Clearing a Paper Jam Without Damaging the Printer

How to clear a jam safely, why paper tears in the wrong direction, and what causes repeat jams.

Last updated 2026-07-30

Symptom

The printer stops mid-job and reports a paper jam, or feeds several sheets at once and stalls.

Likely causes

• Paper loaded above the tray's fill line, or a stack that was fanned poorly.
• Damp, curled or previously-printed paper.
• A scrap of paper left behind from an earlier jam.
• Worn pickup rollers, which grip inconsistently as they age.
• Paper weight outside the range the printer supports.

Fix, in order

1. Power the printer off and unplug it before reaching inside. On a laser printer, allow several
2. minutes for the fuser to cool — it operates hot enough to burn.
3. Open the covers the printer's jam message indicates, and any rear access door.
4. Pull the jammed sheet slowly in the direction the paper normally travels. Pulling backwards
5. against the rollers is what tears the sheet and leaves fragments behind.
6. Remove the tray and check underneath and behind it for loose fragments.
7. Check the duplex unit at the rear, which is the most commonly missed location.
8. Reseat the tray, reconnect power, and let the printer run its own recovery cycle.
9. If the jam message persists with no paper visible, a fragment or a sensor flag is still obstructed —
10. repeat the inspection with a torch rather than forcing a print.

Preventing repeat jams

• Load below the fill line and fan the stack before loading.
• Store paper flat, in its wrapper, away from humidity.
• Do not reuse paper that has already been through the printer.
• Match the tray's paper-size and type setting to what is actually loaded.

When it is a hardware fault

Repeated jams from a correctly-loaded tray of fresh paper usually mean worn pickup rollers or a
failed sensor. Rollers are a routine service part on most models; a sensor fault is a service job.

Getting official help

Roller part numbers and service procedures for your model come from the manufacturer. Use the support
channel in your product documentation. We are an independent publisher and do not carry out repairs.