FixPrinters and Scanners

Printer paper jams: how to clear and prevent them

Your printer says paper is jammed or has stopped mid-page. Clear the paper safely, deal with a jam message that will not go away, and stop it coming back.

  • Updated
  • 12 min
  • Beginner
Applies to
  • Any device

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A paper jam stops the printer until the stuck sheet is out. Here is how to remove the paper without damaging the printer, what to do when the jam message stays after the paper is gone, and how to prevent the next jam.

Before you start

You need about 10 minutes and good light. A flashlight helps. Printers differ a lot, so the printer's own screen or manual shows which doors and covers to open for your model. The steps below apply to most home inkjet and laser printers.

Stay safe inside the printer

Turn the printer off and unplug it before you reach inside, unless your manual says otherwise for your model. On a laser printer, the fuser (the part that bonds toner to the paper) can be very hot after printing and some inner parts are sharp. Let the printer cool first, do not touch the fuser, and do not push your hand deep into the machine.

Clearing a jam, in orderA top-to-bottom flow chart with 7 boxes. Work through them in order and stop when the problem is fixed. The full text follows the picture.Clearing a jam, in orderNo1Turn off, unplug and let itcool2Open the covers theprinter points to3Pull the sheet out gentlywith both hands4Is every scrap of paper out?Yes: Close covers and restart5Look again with aflashlight6Unplug for about aminute, then restartMessage stays? Check themaker's support page foryour model.
Stop as soon as the printer works.
Text version of this diagram
  1. Step 1: Turn off, unplug and let it cool
  2. Step 2: Open the covers the printer points to
  3. Step 3: Pull the sheet out gently with both hands
  4. Question 4: Is every scrap of paper out? If yes: Close covers and restart. If no, go on to the next item.
  5. Step 5: Look again with a flashlight
  6. Step 6: Unplug for about a minute, then restart
  7. If nothing worked: Message stays? Check the maker's support page for your model.

Where jams usually happen

Paper can stick where it enters, along the path inside, or where it leaves. Check each area in turn.

Places to check for stuck paperThe front of a typical all-in-one inkjet printer: a scanner lid on top, a small control panel on the top right, a front door, an output tray that slides out below the paper slot and an input tray at the bottom. It has 4 numbered markers, explained in the list under the picture.1234Places to check for stuck paper
  1. Input tray: paper that feeds crooked or in a bunch
  2. Front or top cover: opens up the paper path
  3. Output tray: a sheet half out can still count as a jam
  4. Scanner lid: on some models it lifts to show the path
Positions are typical; your model may differ.
Text version of this diagram

The front of a typical all-in-one inkjet printer: a scanner lid on top, a small control panel on the top right, a front door, an output tray that slides out below the paper slot and an input tray at the bottom.

  1. Input tray: paper that feeds crooked or in a bunch
  2. Front or top cover: opens up the paper path
  3. Output tray: a sheet half out can still count as a jam
  4. Scanner lid: on some models it lifts to show the path

Many printers also have a rear access door or a removable panel on the back. The printer's screen or lights often show which area has the jam.

Clear the jam

  1. Turn the printer off, then unplug the power cable from the wall. If it has been printing, wait a few minutes so inner parts can cool.
  2. Remove any paper from the input tray and the output tray. Set it aside, because you will check it later.
  3. Open the cover or door the printer points to. If the screen shows nothing, open the front or top cover and the rear door, one at a time.
  4. Look for the stuck sheet. Hold the paper with both hands, as close to the printer as you can, and pull it out slowly and evenly in the direction the paper normally travels.
  5. Do not use force. Pulling hard tears the sheet, and torn paper is harder to remove and can cause another jam. If the paper tears, look for the remaining pieces and take them out too.
  6. Check the whole paper path, including under the print area and around the rollers, for small scraps. Do not use sharp tools such as knives or pliers. Tweezers may help with a tiny scrap if you are careful not to touch other parts.
  7. Close every cover firmly, plug the printer in and turn it on. Wait for it to finish its start-up. Some printers ask you to press a button to continue, and some print the page again.

What you should see: the jam message or warning light disappears. Some printers also need a cover opened and closed once before the message clears.

The jam message will not go away

This is common when a small scrap is still inside, or when a sensor did not reset.

Check for hidden paper

  1. Turn off and unplug the printer again.
  2. Shine a light through each open door and look for a corner of paper, a label or a piece of tape.
  3. Gently turn any visible roller by hand only if the manual says you may. Do not force it.

Reset the printer

  1. With the covers closed, unplug the power cable.
  2. Wait about a minute.
  3. Plug it back in and turn it on.

If the printer still reports a jam with nothing visible, a sensor or roller may have a fault. Check the support page for your model on the printer maker's website. For lights you do not recognize, see printer error lights and codes explained.

Stop jams coming back

  • Do not overfill the tray. Load no more than the tray's fill mark or the amount in the manual.
  • Use paper in good condition. Throw away sheets that are curled, creased, damp or stuck together. Keep paper flat in its wrapper.
  • Square the stack. Tap the edges level, then slide the paper guides so they touch the stack without squeezing it.
  • Match the paper setting. The paper type and size in the print window should match what you loaded. A mismatch can cause feed problems.
  • Do not mix. Add paper to an empty tray rather than topping up a tray that has a few sheets left, and never mix paper types.
  • Use special media carefully. Labels, envelopes and thick paper often need a different tray or a rear slot. Check your printer's manual first.
  • Keep it clean. Dust and paper fibers build up on rollers. The manual or the maker's support page for your model shows how to clean them.

If jams keep happening

Try a fresh pack of paper first. If one tray jams repeatedly with fresh paper, the pick-up rollers may be worn. Roller replacement and cleaning steps are specific to each model, so use the maker's support page.

After the jam

If your document did not finish, the print job may still be waiting. If the printer shows as stuck or offline afterwards, see printer won't print or the queue is stuck and printer offline. If the first page after a jam looks pale or streaky, see faded, streaky or blank prints.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pull the paper out while the printer is on?

It is generally safer to turn it off and unplug it first. Some printers tell you on the screen or in the manual to leave power on, in which case follow the instructions for that model.

Is it all right to use a tool to get a stuck scrap out?

Avoid sharp tools, which can scratch or bend parts. Gentle pulling by hand usually works. If a piece will not come out, stop and use the maker's support page for your model rather than forcing it.

Why does my printer say jam when there is no paper stuck?

A small scrap may still be inside, or a sensor may not have reset. Look again with a light, then unplug the printer for about a minute and restart it.

Do jams damage the printer?

Gentle clearing should not. Epson warns that torn paper can be hard to remove and might cause other jams, and forcing it can damage parts. That is why steady, two-handed pulling matters.

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