My Printer Jams Paper All the Time - What Do I Need to Look For Now?

When working with any printer it is inevitable that you will encounter a paper jam. While this may indicate a larger hardware issue, most likely it is a simple fix. Below are the steps you'll want to follow when your printer jams:

1. Turn off your printer.
2. Inspect the location or tray the printed paper ejects to.*
3. Remove all paper trays and any paper that may be stuck between the tray and the printer.*
4. Open the printer door that allows you access to the printer ink cartridges or toner and look for any stuck paper.*
5. Turn the printer back on. If you continue to receive a printer jam error, try repeating the above steps. If an issue still persists (and you do not see any paper that is stuck in the printer), it is likely your printer is experiencing another hardware issue. At that time, you should contact the printer manufacturer for additional assistance and/or repair.

*At this point, it is OK to manually remove the paper. In order to remove any paper, you will need to pull on it with both hands. Be careful not to tear the paper at the same time. If you’re unable to get to an edge of the paper that allows you to pull it, you may need to manually rotate the gears that feed the paper through the printer.

Below are some ways to prevent paper jams:

1. If your printer has a paper tray, do not fill the tray to capacity. If you’re encountering frequent paper jams, reduce the amount of paper you place in the tray each time it is filled.
2. Make sure the tray feeding the paper into the printer is aligned properly. Also check to see that the slider used to hold the paper in place in the tray fits snug with the paper.
3. Many printers have sliders that allow different types and sizes of paper to be fed into the printer. If the slider is not properly positioned it can cause paper jams.
4. Use standard office paper. Folded paper, paper with labels, and specialty paper such as hard bound paper can often cause paper jams.
5. If you’re uncertain what type of paper you should use with your printer, check your printer documentation. It will list the types of paper compatible with your printer.
6. Do not mix the types of paper you’re feeding into the printer at one time. If you need to change the type of paper or the size of paper being used, you need to remove any other paper currently in the printer before inserting new paper.
7. Examine the printer for any previous stuck paper in the printer. Previous paper jams, torn paper, printing labels, or other foreign objects in the printer can cause reoccurring printer jams.

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