer.
• Slowly roll the side gears of the rollers with your hands.
• The back and forth motion makes gears move freely.
• This movement will also remove any dust, or foreign particle stuck in these gears.
• Restart the printer.

This will most probably resolve your “Paper jam in Printer but no paper” situation.

Situation 3: Hardware problem to fix the issue

If despite pulling out all the stuck paper from the printer, the paper jam on printer error does not go away. Then you can’t deny the possibility for any printer hardware malfunctioning such as:

• Printer cartridges got stuck.
• Problem with printer head (For Canon printers)
• Printer rollers are not moving freely (For HP printers).
• Paper picking hinges are not working correctly.
• Problem with paper tray alignment.
• Problematic paper feed mechanism.

All these issues could make the printer think there is a paper jam. As a result, you will get to see the paper jam error. Moreover, you wouldn’t be able to resume your printing jobs.

This was all you should know as a layman to fix your printer troubles. For any further printer hardware or technical problem, you better seek printer repair services from the experts or visit our website Printer Error Code to find more solutions.