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How to fix a paper jam in a printer

How to fix a paper jam in a printer

There’s nothing worse than a paper jam when you’re in the midst of printing a document, especially if you’re working to a tight deadline.

The good news is: a paper jam in a printer can be fixed relatively quickly, if you know how, so you can get your day back on track with minimum hassle.

We’ve created a helpful guide on what to do if you have a paper jam in your printer.

What causes paper jamming in a printer?

Unfortunately, paper jams are incredibly common, making them one of the most infuriating occupational hazards of working in an office or any other environment where printing is essential.

Common causes of paper jams include:

  • Damaged rollers
  • Inserting paper that is incompatible with the printer
  • Loading the paper incorrectly
  • Open doors
  • Hardware damage

Every printer, regardless of the model, can be prone to paper jams from time to time. But if they’re happening all too often, you might need to consider replacing your printer.

How to fix a paper jam in a printer step-by-step guide

Dealing with a paper jam can be frustrating and it’s easy to lose your cool. However, it’s important that you remain calm and follow these simple steps to resolve the issue. Losing your patience can make the problem worse.

Turn off and unplug the printer

First, make sure that your printer is turned off. This is important as you must not prod and poke the printer when it is turned on. Ensure that all printing jobs have been cancelled and the printer is turned off at the plug.

Remove all printer paper from the tray and try reloading

One of the most common causes of paper jams is that the paper has simply not been loaded correctly into the printer paper feed. With this in mind, remove any paper from the tray in order to check for any jams. If you do see some paper jammed, pull each sheet out of the printer slowly until the printer is clear again.

Inspect and reload

Once you’re sure that there is nothing jammed in your tray, carefully re-stack the remaining paper, ensuring that it is securely pushed into the slot that feeds into the machine.

You should also take this opportunity to open the rear access door to ensure that the rollers are clear and that there aren’t any smaller scraps of paper left behind. Don’t tug on the paper too hard as this can cause damage to your printer.

Check that the rollers turn freely and that they are clean and free from any debris. If they are dirty, clean them with a moist towel.

Plug in and restart the printer

Once you have inspected the printer and secured the doors, now it’s time to test out your printer on a test run and hopefully, the problem will be rectified.

How to avoid paper jams

There are several different ways to avoid paper jams, including:

  • Loosen the ream of paper before loading
  • Don’t overload the printer with paper
  • Use the right paper
  • Don’t interrupt a printing job
  • Only fill an empty tray
  • Align paper correctly
  • Store paper in a cool and dry place
  • Keep the printer clean
  • Keep ink in good condition

Here at Perfect Colours, we offer a range of printers and printing services for businesses working across a diverse range of sectors. Explore Perfect Colour’s services here.

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