Clearing a paper jam from inside a printer
Artículo · Printing Blog | Startoner

How to Fix a Paper Jam (and Stop It Happening Again)

Actualizado 18 julio 2026

A paper jam is the most classic fault of any printer and, almost always, the most harmless: solved properly it leaves no lasting damage. The damage is caused by haste — pulling hard, leaving a piece inside — not by the jam itself. Do it methodically and nothing will happen.

Key points

  • Switch off and unplug the printer before putting your hands in, and pull the paper with both hands, slowly, in the direction of travel.
  • A piece the size of a fingernail is enough for the jam to recur: go over the paper path with a torch.
  • If the error persists with no paper in sight, suspect a dirty sensor or dust-covered rollers (the "phantom jam").
  • Humidity is a silent cause: HP recommends storing paper at 45-55% relative humidity (HP Customer Support, 2024).

How do you remove jammed paper step by step?

You remove it by first switching off the printer, opening all the covers and pulling the paper with both hands, slowly and in the direction of travel, never in one yank. It's exactly what Epson's official support says: "do not remove the jammed paper by force" and "always do it with both hands so it doesn't tear" (Epson Support, 2024).

  1. Switch off the printer and unplug it from the mains. Avoid the mechanism starting up while your hands are inside and protect the components.
  2. Open all the covers and trays. Remove the input tray, open the front cover and the rear one. On a laser, also take out the toner cartridge to see the paper path.
  3. Locate the jammed paper and, above all, identify which direction it was travelling.
  4. Pull with both hands, slowly and in the direction of the paper's travel. Never backwards and never in one yank: the paper will tear and leave pieces.
  5. Check no fragment is left. A piece the size of a fingernail is enough for the jam to recur. Look at rollers and slots with a torch.
  6. Check whether any object has fallen in: a paperclip, a staple, a peeled-off label. Remove it without sharp tools.
  7. Close everything, reconnect and switch on. The printer will run a check cycle. Print a page to confirm.

Canon's support sums it up well: grip the sheet with both hands and pull slowly so it doesn't tear; if it starts to rip, stop and grip again closer to the point where the rollers meet. Even small pieces cause repeated jams (Canon Support, 2024).

What you should never do

Don't pull the paper with one hand or roughly. Don't use tweezers, scissors or screwdrivers inside the printer. Don't pull the paper backwards "to retrace its path": the path has parts that only turn one way. And don't force the toner cartridge: set it aside on a piece of paper, without touching the drum. If you haven't fitted it yet and are unsure of the process, check how to install a toner before closing the machine again.

And what if the jam error persists even though there's no paper?

It's the most baffling case: the printer insists on "paper jam" but you can't see anything. It's called a phantom jam and it's almost always not paper, but dirt. The phantom jam is a false positive from the sensor: the machine "thinks" there's paper where there isn't. It has three usual causes:

  • A tiny piece hidden among the rollers or stuck to a sensor. Go over the whole path with a torch.
  • A dirty or dust-covered paper sensor. Optical sensors detect paper passing through; if they're covered in paper dust, they "see" a jam that doesn't exist. Clean them with compressed air or a dry, lint-free cloth.
  • Dirty or slippery feed rollers. They don't grip the sheet well and the paper stops halfway. Clean them with a slightly dampened cloth.

If after checking everything the error persists, switch the printer off for two minutes and back on: sometimes the sensor gets stuck in an error state that only clears with a full restart. And if the machine doesn't even try to pick up paper, the problem may be something else; look at the printer won't print even though it has ink, because a feed fault is often confused with a jam.

At Star Toner we print and test our own compatible consumables before selling them, so we spend many hours next to laser and inkjet printers. Our experience matches what the manufacturers say: most "jams that won't go away" aren't paper, they're paper dust built up on the sensor or the rollers. A blast of compressed air resolves more jam warnings than you'd expect.

Why does the paper jam over and over?

It jams almost always for four reasons: damp or curled paper, an overloaded tray, badly adjusted guides or worn rollers. It's no coincidence that paper is the cheapest part and, at the same time, the number one culprit. Jams are among the most frequent printer problems, to the point that around 23% of calls to technical support are related to printers (Superior Office Solutions, 2025). Knowing the cause prevents repetition:

Cause Solution
Damp or creased paper Store the paper in a dry place, inside its wrapper; paper absorbs moisture and sticks together.
Overloaded tray Don't exceed the tray's maximum load mark.
Badly aligned sheets Fan the stack of paper and adjust the side guides to its exact width.
Wrong paper weight Use the weight your printer supports (usually 70-90 gsm for a standard sheet).
Worn rollers On heavily used printers, the rollers lose grip; they can be replaced.

Paper weight matters more than you think

Paper weight is the weight of paper per square metre, measured in gsm (grams per square metre). Normal office paper is around 80 gsm. If you put card or photo paper through the normal tray, it's very likely to jam. HP says it plainly: its standard plain paper supports between 60 and 105 gsm, and "anything weighing more than 105 gsm will probably jam" (HP Tech Takes, 2024). Before blaming the machine, check what paper you're loading.

Humidity, the silent enemy

Here's the cause almost nobody checks. Relative humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air relative to the maximum it can hold at that temperature. When it's high, the paper absorbs water, curls and sticks sheet to sheet; when it's very low, it builds up static electricity and the sheets stick together just the same. The result, in both cases, is a jam. HP recommends storing paper at room temperature and at a relative humidity of 45% to 55%, inside its original wrapper until you're going to use it, and away from windows, doors or air-conditioning outlets (HP Customer Support, 2024). In winter, with the heating on, or in summer in coastal areas like ours, this makes the difference.

How do I clean the rollers so they stop jamming?

You clean them with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water, passing it from side to side while you turn the roller little by little. The feed rollers are the rubber wheels that "pick up" each sheet from the tray; over time they get covered in paper dust and ink, lose grip and leave the sheet halfway. Brother's support warns of a key detail: don't use rough cloths or paper tissues, because their fibres coat the roller and make it even more slippery; and don't use the printer again until the roller is dry (Brother Support, 2024).

Do it every so often if you print a lot. A clean roller is the cheapest way to prevent jams, and it also helps the print come out clean. If you also notice marks or lines on the sheets, the problem may combine with others; check my printer prints with streaks and, on inkjet, how to clean the print heads.

Notes by brand

The procedure is almost universal, but it helps to know where each brand looks:

  • HP. It usually points out the jam area on its screen and in the HP Smart app. Check the rear door and the duplex area in particular.
  • Epson. On EcoTank models, check the rear cover; the panel guides the removal step by step and tells you in what order to open the covers.
  • Canon. It shows the error code on screen; most jams are cleared through the rear cover. Be careful not to touch the internal transparent film.
  • Brother. On lasers, remove the complete drum and toner unit to access the path; it's the area where pieces build up most.

How do I avoid future jams?

You avoid them by looking after the paper and the rollers, which is where nearly all of them start. With dry paper, well-adjusted guides and an occasional clean, jams go from weekly to almost gone. This is the routine that works:

  • Use quality paper, dry and without folds.
  • Fan the stack before loading it and adjust the guides to its width.
  • Don't mix papers of different thickness in the same tray.
  • Don't fill the tray above its maximum mark.
  • Store the paper in its wrapper, in a dry, temperate place.
  • Clean the feed rollers every so often if you print a lot.

A badly cleared jam can end up affecting print quality. And if the underlying problem was the consumable — or it's simply time to restock — here you have compatible laser toner for all brands and compatible ink cartridges certified and tested by us. To extend the life of what you already have, take a look at how to extend the life of your cartridges.

Frequently asked questions

How do I remove jammed paper from the printer?

Switch off and unplug the printer, open all the covers and trays, locate the paper and pull it with both hands, slowly and in the direction of travel, never in one yank or backwards. Epson and Canon insist on not forcing it so it doesn't tear. Check no piece is left inside before switching on.

The printer says "paper jam" but there's no paper, what do I do?

It's a phantom jam. Usual causes: a tiny piece hidden among the rollers, a paper sensor covered in dust or dirty rollers. Check the path with a torch, clean the sensors with compressed air and restart the printer for two minutes. In our experience, dust on the sensor is the number one cause.

Why does the paper jam constantly?

The most frequent causes are damp or creased paper, an overloaded tray, badly adjusted guides, the wrong weight or worn rollers. HP warns that paper over 105 gsm will probably jam. Store the paper dry (45-55% humidity), fan it before loading it and don't exceed the maximum load mark.

The paper has torn and a piece is left inside, how do I get it out?

Switch off the printer and locate the piece with a torch. Remove it with both hands in the direction of travel; if you can't reach it, open the rear cover or, on a laser, take out the toner cartridge for better access. Never use tweezers or sharp objects: a piece the size of a fingernail is enough for the jam to recur.

Can a paper jam damage the printer?

The jam itself rarely damages anything. The damage is caused by poor removal: pulling hard, leaving pieces or using sharp tools. Canon even warns against touching the internal transparent film. Cleared calmly and methodically, it leaves no lasting damage.

Keep reading at Star Toner

Sources

  • HP Customer Support — How to Store and Handle Paper to Avoid Paper Jams — https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04518237
  • HP Tech Takes — How to Choose Printer Paper: Complete Guide to HP Paper Types — https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/tech-takes/how-to-choose-printer-paper-types-guide
  • Epson Support — Clearing Jammed Paper — https://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/cx11nf/cx11nfug/trb_e_1.htm
  • Canon Support — Paper Jam Inside the Printer (PIXMA MG3620) — https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART162611
  • Brother Support — Clean the Paper Feed Rollers — https://support.brother.com/g/b/faqend.aspx?c=us_ot&lang=en&prod=dcpt420w_all&faqid=faq00002316_510
  • Superior Office Solutions — Navigating Common Printer Issues — https://sosny.com/navigating-common-printer-issues/

Last updated: July 2026. Star Toner, Central Warehouse, Calle Océano Atlántico 38, 11379 Los Barrios, Cádiz. CHICTRATEC S.L. (NIF B72834534), part of the Recycop Group founded in 1998.

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