Paper size mismatch error
A paper size mismatch error means the size in your document or driver doesn't match what the printer thinks is in the tray. Here is how to match them.
What this error means
Printers keep track of which paper size is loaded in each tray, either from a sensor or from a setting you choose when loading paper. If a job asks for a different size, for example Letter when the tray is set to A4, the printer pauses with a mismatch message or asks you to load the requested paper. Some older laser printers word this as "Load Letter" or similar. The fix is to make the document, the driver and the tray setting agree.
Common causes
- The document's page size differs from the paper loaded, most often A4 versus Letter
- The tray's paper size setting on the printer is wrong
- The driver's default paper size is set for another region
- Paper guides aren't touching the edges of the stack
- A photo or borderless size selected by mistake
How to fix it
Start with the first fix. They’re ordered from safest and quickest to most involved.
Fixes for Any printer
0 of 6 steps tried
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Check the page size in your document
In the app you're printing from, check the page setup. In Microsoft Word, for example, look under Layout > Size. Set it to the paper you actually have loaded, usually Letter in the US and Canada and A4 in most other countries.
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Set the paper size in the print dialog
On Windows, click Printer Properties or Preferences in the print dialog and pick the right paper size and tray. On a Mac, choose the size from the Paper Size menu in the print dialog. Make sure the paper type matches too, for example plain paper rather than photo paper.
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Set the tray paper size on the printer
Many printers ask for the paper size and type when you close a tray. If you skipped that prompt, look in the printer's control panel menu for a paper or tray setup option and set it to match what's loaded. Network printers often show the same setting in their Embedded Web Server, opened by typing the printer's IP address into a browser.
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Adjust the paper guides
Slide the tray's width and length guides until they touch the paper stack lightly without bending it. On printers that detect paper size from the guides, a guide left in the wrong position makes the printer think a different size is loaded.
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Change the default paper size
On Windows, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, choose Printing preferences and set the default size. On a Mac, open System Settings > Printers & Scanners and choose your size in Default paper size.
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Scale the document to fit
If you can't change the document's size, use the fit option when printing. In many PDF apps it's called Fit or Shrink oversized pages; on a Mac, open Paper Handling in the print dialog and tick Scale to fit paper size.
Did this fix it?
Good. To confirm everything is healthy, print a test page. It takes a minute and shows any quality problems early.
Still stuck? Our printer assistant can walk you through it by live chat, free. . Or the The troubleshooter asks a few questions and narrows it down. If your printer is under warranty, the manufacturer can repair or replace it at no cost. Find their official support site on our brand pages.
Common questions
Can I press OK and print anyway?
Many printers let you continue, but the content may be cut off, shifted or scaled. Matching the sizes gives a clean result and stops the message reappearing.
What does PC LOAD LETTER mean?
It's an older laser printer message asking you to load Letter-size paper into the paper cassette (PC). It means the job requested Letter paper and the printer can't find it in the tray.