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Printer says out of paper but there is paper

Out of paper or load paper message with a full tray? Push the tray fully in, set the guides, pick the right tray, check the paper sensor and clean the rollers.

5–15 min
Easy
Updated

Quick fix

Pull the tray out, remove the paper, fan it and reload a neat stack of 20 to 100 sheets with the guides just touching the edges. Push the tray in until it stops. Then check that your print settings send the job to the tray you filled, not to manual feed or a different tray.

Didn’t work? Go to the full steps

You might see

  • An out of paper or load paper message while the tray is full
  • The printer whirs briefly, then reports no paper
  • Paper feeds from one tray while another reports empty
  • The message appears partway through a job

Usually caused by

  • Tray not pushed fully in
  • Guides too tight, or a stack too high or too low
  • The job sent to a different tray or manual feed
  • Worn or dirty pickup rollers that miss the top sheet
  • A stuck or blocked paper sensor

Safety first. Turn off and unplug the printer before reaching into the tray slot or cleaning the rollers, and let a laser printer cool before touching anything near the back.

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. Seat the tray fully

    Pull the tray all the way out and push it back firmly until it stops. Many printers sense the tray with a switch at the back of the slot, and a tray that stops a few millimeters short can read as missing or empty. Check nothing has fallen into the slot behind it.

  2. Reload a sensible amount of paper

    A stack above the tray's maximum mark can press too hard against the rollers, while one or two sheets may sit below where the rollers or sensor reach. Load 20 to 100 sheets, fanned and squared, and slide the guides in until they touch the edges without bending the stack.

  3. Load the tray the job is sent to

    Printers with both a rear tray and a front cassette often expect particular paper in each, for example plain paper in the cassette and photo paper at the rear. If the job goes to the rear tray and the paper is in the cassette, the printer reports no paper. Put the paper where the job is going, or change the paper source.

  4. Check the tray settings on the printer

    Many printers ask what size and type of paper you loaded when you close a tray. If the printer's panel lists the wrong size for that tray, it may treat the tray as unavailable for your job. Set the tray's size and type on the printer's screen or web page to match the paper.

  5. Look at the paper sensor

    With the printer unplugged, look into the tray slot or rear feed for a small lever, flap or sensor window that the paper pushes against or covers. Remove any scrap of paper or stray label stuck on it, and check a lever moves freely. Don't bend or force it.

  6. Clean the pickup rollers

    If the rollers can't grip the top sheet, the printer assumes the tray is empty. Wipe the rubber rollers with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water and let them dry, or run the roller cleaning routine from the maintenance menu if your printer has one.

Common questions

How does the printer know there is no paper?

It relies on a sensor that detects the stack, or on the rollers successfully picking a sheet. A tray that isn't seated, a stuck sensor or rollers that slip all make a full tray look empty.

Why does it say out of paper for a tray I never use?

The job is being sent to that tray. Change the paper source in your print settings, or load that tray.

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