Attention required HP

HP Error E3

What the code means · Diagnosis at a glance

E3 on an HP printer is a carriage jam: during a print job the carriage stalls and the control panel shows E3 or Carriage Jam. HP's fix is to turn the printer off, unplug it, open the access door, remove crumpled paper or dislodged labels from the carriage path, check the carriage slides side to side, then reset the printer.

Jump to the fix ↓ HP: HP Printers, Carriage jam or E3 error ↗
Disconnect power firstHP's procedure starts with turning the printer off and disconnecting the power cord. Do this before you open the access door and check the carriage.
Ink can stainDo not tilt an ink tank printer when removing obstructions from the carriage path. HP warns that ink might spill.
Do not open internal partsDo not force a locked or stuck carriage, and do not open the printhead cover (Smart Tank 210, 520, 580, 590, 5000, 5100) or the printhead latch (Smart Tank 500, 510, 530). HP warns that forcing the carriage can damage the printer.
Model-specificThe lights shown with E3 and the doors you open differ between DeskJet, Smart Tank and Ink Tank families. Follow the notes for your model.
May need a technicianIf E3 persists after every step, contact HP Customer Support to schedule a repair or replacement.

Affected brands & models

HP DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 printersHP DeskJet 2800, 4200 and 4900 printersHP DeskJet 2900, 4300, 5100 and 5800 printersHP Smart Tank 500, 510 and 530 printersHP Smart Tank 210, 520, 580, 590, 5000 and 5100 printersHP Ink Tank 310 and 410 printersOther HP printers covered by HP's general Carriage jam or E3 error document

Diagnosis at a glance

Likely causes ranked, with severity and the recommended action.

Crumpled paper, dislodged labels or other objects in the carriage path Attention Likelihood: Check firstAction: Turn the printer off, disconnect the power cord, open the access door and remove whatever blocks the carriage
Carriage latch not locked into place, or printhead cover not properly closed (Smart Tank 210, 520, 580, 590, 5000, 5100) Attention Likelihood: Check while the door is openAction: Press the latch down gently only if it is not secured; on those Smart Tank models make sure the printhead cover is closed, without opening it
Carriage held at one side by an obstruction Attention Likelihood: If the carriage does not slideAction: Move the carriage to each side and remove obstructions; do not force it if it is locked or stuck
Printer still in an error state after the path is clear Quick fix Likelihood: After the steps aboveAction: Reset: unplug the power cord, wait 60 seconds, plug it directly into a wall outlet and turn the printer on
A fault that remains after every HP step Service Likelihood: Last resortAction: Contact HP Customer Support to schedule a repair or replacement; check your warranty status first

What the code means

HP uses E3 to report a carriage jam. In HP's general document, the ink cartridge carriage stalls in the printer during a print job, and a Carriage Jam or E3 error displays on the control panel. For the DeskJet 2800, 4200, 4900, 2900, 4300, 5100 and 5800 printers and the Smart Tank 210, 520, 580, 590, 5000 and 5100 printers, HP describes E3 as the print carriage inside the printer having jammed or stalled.

The lights shown with E3 depend on the model. On Smart Tank 500, 510 and 530 printers, E3 appears with a blinking Ink/Printhead light and Resume light. On Ink Tank 310 and 410 printers, 'Error 3' displays and the Resume light blinks. On the DeskJet 2800/4200/4900 and 2900/4300/5100/5800 families and the Smart Tank 210/520/580/590/5000/5100 models, the number counter on the display shows the letter E and a 1-digit code.

E3 is not the paper jam code. HP's DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 document puts it this way: an E3 or E4 error indicates a carriage or paper jam. E3 is the carriage; E4 is a paper jam with its own procedure.

Most frequent causes

  • Crumpled paper in the carriage path.
  • Dislodged labels or other objects blocking the carriage.
  • Jammed paper that stops the carriage from moving.
  • On printers with a carriage latch, a latch that is not locked into place.
  • On Smart Tank 210, 520, 580, 590, 5000 and 5100 printers, a printhead cover that is not properly closed.
  • A printer error state that remains after the jam is cleared and needs a reset.

Quick fix: try this first

  1. If the Cancel button on the control panel is lit, press it and wait until the printer is silent.
  2. Turn the printer off and disconnect the power cord.
  3. Open the cartridge access door and remove crumpled paper, dislodged labels or other objects from the carriage path.
  4. Slide the carriage gently side to side to check that nothing blocks it, without forcing it.
  5. Close the door, reconnect the power cord, turn the printer on and press Resume on models that have it.

Step-by-step solution

0 / 9 done

Tick each step as you go. Your progress is kept while you work.

Before you start

  • Find your exact model name: the doors to open and the lights shown with E3 differ between DeskJet, Smart Tank and Ink Tank families.
  • Turn the printer off and disconnect the power cord before you reach into the carriage area.
  • Keep an ink tank printer level while you clear the carriage path.
  • If your printer has a rechargeable battery, be ready to remove it for the reset.

What not to do

  • ×Do not force the carriage to move if it is locked or stuck; HP says this can damage the printer.
  • ×Do not tilt an ink tank printer while removing obstructions; HP says ink might spill.
  • ×Do not press down on the carriage latch of an ink tank printer if it is already secured.
  • ×Do not open the printhead cover on Smart Tank 210, 520, 580, 590, 5000 and 5100 printers, or the printhead latch on Smart Tank 500, 510 and 530 printers.
  • ×Do not reach into the carriage path before turning the printer off and disconnecting the power cord, which is how HP's procedure starts.

When to stop & call support

Stop and contact HP if E3 persists after you have cleared the carriage path, checked the latch or printhead cover for your model and reset the printer. HP's next step is to service or replace the printer: schedule a repair or replacement through HP Customer Support and check your warranty status first, since repair fees might apply out of warranty. Also stop if the carriage is locked or stuck and does not move under gentle pressure, because HP warns that forcing it can damage the printer.

If the error comes back

If E3 comes back, turn the printer off, unplug it and open the access door again. Look for anything left in the carriage path, such as crumpled paper or a dislodged label, and check the latch or printhead cover for your model. Then repeat the reset with the power cord plugged directly into a wall outlet. If E3 still returns after all of HP's steps, HP says to service or replace the printer.

Related parts & consumables

Print carriageThe ink cartridge carriage that moves side to side inside the printer; E3 means it has jammed or stalled
Cartridge access doorGives access to the carriage; opened together with the front door on DeskJet 2800/4200/4900 and 2900/4300/5100/5800 printers
Carriage latch or printhead coverPress a carriage latch down gently only if it is not secured; on Smart Tank models keep the printhead cover or latch closed

Questions about HP E3

What does error E3 mean on an HP printer?

E3 is HP's carriage jam error: during a print job the carriage stalls, or in HP's words the print carriage inside the printer has jammed or stalled. The control panel shows E3 or Carriage Jam. Clear the carriage path with the printer off and unplugged, then reset it.

Is HP error E3 the same as a paper jam?

No. HP's DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 document says an E3 or E4 error indicates a carriage or paper jam: E3 is the carriage jam and E4 is the paper jam. Paper can still be the cause of E3 when crumpled sheets or jammed paper block the carriage path.

How do I fix HP Smart Tank error code E3?

On Smart Tank 210, 520, 580, 590, 5000 and 5100 printers, open the front door, make sure the printhead cover is closed without opening it, remove jammed paper or objects blocking the carriage, close the door and press Resume or Cancel. On Smart Tank 500, 510 and 530, E3 shows with blinking Ink/Printhead and Resume lights; clear the jam without opening the printhead latch and press Resume.

How do I fix the E3 error on an HP Smart Tank 210?

HP's Smart Tank document for the 210 says: open the front door, check that the printhead cover is properly closed and the carriage is not obstructed, remove any jammed paper or objects, close the door and press Resume to continue or Cancel. If the problem persists, turn the printer off and on again or contact HP.

How do I fix the E3 error on an HP Ink Tank printer?

On Ink Tank 310 and 410 printers, 'Error 3' displays and the Resume light blinks. HP says to turn off the printer and remove any jammed paper or foreign objects blocking the carriage. Do not tilt the printer, do not press a secured carriage latch, and reset the printer if E3 remains.

PrinterErrors editorial team

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