Paper Jam
HP Inkjet / Laser Printer
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
HP paper jams are caused by paper misaligned in the tray, paper too thick or too thin for the printer, or a piece of torn paper stuck inside. Always pull jammed paper slowly in the direction of the paper path — never yank it, as torn fragments cause further jams.
Affected Models
- HP DeskJet series
- HP Envy series
- HP OfficeJet series
- HP LaserJet series
- HP OfficeJet Pro series
Common Causes
- Paper loaded incorrectly — not aligned against the guides
- Paper tray overfilled beyond the MAX line
- Wrong paper size or type for the current job
- Torn piece of paper stuck inside from a previous jam
- Rollers worn and not gripping the paper correctly
- Paper damp or stuck together — sheets feeding multiple at once
How to Fix It
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Turn off the printer before clearing the jam.
Press the power button to turn the printer fully off. Unplug from the mains. Waiting 60 seconds allows any heat to dissipate (especially important on laser printers — the fuser is hot). Never clear a jam in a running printer.
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Remove the paper from the input tray.
Take all paper out of the input tray. Fan the stack of paper to separate any sheets that may be stuck together. Check that all sheets are the same size and are not dog-eared or torn. Reload a smaller stack (no more than 80% of the tray capacity) and align it squarely against the guides.
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Clear the jammed paper from inside the printer.
Open all access doors (rear access door, duplexer if present, front lower door). With both hands, gently pull the jammed paper slowly in the direction of the paper path (the way it was travelling). Never pull against the paper path direction — this tears the paper and leaves fragments. Check that no torn pieces remain inside before closing.
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Check for torn paper fragments.
Even a small torn piece of paper inside the printer will cause a jam error to persist or recur immediately. Shine a torch into the paper path and check carefully for small pieces. Use tweezers to remove any fragments — do not use metal tools near the rollers.
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Reset the printer after clearing.
After clearing the jam and closing all access doors, plug the printer back in and turn it on. The printer will do a brief self-test and should clear the jam error automatically. If the jam error persists with no paper visible inside, restart the printer again — the sensor may need a second power cycle to reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my HP printer keep jamming?
Repeated paper jams on an HP printer are usually caused by one of three things: worn paper pickup rollers that no longer grip cleanly, overfilling the paper tray, or using paper that is damp or slightly warped. Try loading a smaller, freshly opened stack of paper. If jams continue even with fresh paper and a half-filled tray, the pickup rollers need cleaning (with a damp lint-free cloth) or replacement. HP sells roller replacement kits for most LaserJet models.