How to Clear a Printer Paper Jam and Stop It Coming Back

Overview

A paper jam is the most common printer complaint, and most can be cleared in a few minutes. The aim is to remove every scrap without forcing anything, then work out why the sheet stopped. If jams keep happening, the cause is usually the paper, the tray setup or worn feed rollers, in roughly that order.

Step by step

1. Read the display first

   Most printers name the jam location, such as the input tray, the toner area or the rear door. Start there instead of opening every cover.

2. Power off and let it cool

   Turn the printer off and unplug it. If the jam is near the paper exit or rear door, wait for the fuser area to cool before reaching in.

3. Pull paper in the direction it travels

   Grip the sheet with both hands and pull slowly and evenly, in the same direction the paper normally moves. Pulling backward against the rollers is what usually tears it.

4. Check for torn fragments

   Hold the removed sheet up and look for missing corners. A small fragment left inside will cause the next jam. Use a flashlight to check the paper path and the area under the toner cartridge.

5. Reseat the tray and paper

   Take the paper out of the tray, fan the stack, square it, and reload it below the maximum fill line. Slide the guides until they just touch the stack without bending it.

6. Close every door and test

   Make sure each cover clicks shut, power on and print a single page before you send a large job.

Common causes

Paper

Damp, curled, very thin or heavy paper is the leading cause of repeat jams. Store paper flat in its wrapper and use a weight your printer supports.

Overfilled or misaligned trays

A tray filled past the line, or guides set too loose or too tight, makes the printer pick sheets at an angle.

Worn pickup and separation rollers

Glazed or hardened rubber slips on the paper. Symptoms include no sheet being picked, or several sheets feeding at once.

A fragment or foreign object

Staples, labels and paper clips find their way into paper paths more often than you would expect.

When to ask for help

Stop and get help if any of these apply:

• Jams continue after you have changed paper and checked the tray.
• The printer reports a jam but no paper is visible (a sensor or mechanism fault is likely).
• You hear grinding, or a gear or plastic part looks broken.
• Paper is stuck in the fuser and does not come out with gentle pressure.

This guide is general information for common laser printers and multifunction devices. Always follow the instructions and safety warnings in your printer’s own user guide. See our Disclaimer.