Envelopes jam or print in the wrong place

Most trays and feed slots have a small envelope symbol showing which side faces up and which edge goes in first. Some printers take envelopes short edge first, others long edge first, and the flap position differs too. Follow the icon or your manual rather than guessing.

If your printer has a rear tray, manual feed slot or multipurpose tray, use it for envelopes. These give a straighter path than the main cassette, which bends envelopes round a tight curve. Feed one envelope at a time until you know it works, then load a small stack within the tray's limit.

Slide the paper guides in until they just touch the envelope's edges. A loose envelope twists as it feeds, which is a common cause of skewed addresses and jams.

Some laser printers have levers inside the back cover that reduce fuser pressure for envelopes, which stops creasing and wrinkling. With the printer off and cool, check your manual to see whether your model has them and how to set them. Put them back to the normal position afterwards, or ordinary paper may print poorly.

Flatten envelopes before loading by running a ruler along the edges to press out air, and crease the flap firmly. Avoid envelopes with clasps, windows, padding or exposed adhesive. For laser printers, choose envelopes rated for laser use, since the fuser's heat can seal ordinary gummed flaps shut.

In Microsoft Word, go to Mailings > Envelopes, type the address, then click Options. On the Envelope Options tab, choose the size, such as Size 10 or DL. The Printing Options tab shows the feed method Word expects, which you can change to match your printer's icon.

In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Printing preferences, or the app's printer properties, set the paper size to the same envelope and the paper type to envelope if it's listed. Set the paper source to the slot you loaded.

Cut a sheet of plain paper to the envelope's size, mark the top edge and the side facing up, and print on it first. The result shows which way round and where the text lands before you use real envelopes.

In the print dialog, set Paper Size to your envelope; names vary by driver but usually include the size, such as #10 or DL. If yours isn't listed, choose Manage Custom Sizes in the same menu and enter the envelope's exact measurements.

Word for Mac has Mailings > Envelopes, Pages includes envelope templates, and the Contacts app can print addresses on envelopes by choosing the envelopes style in its print dialog. Each lets you set the envelope size before printing.

In Media & Quality, set Feed from to the rear or manual slot you loaded, and set the media type to envelope if your driver lists it.

Look at the preview in the print dialog. If the address is sideways, switch the orientation and compare it with the envelope icon on the printer before printing.