This video shows you what to do if your HP printer does not pick up or feed paper from
the input tray when you do have paper loaded, and an Out of Paper error
message displays on the printer's control panel or on your computer.
Sometimes, the problem can be fixed just by doing a printer reset.
First, make sure the printer is turned on. If it is off, press the Power button.
Next, turn to the back of the printer.
Without turning the printer off, remove the power cord from the printer.
Then, disconnect the other end of the power cord from its power source.
Wait 15 seconds. It is important to wait the full 15 seconds for this type of reset.
Reconnect the power cord to its power source.
Then, reconnect the other end of the power cord into the printer.
Return to the front of the printer.
If the printer does not turn on automatically, press the Power button to turn it on.
Align a stack of paper by tapping it on a flat surface.
Load paper into the input tray until it stops. Slide the paper width guide inward until it
stops at the edge of the paper. Do not push the guide in so tightly
that it starts to bend the paper.
Try printing a page directly from the printer's control panel to see if the issue is resolved.
On the printer's control panel, press and hold the Cancel button.
While continuing to hold the cancel button, press the OK button.
If the page prints successfully, the issue is resolved. You can resume printing as normal.
If the page does not print, go on to the next step.
Often the condition of the paper you're using can cause paper not to feed correctly.
Remove the paper from the input tray.
Remove any damaged paper you find.
Make sure that there are at least 10 sheets of plain white paper, but no more than 25
sheets, in the paper stack.
The printer can hold more sheets of paper, but this number is best for testing.
Make sure all the paper is the same size and type, and then tap it on a flat surface to
align the edges perfectly.
Load paper into the input tray until it stops. Slide the paper width guide inward until it
stops at the edge of the paper.
Do not push the guide in so tightly that it starts to bend the paper.
Try printing a page directly from the printer's control panel to see if the issue is resolved.
On the printer's control panel, press and hold the Cancel button.
While continuing to hold the Cancel button, press the OK button.
If the page prints successfully, the issue is resolved. You can resume printing as normal.
If the page does not print, go on to the next step.
Printer rollers get dirty from dust, paper fiber, and other debris. In this step, we'll
clean the rollers.
Before you begin, gather the following cleaning materials:
Clean, lint-free cloth
Clean cotton swabs
Clean water
Distilled or bottled water is preferable but not required. Do not use alcohol or other
chemical cleaners.
Remove the paper from the input tray.
Press the Power button to turn off the printer.
Turn to the back.
Disconnect the power cord.
Remove the rear access door. To do this, press in the tab on the left side of the door and
pull the door away from the printer.
Clean the rollers visible in the printer with a clean, lint-free cloth lightly moistened
with water. The cloth should be damp but not soaking wet. Wipe each roller
starting on the right side of the roller and wiping to the left. Use your finger
to turn the roller up as you finish cleaning a section of the roller. Make sure that you
remove any buildup or debris from the entire surface of the rollers.
Look for the paper pick roller farther inside the rear of the printer. You might need to
use a flashlight to illuminate the pick roller.
Blot a swab on the cotton cloth to remove excess water. The swab should be damp but
not soaking wet.
Clean the pick roller with a moistened cotton swab, removing any buildup or debris. This
roller is difficult to reach, but it is the most important to clean. If
this roller inside the printer is not cleaned, this problem will continue because
this is the roller that feeds the paper into the printer.
Reattach the rear access door. To do this, insert the two pegs on the rear access door
into the adjoining openings on the back of the printer. Then push the door towards
the printer until it snaps into place.
Reconnect the power cord.
Return to the front. Press the Power button to turn the printer
on.
Align a stack of paper by tapping it on a flat surface.
Load paper into the input tray until it stops. Slide the paper width guide inward until it
stops at the edge of the paper.
Do not push the guide in so tightly that it starts to bend the paper.
Try printing a page directly from the printer's control panel to see if the issue is resolved.
On the printer's control panel, press and hold the Cancel button.
While continuing to hold the Cancel button, press the OK button.
If the page prints successfully, the issue is resolved. You can resume printing as normal.
If the page does not print, try printing it again. Listen for the rubber paper-pick roller.
You should be able to hear it rotating. Then, try slowly pushing the paper
farther in until the roller engages to pick up the paper. Be careful to only
push one sheet of paper, and not to push it in too far. This can cause paper jams.
If the page does not print when slowly pushing the paper farther in, repeat the previous
step to clean the rollers again.
If the issue continues after repeated cleaning, skip the next step. Your printer might need
to be serviced.
If the page prints when slowly pushing the paper farther in, try printing your original
document again. The paper might not have been loaded far enough into the printer.
If the issue is resolved, there is no need to continue troubleshooting.
If the paper only feeds through the printer when you slowly push it farther in, repeat
the previous step to clean the roller again. If the issue continues after repeated
cleaning, skip the next step. Your printer might need to be serviced.
Next, we'll make sure the paper settings in the print driver match the settings for
the paper you are trying to use.
On your computer, return to the document in the program from which you were trying to
print when the issue occurred.
On your keyboard, press CTRL and P to open the Printing Properties window.
Click Properties.
When the Properties box opens,
Click the Features tab.
Select the Size drop-down menu, select More and then choose the appropriate paper size.
Click OK.
Select the Paper Type drop-down menu, select More and then choose the appropriate paper
type. Click OK.
Click OK, and then click OK again to print the document.
If the document prints successfully, the issue is resolved. If the document does not print,
go on to the next step.
If you've tried everything described in this video and you still have a problem, your
printer likely needs some type of service. Contact HP to find out what the support
options are for your printer. Your options for service may vary depending
on how long you've owned it and what country you live in.