E4 on an HP Smart Tank or Ink Tank printer is a paper jam error: the printer stops feeding pages and the Resume light blinks. HP notes the jam can be real or false. Clear paper from the trays and inside the printer, clean the paper rollers, and reset the printer before asking HP for service.
Disconnect power firstHP warns: disconnect the power cord before reaching inside the printer to avoid the risk of injury or electric shock.
Ink can stainClose the ink tank plugs before tilting the printer and rest it on its back only for as long as it takes to clear the jam. HP warns that turning an Ink Tank printer on its right or left side causes ink leakage.
Model-specificJam locations and button sequences differ between Smart Tank 500/550, Smart Tank 670/720/750/6000/7000/7300 and Ink Tank 310/410. Follow the steps marked for your model.
May need a technicianIf E4 persists after every step, contact HP Customer Support to schedule a repair or replacement.
Affected brands & models
HP Smart Tank 500, 508, 511, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519, 550, 551, 555 and 559 All-in-OneHP Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, 6000, 7000 and 7300 seriesHP Ink Tank 310, 311, 315, 316, 318 and 319HP Ink Tank Wireless 410, 411, 412, 415, 416, 418 and 419
Diagnosis at a glance
Likely causes ranked, with severity and the recommended action.
Paper jammed in the input tray or output tray Attention Likelihood: Check firstAction: Press Cancel where your model supports it, then pull the paper out gently with both hands and remove torn pieces
Paper or torn pieces inside the printer (printhead access area, ink access door, rear door or document feeder) Attention Likelihood: Check nextAction: Power off and unplug, open the access door for your model and remove the paper
Paper in the paper path under the printer (Smart Tank 500/550 and Ink Tank 310/410) Attention Likelihood: Only if E4 remains after the trays and inside are clearAction: Unplug, close the ink tank plugs, rest the printer on its back and open the cleanout door
Printhead carriage blocked by paper or an object (Ink Tank 310/410) Attention Likelihood: If the jam is cleared but E4 staysAction: Unplug, remove obstructions and check that the carriage moves freely across the printer
Dust, paper fiber or debris on the paper feed rollers Attention Likelihood: If no paper is foundAction: Run the automated roller cleaning from the control panel, then clean the gray pick rollers by hand
A false jam that needs a printer reset Quick fix Likelihood: After the steps aboveAction: 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 to schedule a repair or replacement; check your warranty first
What the code means
HP uses E4 on its Smart Tank and Ink Tank printers to report a paper jam. The printer stops feeding pages, E4 appears on the control panel and the Resume light blinks. On Ink Tank 310 and 410 models the Error icon and the Paper Error icon blink as well.
HP warns that paper jams can be real or false: the printer might report a jam even when there is no jammed paper. The same procedure covers both cases. Jams can occur in several areas, so if you do not find paper in one area, move on to the next. HP asks you to perform the tasks in order and to try the printer after each one.
Where to look depends on the model family. Smart Tank 500/550 and Ink Tank 310/410 models have an input tray, an output tray, a printhead access area behind the exterior door and a cleanout door on the bottom. Smart Tank 670, 720, 750, 6000, 7000 and 7300 models list four locations: the input tray area (with a duplexer plate behind the trays), inside the printer under the ink access door, the rear door, and the document feeder on Smart Tank 750 and 7300.
Most frequent causes
A sheet or torn pieces of paper stuck in the input tray or output tray.
Paper or a foreign object inside the printer, in the printhead access area or behind the ink access door.
Paper stuck behind the rear door or in the automatic document feeder (Smart Tank 670/720/750/6000/7000/7300 family).
Paper in the paper path on the bottom of the printer, reached through the cleanout door (Smart Tank 500/550 and Ink Tank 310/410).
A printhead carriage that cannot move freely because of paper or an obstruction (Ink Tank 310/410).
Dust, paper fiber and other debris on the paper feed rollers, which HP says can cause jams and paper-feed issues.
A false jam: the printer reports a jam with no jammed paper.
Quick fix: try this first
On Smart Tank 500/550 and Ink Tank 310/410, press the Cancel button so the printer tries to clear the jam on its own.
Remove loose paper from the input tray and pull any jammed sheet out gently with both hands.
Check the output tray and remove torn pieces of paper or foreign objects.
Reload a stack of paper and press the Resume button.
If E4 is still shown, unplug the power cord, wait 60 seconds and plug it directly into a wall outlet.
Step-by-step solution
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Tick each step as you go. Your progress is kept while you work.
Before you start
Find your exact model name: the E4 procedure differs between Smart Tank 500/550, Smart Tank 670/720/750/6000/7000/7300 and Ink Tank 310/410.
Turn the printer off and disconnect the power cord before you reach inside it.
Have a flashlight and a cotton swab ready; for the Smart Tank 670 family use distilled, filtered or bottled water on the rollers.
Before tilting the printer onto its back, make sure the ink tank plugs are closed and secure.
What not to do
×Do not reach inside the printer with the power cord connected; HP warns of injury or electric shock.
×Do not turn an Ink Tank printer on its right or left side; HP says this causes ink leakage.
×Do not leave a Smart Tank 500/550 on its back longer than it takes to clear the jam, to avoid ink leakage.
×Do not press down on the printhead latch if it is already closed (Ink Tank 310/410).
×Do not use tap water on the rollers of Smart Tank 670/720/750/6000/7000/7300 printers; HP says it might damage the printer.
×Do not pull jammed paper out hard; HP says to pull it out gently with both hands.
When to stop & call support
Stop and contact HP if E4 persists after you have cleared every jam location for your model, cleaned the rollers and reset the printer. HP's next step is to service or replace the printer: contact HP Customer Support to schedule a repair or replacement and check your warranty status first, since repair fees might apply out of warranty. Also stop if a step would mean reaching inside with the power cord connected.
If the error comes back
If E4 comes back after you cleared it, look at how the paper is loaded. HP's prevention tips: keep the paper flat with no bent or torn edges, rest the paper guide against the stack, do not overfill the tray but keep at least 5 sheets loaded, use paper compatible with the printer, do not mix paper types or sizes, update the paper settings in your app when you change paper, avoid dusty environments, and wait for the printer to finish a job or show a Load Paper message before adding paper. Debris on the feed rollers can also cause jams, so repeat the roller cleaning. If it still returns after every step, arrange HP service.
Related parts & consumables
Paper pick rollersGray rollers seen through the input tray (or the tray gap on the Smart Tank 670 family); clean them with a damp swab
Cleanout doorDoor on the base of Smart Tank 500/550 and Ink Tank 310/410 printers; opened with the tabs on either side
Duplexer platePlate behind the trays on Smart Tank 670/720/750/6000/7000/7300 printers; pull it out to reach jammed paper
Printhead access doorInner door behind the exterior door (ink access door on the Smart Tank 670 family) giving access to the carriage area
Questions about HP E4
What does error E4 mean on an HP printer?+
On HP Smart Tank and Ink Tank printers, E4 is a paper jam error. The printer stops feeding pages, E4 shows on the control panel and the Resume light blinks. On Ink Tank 310/410 models the Error and Paper Error icons blink too.
How do I fix HP printer error E4?+
Work through HP's tasks in order and try the printer after each one: clear the input and output trays, check inside the printer, check the other jam locations for your model, clean the paper rollers, then reset the printer by unplugging it for 60 seconds.
Why does my HP printer say paper jam but there is no paper?+
HP says jams can be real or false: the printer might report a jam with no jammed paper. The same steps apply. Check for torn pieces in every jam location, make sure the carriage can move freely on Ink Tank models, clean the rollers and reset the printer.
How do I fix the E4 error on an HP Smart Tank 515?+
The Smart Tank 515 is covered by HP's Smart Tank 500/550 document. Press Cancel, clear the input tray, output tray and printhead access area, and if E4 remains, clear the cleanout door under the printer. Then run the roller cleaning (hold Power, Cancel three times, Color Copy seven times) and reset the printer.
What is the HP Ink Tank 319 or Wireless 415 E4 error solution?+
Both models use HP's Ink Tank 310/410 procedure: clear the trays and the printhead access area, the cleanout door under the printer if needed, and make sure the carriage moves freely. Then run the cleaning tool (hold Power, Cancel three times, Start Color Copy eight times), clean the rollers and reset.
Can I lay my HP printer on its side to reach the jam?+
No. HP says to rest the printer on its back, with the ink tank plugs closed, and warns that turning an Ink Tank printer on its right or left side causes ink leakage. Keep it on its back only as long as it takes to clear the jam.
What if E4 keeps coming back on my HP Smart Tank?+
Follow HP's prevention tips: load flat paper of one type and size, rest the guide against the stack, keep at least 5 sheets in the tray without overfilling it, and clean the rollers. If E4 persists after every step, HP says to contact support for repair or replacement.
PEPrinterErrors editorial team
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