Printer not picking up paper or says Out of Paper when it has paper

Medium≈ 15-30 min

Quick answer

When a printer shows Out of Paper, Load Paper or No Paper Fed with paper in the tray, start with the paper: reload a flat, even stack, slide the guide until it touches the paper without bending it, and match the paper size and type settings. If it still will not pick, unplug the printer and clean the pick rollers.

Basic checks first

  • There is paper in the tray the printer feeds from (the rear tray on a Canon G3010, the input tray on most HP models), and the stack is not above the load limit or the arrow mark on the edge guide (Canon, Epson).
  • The sheets are flat and in good condition: not curled, creased, torn, wrinkled, dusty, damp, too thin or too thick (HP, Canon, Epson).
  • All the paper in the tray is the same size and type. HP says the printer can only process one type of paper at a time.
  • The paper width guide touches the edge of the stack without pressing it tightly. HP lists a guide pressed too tightly as a cause.
  • The paper tray is pushed all the way in, and any rear cover or Jam Clear Cover is fully closed (HP, Brother).
  • The paper size and type in the print settings match the paper you loaded (HP, Canon).

Step-by-step by operating system

01Match Paper Size and Media in the printer driverHP's steps for its Deskjet 1000, 2000, 3000 and Ink Advantage 2010 on Windows: in the document, click File, then Print, select the printer and click Properties. On the Paper/Quality tab, set Paper Size to the paper in the tray, choose the matching paper type in the Media list and click OK. HP explains that the printer might not pick up paper when the paper in the tray does not match these settings.
02Print a self-test report to check the hardwareOn those HP Deskjet models, open the HP product software and go to Printer Actions, Maintenance Tasks, the Device Services tab and Print Diagnostic Information. If the report prints on plain white paper, HP says the printer works, and the cause is more likely the paper, the driver settings or the connection.
03Test plain paper before special paperIf the document prints on plain white paper but not on a special paper type, HP says the problem is probably the paper you were trying to print on.

Fixes by connection type

Power

For the reset, HP says to turn the printer off (or disconnect the cord if it does not turn off), unplug the power cord from the power source, wait 60 seconds and plug it directly into a wall outlet. If your printer has a rechargeable battery, HP says to remove it first.

Printer software

On HP Smart Tank printers the Load paper or Out of paper message can appear in the printer software. The paper still has to be checked and reloaded at the printer.

Document feeder (ADF)

If the feeder does not take originals when you scan or copy ('Load original' or 'Document feeder mispick'), HP's fix for the DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800 is different: unplug the printer, lift the ADF cover, clear any obstruction, clean the rollers and separator pad with a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled or filtered water, and let them dry for 10 minutes.

Differences by brand

HPWork in HP's order: check and reload the paper, clean the paper pick rollers, reset, then service. Clean the gray pick rollers with a long cotton swab dampened with distilled, filtered or bottled water (HP warns tap water might damage the printer), rotate them upward with your fingers and let them dry for 10 or 15 minutes. On Smart Tank models, lift and hold the input tray shield but do not remove it. On the DeskJet 2700, 4100 and 4800, also check the cleanout door on the base for paper or debris.
CanonOn the G3010 series, flip through and align the stack, load it in portrait orientation with the print side up against the right side of the rear tray, and slide the guide until it just touches the left edge. In very high or low temperature and humidity, Canon says to load less than half of the paper load limit. Support code 1000 means no paper, or paper not loaded properly, in the rear tray. Do not tilt the printer or turn it upside down, because ink may leak.
EpsonEpson's user guide says to remove paper that does not feed and reload it against the right side and beneath the tab, then slide the edge guide over without going above the arrow mark. If paper jams when you load only one or two sheets, load more sheets, but not more than the recommended number.
BrotherFor No Paper Fed on the MFC-J650DW, MFC-J870DW and MFC-J875DW, put the photo bypass tray back in the Normal printing position, push the paper tray in until it locks and check that the Jam Clear Cover is closed evenly at both ends. Paper dust on the pick-up rollers is another cause: unplug, pull the tray out, open the Jam Clear Cover at the back and clean the rollers with a soft lint-free cloth moistened with water, then wipe them dry.

Decision tree

Is the paper loaded the way your printer expects?Take the stack out, remove any bent, torn or wrinkled sheets, tap the stack on a flat surface so the edges are even, and reload it with the print side up (HP, Canon). For a test, HP suggests 10 to 25 sheets of plain white, unused paper. Slide the guide until it touches the paper without bending it, and push the tray all the way in.
Is it photo, glossy or thick paper?Brother says glossy paper feed problems are common when the paper is thicker than the machine recommends; add more paper to the tray and load glossy paper shiny side down. For photo paper on HP Deskjet models, load the rougher side facing down. If plain paper feeds but special paper does not, HP says the paper is the likely problem.
Can you hear the pick rollers turn?HP says to listen for the rubber paper pick rollers rotating, then slowly push the paper farther in until a roller catches it. Do not push it too far, which can cause a jam. If the paper only feeds when you push it, clean the rollers again; if that keeps happening after repeated cleaning, HP says to service the printer.
Are the pick rollers dirty?Dust, paper fiber and other debris on the rollers can cause paper feed problems (HP, Brother). Turn the printer off and unplug it first: HP warns this avoids the risk of injury or electric shock. Clean the rollers with a lint-free swab or cloth lightly dampened with distilled water and let them dry before you plug the printer back in.
Still not picking after cleaning and a reset?Stop there. HP recommends service or replacement if the issue persists after all the steps (repair fees might apply out of warranty), Canon says to contact a Canon service center, and Brother points you to its customer service.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my printer say it is out of paper but it isn't?

HP lists these causes: an empty or overloaded tray, curled paper, paper loaded with the wrong side up, paper too slick for the printer, paper not engaged with the feed rollers, a paper width guide pressed too tightly, a tray not fully inserted, driver settings that do not match the paper, and dusty rubber rollers. Canon's support code 1000 adds paper not loaded properly in the rear tray.

Why is my printer not feeding paper?

HP says a paper feed issue can come from dusty or contaminated rollers, the condition of the paper, or even issues with the software. Reload clean, flat paper of one size and type, match the paper settings, then clean the pick rollers. HP notes the printer might make noises as though it is printing while no paper moves through it.

Printer won't feed paper into the printer. Should I push the paper in?

HP suggests slowly pushing the paper farther in until the pick roller engages, as a test. If it then feeds, the paper might not have been loaded far enough. Do not push too far, which can cause jams, and Brother adds that paper pushed too far can lift at the back of the tray. If it only feeds when pushed, clean the rollers again.

Printer says no paper but has paper (Brother No Paper Fed). What should I check?

Brother lists six causes: the photo bypass tray is not in the Normal printing position, the tray is empty or badly loaded, paper is jammed, paper dust has built up on the pick-up rollers, the Jam Clear Cover is not closed properly, or the paper tray is not fully inserted. Fix the cause, then press OK.

Printer says jammed but no paper. Is it the same problem?

They overlap. Brother counts jammed paper among the causes of No Paper Fed, and Canon says that if paper tears in the rear tray you should follow its paper jam support code steps. If the printer shows a jam error and you cannot find any paper, see our guide for a printer that says paper jam but there is no paper.

PrinterErrors editorial team

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Related error codes

HP E4E4 on an HP Smart Tank or Ink Tank printer is a paper Canon E03E03 on a Canon G2010 or G3010 series printer means pap