This video shows how to fix your HP printer when the ink carriage jams and a Carriage
Jam error message displays on the printer's control panel or on your computer.
First, turn the printer off and then on again. This will sometimes fix the issue.
Press the Power button to turn off the printer. Once the printer is off, wait 60 seconds.
It is important to wait the full 60 seconds to allow the print mechanism to reset.
Then, press the Power button to turn on the printer.
Wait until the printer turns on and stops making noise.
Slide out the input tray. 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 guides inward until they stop at the edge of the paper. Do not
push the guides in so tightly that they start to bend the paper.
Slide in the input tray. Try printing a page directly from the printer's
control panel to see if the issue is resolved. On the printer's control panel, touch the
Settings icon. This icon looks like a small wrench.
Touch Tools. Then, touch Printer Status Report.
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.
In this step, you will clear any jams from inside the printer and the paper tray.
The printer must be on for these steps to work.
Slide out the input tray. Remove any loose paper from the input tray.
If you see any jammed paper in the paper tray, remove it by pulling gently and evenly to
avoid tearing. Use a flashlight to thoroughly check for torn
pieces of paper that might remain inside the tray. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside
the tray, more paper jams are likely to occur. Slide in the input tray.
Turn to the back of the printer. Without turning the printer off, remove the
power cord from the printer. If present, remove the USB cable from the
printer. Return to the front of the printer.
Open the cartridge access door. Check the cartridge access area for jammed
paper. If you see any jammed paper, remove it by pulling gently and evenly to avoid tearing.
Use a flashlight to thoroughly search the area to find any small scraps of paper. If
any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more paper jams are likely to occur.
Now check inside the cleanout door for any jams.
Locate the cleanout door handle near the back of the printer.
Grasp the handle and pull the cleanout door up and out to remove it from the printer.
Check the cleanout area for jammed paper. If you see any paper, remove it by pulling
gently and evenly to avoid tearing. Check the paper feed path for torn pieces
of paper that might remain inside the printer. Use a flashlight to thoroughly search the
area to find all small scraps of paper. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the
printer, more paper jams are likely to occur. Locate the cutout in the duplexer cover.
Use the cutout to raise the duplexer cover. While holding the duplexer cover open with
one hand, use the other hand to remove any jammed or torn pieces of paper from the duplexer
area. Use a flashlight to thoroughly search the
area to find all small scraps of paper. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the
printer, more paper jams are likely to occur. Lower the duplexer cover.
Reinsert the cleanout door and gently pushdown until it snaps into place.
Close the cartridge access door. Next, check underneath the printer for jammed
paper. Slide out the paper input tray.
Using both hands, gently rotate the printer until it rests on its side. Make sure the
scanner lid is secure while rotating. Check underneath the printer for torn pieces
of paper that might remain inside the printer. Use a flashlight to thoroughly search the
area to find all small scraps of paper. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the
printer, more paper jams are likely to occur. Using both hands, gently rotate the printer
and return it to its original, upright position. Make sure the scanner lid is secure while
rotating. Open the cartridge access door.
Look inside the printer to see if any loose objects have shifted while turning the printer
on its side. Remove any objects you find. Close the cartridge access door.
Turn to the back. Reconnect the power cord.
Return to the front. If the printer does not automatically turn
on, press the Power button to turn on the printer.
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 guides inward until
they stop at the edge of the paper. Do not push the guides in so tightly that they start
to bend the paper. Slide in the input tray.
Try printing a page directly from the printer's control panel to see if the issue is resolved.
On the printer's control panel, touch the Settings icon. This icon looks like a small
wrench. Touch Tools.
Then, touch Printer Status Report. If the page prints successfully, the issue
is resolved. If you're using a USB cable, reconnect it to the printer and resume printing
as normal. If the page does not print, go on to the next step.
Use the following step to make sure the carriage can move freely.
The printer must be on for this step to work. Slide out the input tray. Remove any loose
paper from the input tray. Slide in the input tray.
Open the cartridge access door. The carriage might try to move into the access area. If
it does, allow it to move to that position. Turn to the back.
While the printer is still on, disconnect the power cord from the printer.
Disconnect the other end of the power cord from its power source.
Return to the front. Look inside the printer and check for obstructions
around the carriage that could prevent it from moving. Use a flashlight to thoroughly
search the area. Remove any obstructions that are found. Check
the rollers and wheels for any torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the printer.
If pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.
Reach into the cartridge access area and manually move the carriage.
Move the carriage to the left side. Using a flashlight, check the right side of the
carriage path for any obstructions. Remove any obstructions that are found.
Then, move the carriage to the right side and check the left side of the carriage path
for any obstructions. Remove any obstructions that are found.
While moving the carriage, check to see if the cartridges are contacting the printer
cover. If the cartridges are seated properly, there will be a gap between the cartridges
and the printer cover. We will address how to seat the cartridges properly in a few minutes.
If the cartridges are seated properly but the carriage will not move to the right side
of the printer, the carriage might be blocked by the posts in the cartridge parking area.
Reach into the cartridge access area and return the carriage to the left side of the
printer. Using a flashlight, look into the area under
the printer cover on the right side of the printer.
If you see two posts that look like they could be blocking the carriage, you will have to
move these posts to a different position. Use a long, slim object with a blunt tip such
as the eraser-end of a pencil to gently push the posts toward the back of the printer.
You only need to move the posts back approximately a quarter inch so the carriage can clear the
posts. Once the posts are away from the carriage
path, move the carriage to the right side of the printer being careful not to lift the
carriage from its path. A slight downward force can be used when moving the carriage.
Once all obstructions are removed and the carriage can move the full width of the carriage
path, close the cartridge access door. Turn to the back.
Reconnect the power cord into the printer. Reconnect the other end of the power cord
into its power source. Return to the front.
If the printer does not automatically turn on, press the Power button to turn on the
printer. Slide out the input tray.
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 guides inward until
they stop at the edge of the paper. Do not push the guides in so tightly that they start
to bend the paper. Slide in the input tray.
Try printing a page directly from the printer's control panel to see if the issue is resolved.
On the printer's control panel, touch the Settings icon. This icon looks like a small
wrench. Touch Tools.
Then, touch Printer Status Report. If the page prints successfully, the issue
is resolved. If you're using a USB cable, reconnect it to the printer and resume printing
as normal. If the page does not print, go on to the next step.
Sometimes ink cartridges that are not installed correctly or those that are not vented properly
can cause a carriage jam. In this step you will fix these problems.
The printer must be on for this step to work. Open the cartridge access door. The carriage
might try to move into the access area. If it does, allow it to move to that position.
Remove the cartridges by pressing inward on the tab on the front of the cartridge to release
it. Pull the cartridge toward you to remove it
from the slot. Repeat for all cartridges. If the orange plastic pull tab is still attached
to a cartridge, remove it. When handling the cartridge, be aware of the
electrical contacts and ink port. Be careful not to touch the contacts or port
because touching these can cause clogs, ink failure, and poor electrical connections.
Now, check the cartridges to make sure they are properly vented.
Locate the vent slot on top of the cartridge. If the vent is clogged, clean it carefully
with a pin. Repeat for all cartridges. It's important to make sure all the cartridges
are properly vented. Now you can reinsert the cartridges and make
sure they are seated correctly. Install the cartridges in the correct slots. Match the
color and symbol on the cartridge to the color and symbol on the printer.
Hold the ink cartridge so that the ink port faces down. Slide the cartridge into its slot,
and then gently push it down until it latches into place. Repeat for all cartridges.
When all the cartridges are reinserted, close the cartridge access door.
Try printing a page directly from the printer's control panel to see if the issue is resolved.
On the printer's control panel, touch the Settings icon. This icon looks like a small
wrench. Touch Tools.
Then, touch Printer Status Report. If the page prints successfully, the issue
is resolved. If you're using a USB cable, reconnect it to the printer and resume printing
as normal. If the page does not print, go on to the next step.
In this step you will plug the printer directly into a wall outlet to make sure the power
source is functioning correctly. Press the Power button to turn off the printer.
Turn to the back. Disconnect the power cord from the printer.
Then, disconnect the other end of the power cord from its power source.
Plug the power cord directly into a wall outlet. Plug the other end of the power cord into
the printer. Return to the front.
Press the Power button to turn on the printer. Try printing a page directly from the printer's
control panel to see if the issue is resolved.
On the printer's control panel, touch the Settings icon. This icon looks like a small
wrench. Touch Tools.
Then, touch Printer Status Report. If the page prints successfully, the issue
is resolved. If you're using a USB cable, reconnect it to the printer and resume printing
as normal. If the page does not print, go on to the next step.
Sometimes the issue can be resolved by resetting the printer.
The printer must be on for these steps to work.
Turn to the back. Disconnect 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 to allow the print mechanism
to reset. Reconnect the power cord into its power source.
Then, reconnect the other end of the power cord into the printer.
Return to the front. If the printer does not automatically turn
on, press the Power button to turn on the printer.
Try printing a page directly from the printer's control panel to see if the issue is resolved.
On the printer's control panel, touch the Settings icon. This icon looks like a small
wrench. Touch Tools.
Then, touch Printer Status Report. If the page prints successfully, the issue
is resolved. If you're using a USB cable, reconnect it to the printer and resume printing
as normal. If the page 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. Your options for service might vary depending on how long
you've owned it and what country you live in. Contact HP to find out what the support
options are for your printer. You can find additional helpful videos at
hp.com/support videos and on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/hpprintersupport.