Printer won't pick up paper
Printer whirs but won't grab paper from the tray? Check how the paper is loaded, the guides and tray settings, then clean the pickup rollers.
Quick fix
Take the paper out, fan it, tap it square and reload it below the tray's maximum mark, with the guides just touching the stack. Push the tray all the way in. If it still won't feed, unplug the printer and wipe the rubber pickup rollers with a lint-free cloth dampened with water.
Didn’t work? Go to the full stepsYou might see
- You hear the printer whir but no paper moves
- The printer says it's out of paper when the tray is full
- Paper only feeds if you push it in by hand
- It feeds from one tray but not another
Usually caused by
- Too much, too little or crooked paper in the tray
- Tray not fully inserted, or guides squeezing the stack
- Dusty or glazed pickup rollers
- Paper too glossy, curled or heavy for that tray
- The wrong tray or manual feed selected in the print settings
Safety first. Turn the printer off and unplug it before reaching in to clean 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 5 steps tried
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Reload the paper
Remove the stack, fan it to separate the sheets, and tap it square on a table. Reload it below the tray's maximum mark; on some printers a stack of only a few sheets also feeds poorly, so try 20 to 50.
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Set the guides and seat the tray
Slide the guides until they just touch the edges, since a pinched stack can't move. Push the tray in until it stops, or for rear-feed printers make sure the paper sits fully down in the slot.
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Try different paper
Use flat plain paper within the weight your printer supports; very smooth, glossy or curled sheets can slip under the rollers. If plain paper feeds but card doesn't, use the rear or manual feed for thick media.
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Clean the pickup rollers
With the printer unplugged, find the rubber rollers that grab the paper, usually visible with the tray removed or inside the rear feed slot. Wipe them with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water, turning them with a finger if they rotate, then let them dry for 10 minutes.
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Use the roller cleaning routine
Many printers have a paper feed or roller cleaning option in the maintenance menu that spins the rollers to clean them. Your manual lists the steps for your model.
Windows 11 / 10
0 of 3 steps tried
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Choose the right tray
In the app's print dialog or in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > your printer > Printing preferences, check the paper source. If it's set to manual feed or an empty tray, the printer waits or reports no paper; choose automatic selection or the tray you filled.
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Match the paper size
Make sure the paper size in the print settings matches the paper loaded. Some printers refuse to feed, or show a size mismatch error, when they differ.
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Clear and resend the job
Click Open print queue on the printer's settings page, cancel the waiting job, and print one test page.
macOS
0 of 3 steps tried
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Check the paper source
In the print dialog, open Media & Quality and set Feed from to automatic selection or the tray you loaded, not manual feed.
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Match the paper size
Check that Paper Size in the print dialog matches the loaded paper, such as US Letter or A4.
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Clear the queue
Open the printer's queue from its Dock icon or Printers & Scanners, delete stuck jobs, click Resume if paused, and print again.
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
Why does my printer say out of paper when the tray is full?
Usually the rollers can't grab the top sheet, so the printer assumes the tray is empty. Reloading, adjusting the guides and cleaning the rollers solve most cases.
Can I use alcohol to clean the rollers?
Water is the safest choice. Some makers allow a little isopropyl alcohol on certain rollers, but it can dry out rubber on others, so check your manual first.