Print carriage is stuck or won't move
Carriage jam or carriage error on your inkjet? Remove packing tape and transport locks, clear paper and objects from its path, and check it moves freely.
Quick fix
Turn the printer off, unplug it and open the ink access door. Shine a flashlight along the carriage path and remove any torn paper, packing tape, cardboard or small objects by hand. If the carriage sits in the middle of the rail, slide it gently left and right to check it moves with light pressure. Close the door, plug in and turn the printer on.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsYou might see
- An error such as carriage jam or carriage stall on the screen or in the app
- The cartridges don't move to the center when you open the ink door
- The carriage moves partway, stops and the printer shows an error
- Clicking or grinding as the printer tries to move the carriage
- A brand-new printer shows an error during its first setup
Usually caused by
- Packing tape, foam or a transport lock left on a new printer
- Torn paper or a small object in the carriage path
- Paper jammed underneath the carriage
- A cartridge not fully seated, sitting high and catching
- A dirty or damaged rail, belt or encoder strip
Safety first. Turn the printer off and unplug it before reaching inside, move the carriage only with gentle pressure, and avoid touching the thin, clear plastic strip that runs behind it.
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 printer
0 of 8 steps tried
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Remove all packing material
New printers ship with strips of tape (often brightly colored), foam blocks, cardboard inserts and sometimes a plastic clip holding the carriage in place. Open every cover, door and tray and take it all out, including anything inside the scanner lid. The setup guide usually shows where each piece is.
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Release any transport lock
Some printers, including many ink tank models, have a transport lock, lever or switch that holds the carriage or seals the ink for shipping. If your setup guide or manual mentions one, set it to the printing or unlocked position before turning the printer on.
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Look along the carriage path
With the printer off and unplugged, open the access door and shine a flashlight left, right and underneath the carriage, including the parking area at the side. Remove torn paper, labels, paper clips or pen caps with your fingers or blunt plastic tweezers, never a knife or screwdriver.
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Clear paper from under the carriage
Paper caught beneath the carriage stops it dead. Pull it out slowly with both hands in the direction it normally travels. Open the rear access door or remove the duplex unit, if your printer has one, and check from the back as well.
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Move the carriage gently by hand
Still with the power off, if the carriage sits in the middle of the rail, slide it slowly to each side to feel for anything blocking it. If it's parked at the side, it may be locked there by design, so don't force it. It should move smoothly with light pressure; stiffness or a gritty feel points to an obstruction.
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Reseat the cartridges
A cartridge or print head that isn't fully latched sticks up and can catch on the frame. If you can reach them, press each cartridge down firmly until it clicks and close any latch or lid over them.
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Restart and test
Close every cover, plug the printer straight into a wall outlet and turn it on. The carriage should move through its startup routine and settle. Clear any message on the screen and print a test page. If the error returns at once, note the exact wording or code.
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Stop if it still won't move
If the path is clear but the carriage won't move with gentle pressure, or you see a loose or broken belt, stop. Forcing it can damage the belt, the motor or the carriage itself. Contact the manufacturer through its official support website with your model and serial number.
Did this fix it?
Good. To confirm everything is healthy, print a test page. It takes a minute and shows any quality problems early.
Try these next
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 move the print carriage by hand?
Yes, gently, with the printer off and unplugged and only when it isn't locked at the side. If it resists light pressure, don't force it.
Why does it say carriage jam when there is no paper inside?
Usually something small is in the way, such as a scrap of paper, a piece of packing tape or a cartridge sitting high. Less often, a dirty encoder strip or a mechanical fault is the cause.
Does a carriage error mean the printer is broken?
Often not. Most carriage errors come from obstructions that you can clear yourself. Only an error that keeps returning with a clear path suggests a fault that needs repair.