Independent printer help. Not affiliated with any printer manufacturer.

The Print Bench
Check my device

Printer says paper jam but nothing is stuck

Paper jam error but no jammed paper in sight? Check for hidden scraps, a blocked carriage, open doors and dirty rollers, then reset the printer.

10–20 min
Moderate
Updated

Quick fix

With the printer on, unplug it for 60 seconds, then plug it back in. If the error returns, switch it off and use a flashlight to check every door, the rear access panel and under the print carriage for small scraps of paper. On inkjets, make sure the carriage slides freely. Close all doors firmly before powering on.

Didn’t work? Go to the full steps

You might see

  • A paper jam message appears with no paper inside
  • The error returns as soon as you clear it or turn the printer on
  • The print carriage won't move or makes a grinding noise
  • The printer pulls in a sheet and stops almost immediately

Usually caused by

  • A small scrap of paper hiding near a sensor
  • Something blocking the inkjet carriage, such as packing tape or a small object
  • A door, tray or duplex unit not fully closed
  • Dirty pickup rollers feeding the sheet too slowly
  • A firmware glitch that a reset or update can clear

Safety first. Power off and unplug before reaching in, let a laser printer cool because the fuser is hot, and don't touch the print head contacts or the drum surface.

Step-by-step fix

Work through the steps in order and check each one off. Most people are printing again before the last step.

Any inkjet or laser printer

0 of 6 steps tried

  1. Do a power reset

    With the printer on, unplug the power cord from the back of the printer, wait 60 seconds, then plug it straight into a wall outlet and turn it on if it doesn't start by itself. This clears a jam state that can linger after the paper is gone.

  2. Search for hidden scraps

    Switch off and unplug, remove the trays, open the rear door and every cover, and check the whole paper path with a flashlight. Small torn corners often lodge near a sensor; remove them gently with your fingers.

  3. Check the carriage moves (inkjet)

    With the printer off, open the cartridge door and gently slide the carriage from one end to the other. It should move smoothly; if it stops, look for paper, packing tape, foam or a small object underneath, especially on a new printer.

  4. Close everything properly

    Make sure the rear door, duplex unit, trays and covers are fully closed. Printers use small switches to detect closed doors, and one that's slightly open can register as a jam.

  5. Clean the rollers

    Wipe the rubber rollers with a lint-free cloth dampened with water. Slippery rollers can feed a sheet too slowly, which the printer reports as a jam.

  6. Test with one sheet

    Load a single sheet of plain paper and print a test page. If the error returns, note where the sheet stops; that's where to look more closely.

Common questions

Why does my printer still say paper jam after I removed the paper?

A tiny scrap is often still inside, or a door switch or sensor hasn't reset. A power reset plus a flashlight check of the paper path fixes most cases.

Can a blocked ink carriage cause a paper jam error?

Yes. Many inkjets report a paper jam when the carriage can't travel its full width, even though no paper is involved.

Related fixes

Press Enter to see all results. Use ↑ ↓ to move.