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This video explains how to fix your printer when you have a paper jam error message on
your computer. You might also notice the Check Paper light blinking on the printer.
Clear the paper jam from the back of the printer first.
Remove the paper from the input tray. Press the Power button to turn the printer
on. Open the cartridge access door.
The carriage might try to move into the center of the printer. If so, allow it to move into
that position. Turn to the back of the printer.
Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
Remove the rear access door. Check the printer for the jammed paper.
If you see the paper in the printer, remove the paper by pulling evenly with both hands to
avoid tearing. If the paper tears while removing it from
the rollers, check the rollers and wheels for torn pieces of paper that might remain
inside the printer. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more paper
jams are likely to occur. Re-insert the rear access door into the printer.
Go to the front of the printer. Check to see if paper is jammed in the front.
Be careful when removing paper from the front, as it can damage the printer.
Gently remove any paper you see. Make sure you get all the small pieces that may tear
off. If the paper tears while removing it from the rollers, check the rollers and wheels
for any remaining paper pieces. If all the pieces of paper are not removed from the printer,
more paper jams are likely to occur. Use a flashlight to make sure you have removed
all the small pieces of paper from inside the printer.
Check for obstructions under and around the carriage that could prevent it from moving.
Make sure the carriage can move freely by gently pushing it to the left and then to
the right. This helps find any obstructions that might block the movement of the carriage.
If any obstructions are found while moving the carriage, remove them from the printer.
Close the cartridge access door. Go to the back of the printer,
and reconnect the power cord to the back of the printer.
Go to the front of the printer. If the printer does not automatically turn
on, press the Power button on the control panel to turn the printer on.
Try printing a self test page. On the printer control panel, press and hold
the Cancel button and then press the Color Start button.
Release both buttons at the same time. The self-test page prints.
If the test page prints successfully, the issue is resolved. If the test page does not
print, go on to the next step. Printer rollers get dirty from paper dust,
ink, and oil from your fingers. In this step, we'll clean them.
Before you begin, gather the following cleaning materials:
Clean, lint-free cloths. Clean cotton swabs.
Clean water to dampen the cloths. Distilled or bottled water is preferable but not required.
Do not use alcohol or other chemical cleaners. Go to the back of the printer.
Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
Remove the printer's rear access door. Clean the rollers visible in the printer with
a clean, lint-free cloth lightly moistened with water. The cloth should be damp, but
not soaking wet. Use your finger to turn the roller toward the printer. Make sure you remove
any buildup or debris from the entire surface of the roller.
While the rear access door is off, check the rollers on the door. Note if any rollers are
missing, don't roll freely, or are not springy when you push on them. These conditions could
mean the rollers aren't feeding paper, and that the rear access door needs to be replaced.
Reinsert the printer's rear access door. Plug the power cord back in.
Go to the front of the printer, and press the Power button to turn the printer
on. Open the cartridge access door on the front
of the printer. The carriage might try to move into the center
of the printer. If so, allow it to move into that position.
Go to the back of the printer. While the printer is still on, disconnect
the power cord from the back of the printer. Go to the front of the printer.
Check for obstructions under and around the carriage that could prevent it from moving.
Make sure the carriage can move freely by gently pushing it to the left and then to the right. This helps
find any obstructions that might block the movement of the carriage. If any obstructions
are found while moving the carriage, remove them from the printer.
Close the cartridge access door. Go to the back of the printer,
and reconnect the power cord to the back of the printer.
Go to the front of the printer. Press the Power button to turn on the printer.
Load paper into the input tray. Try to print a self-test page again.
On the printer control panel, press and hold the Cancel button and then press the Color
Start button. Release both buttons at the same time.
The self-test page prints. If the test page prints successfully, the
issue is resolved. If the test page does not print, go on to the next step.
Sometimes the issue can be resolved by resetting the printer.
Perform a power reset by first removing all the paper in the input tray.
Make sure that the printer is on, if it is not on, press the Power button.
Go to the back of the printer. Without turning the printer off, disconnect
the power cord from the back of the printer. Pull the power cord from the wall outlet.
Wait 15 seconds. Then reinsert the power cord into the wall
outlet. Next, plug the power cord back into the printer.
Go to the front of the printer. If the printer does not turn on by itself,
press the Power button to turn it on. Try to print a self-test page again.
On the printer control panel, press and hold the Cancel button and then press the Color
Start button. Release both buttons at the same time.
The self-test page prints. If the test page prints successfully, the
issue is resolved. If the test page does not print, go on to the next step.
If you've tried everything described in this video and you still have a problem, your
printer likely needs some type of service. Contact HP to find out what the support options
are for your printer. Your options for service may vary depending on how long you've owned
the printer and what country you live in.