Quick Answer: How do you prevent paper jams?
To prevent paper jams, use paper that meets your printer's specifications, avoid overfilling trays, position paper guides correctly, match your print settings to the paper you're using and keep the paper path and feed rollers clean. If your printer keeps jamming after these checks, worn components or an underlying feeding problem may be responsible.
If your office printer keeps jamming, the problem gets old quickly. Someone stops working, walks over to the printer, finds the stuck sheet, clears it and gets everyone printing again. Then it happens again.
That's frustrating.
Before you call for service, start with the basics. The eight checks below will help you find common causes, prevent repeat jams and recognize when your printer needs professional attention.
Want a quick reference? Download our Print Jam Quick Fix Checklist and keep it near your office printer.
A printer jams when paper can't move correctly through its intended path. Common causes include:
An occasional paper jam doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with your printer.
Repeated jams deserve more attention.
If the same printer keeps jamming after you've corrected the paper, tray and settings, you may be dealing with dirty or worn components rather than a loading problem.
The exact procedure varies by manufacturer and printer model, so follow the instructions on the printer's display or in the manufacturer's documentation when they're available.
For typical office printers, these checks can help you find the cause.
Don't immediately start pulling on the visible sheet.
Check the printer's display first. Many office printers identify where the jam occurred and which door, tray or access panel to open.
If the manufacturer instructs you to power off or unplug the printer before accessing the jammed area, do so.
Why this helps: The location of the jam matters. Starting at the correct access point can make the paper easier to remove and reduce the chance of tearing it.
Carefully remove the jammed sheet, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Don't yank it.
If the sheet tears, look closely for pieces left in the paper path.
A scrap doesn't have to be large to create another problem.
Why this helps: Paper left inside the printer can interfere with feeding or keep a jam condition from clearing.
Look at the stack you're about to put back into the printer.
Remove sheets that are:
Also confirm that your printer supports the paper size, weight and type.
Why this helps: Paper that doesn't lie flat or isn't designed for the device may not feed consistently.
More paper isn't better.
Keep the stack below the minimum fill indicator inside the tray. Make sure the paper sits flat rather than bowing upward or pressing against the tray.
Why this helps: An overfilled tray can interfere with the printer's ability to pick up one sheet at a time.
Move the guides until they lightly touch the edges of the paper.
Here's a small detail people miss: a guide that's visibly separated from the paper can allow the stack to shift as sheets feed.
Don't squeeze the guides against the paper either. The stack should remain flat.
Why this helps: The guides help keep each sheet aligned as it enters the printer.
Check the paper size and paper type selected on the printer or in the printer settings.
This matters when you've switched from standard office paper to another media type, such as:
Also confirm that the print job is pulling from the tray you expect.
Why this helps: Printers may handle different paper types differently. The setting should match what's actually sitting in the tray.
Paper dust and debris can collect around feed components over time.
If the rollers are accessible through a manufacturer-approved maintenance procedure, inspect them for dirt or visible wear. Follow the cleaning instructions for your specific printer rather than using a general cleaning product.
Also check accessible areas of the paper path for scraps or debris.
Why this helps: Feed rollers need enough grip to move paper consistently through the machine.
One jam can be random.
A jam that repeatedly occurs in the same location is a clue.
If you've already checked the paper, tray, guides and settings, repeated jams in one part of the printer may point to debris, a worn roller or another component that needs attention.
This is where I think offices lose unnecessary time. Clearing the same jam again and again isn't troubleshooting. It's resetting the problem.
If you need the short version, check these eight things:
Instead:
Still jamming?
That's when the pattern matters.
If you can't easily reach the jammed paper, don't use scissors, screwdrivers or other sharp objects to retrieve it. You could damage internal components or injure yourself.
Some areas inside printers can also become hot during operation. Follow the safety instructions for your specific device before reaching inside.
If you've cleared the jam but the printer keeps doing it again, don't focus only on the sheet that's currently stuck.
Look for a pattern.
Check the paper, tray guides, feed area and settings associated with that tray.
Confirm that the media is supported by the printer and that the correct paper type is selected.
Check that section of the paper path for scraps, debris or signs of a feed problem. If you see nothing, service may be needed.
That can indicate that rollers or other feed components are worn or dirty.
Don't assume everyone is loading the printer incorrectly. If different employees get the same jam in the same device, the printer itself deserves a closer look.
Yes! Paper absorbs and releases moisture based on its environment.
Humid conditions can change how paper behaves, while very dry conditions can contribute to static. Curling and sheets sticking together can interfere with reliable feeding.
Keep unopened paper protected in its original packaging until you need it, and avoid storing paper in damp areas or directly next to heating and cooling vents.
Don't make this a universal rule.
Paper-loading instructions vary by printer and paper type. Some manufacturers recommend separating or flexing certain media, while other instructions caution against fanning in specific situations.
For an office printer, the safer rule is simple: follow the loading instructions for your model and make sure the stack is flat, undamaged and correctly positioned in the tray.
You can prevent many office printer paper jams with a few habits:
The last one matters most.
A printer that jams once needs troubleshooting. A printer that keeps jamming is giving you a pattern to investigate.
Consider having your printer checked if:
At that point, replacing another stack of paper probably isn't the answer.
A technician can inspect components that aren't part of normal user maintenance and determine whether the printer needs service, replacement parts or a closer look at how it's being used.
Q: What is the most common cause of paper jams?
A: There isn't one cause that applies to every printer. Common causes include damaged or incompatible paper, overfilled trays, incorrectly positioned paper guides, debris, dirty or worn rollers and paper settings that don't match the media being used.
Q: How do I remove paper stuck inside a printer?
A: Follow the instructions displayed on the printer or provided by the manufacturer. Remove accessible paper slowly and check for torn scraps. Some printers require you to turn off the power or remove specific components before you can safely access a jam.
Q: Why does my printer say paper jam when there isn't one?
A: A small scrap may still be inside the paper path, or the printer may not have cleared the jam condition. Follow the manufacturer's procedure for your specific model. If the message remains after you've checked the accessible paper path, the printer may need service.
Q: Can bad paper cause a printer jam?
A: Yes. Curled, wrinkled, damp, damaged or unsupported paper can cause feeding problems. Paper storage matters, too. When using heavy or coated paper, make sure your printer supports it. Some printers are not equipped to print on these types of media.
Q: Why does my printer keep jamming in the same spot?
A: Repeated jams in one location may point to debris, a feeding problem or a worn component in that part of the paper path. If basic troubleshooting doesn't solve it, have a technician inspect the printer.
Q: Can dirty rollers cause paper jams?
A: Yes. Paper, dust and debris can affect pickup rollers and paper feeding. Follow the cleaning procedure provided for your specific printer model.
Q: Is an occasional paper jam normal?
A: An occasional jam can happen. Frequent jams, especially in the same location, deserve further troubleshooting.
Keep This Checklist Near Your Printer
Nobody wants to search for troubleshooting instructions while three coworkers are waiting for their documents.
Download Fraser's Printer Jam Quick Fix Checklist and keep it near your printer. It gives your team a repeatable process for checking common causes before calling for help.
If the same printer keeps jamming after you've checked the basics, a Printer Health Check can help identify maintenance issues and determine whether the equipment still fits your office workload.
Start with the paper.
Then check the trays, guides, settings, paper path and rollers.
If the same jam keeps coming back, stop treating each incident as a separate problem. The pattern may tell you more than the stuck sheet does.