Paper jam
Quick answer
A paper jam happens when a sheet stops moving cleanly through the printer, so the rollers can no longer feed it. Almost every jam is safe to clear yourself: power the printer off, open the access doors, and pull any stuck paper out slowly and evenly. The key is removing every scrap: even a small torn piece left inside will trigger the same error again.
Basic checks first
- The printer is turned off before you reach inside (this protects your hands and the paper sensors).
- You can see where the sheet has stopped: input tray, inside the main cover, or the rear/duplex door.
- The paper you loaded matches the tray guides and is not curled, damp, or stuck together.
- No labels, staples, or foreign objects went through with the paper.
Step-by-step by operating system
Fixes by connection type
A jam is mechanical, not a cable fault, but cancel the queued job over USB first so Windows does not immediately re-feed a new sheet into the jam.
Clear the held job in the maker app or OS queue; a wireless job can keep retrying and re-jam the moment you close the cover.
On shared/office printers, cancel your job at the panel or in the queue so the next person’s job does not push paper into the jam you are clearing.
Differences by brand
Decision tree
Frequently asked questions
It says paper jam but I can’t find any paper. What now?
Turn the printer off and check the rollers and rear door for a small torn scrap, then power-cycle it. A phantom jam is usually a leftover fragment or a dusty/failing paper sensor that a restart or gentle cleaning clears.
Why does my printer jam over and over?
Repeat jams usually come from overfilled or misaligned trays, curled or damp paper, or worn rollers. Fan the stack, set the guides snugly, use flat dry paper, and wipe the feed rollers with a lint-free cloth. If it continues, the rollers may be worn and need replacing.
When should I stop and call a technician?
Stop if paper tore deep inside where you cannot reach it, if you feel firm resistance, or if the jam error persists after everything is removed and the printer is restarted. Forcing it or touching the internal rollers can cause real damage.
Last updated · Content is independent and not sponsored by any manufacturer.
Sources & methodology
- HP: Fix Paper Jam Errors Printer maker, official paper-jam guidance
- Canon USA: Removing Jammed Paper Inside the Printer Printer maker, pull gently / find torn pieces
- Epson: Paper Jam Problems in the Rear Cover Printer maker, do not touch rollers, do not force
- Microsoft: Fix print job stuck in queue errors in Windows OS vendor, clear queue and restart spooler
- Apple: Use AirPrint to print from your iPhone or iPad OS vendor, Print Center to cancel and reprint
Spotted something inaccurate? Report a content issue