Clearing Paper Jams & Print Carriage Stalls

Safely free trapped sheets and restore smooth carriage travel across HP inkjet and laser printers.

Important: The instructions below apply to standard HP (Hewlett-Packard) series printers. Always disconnect power cables before reaching inside internal paper paths or hardware assemblies.

Recommended Resolution Steps

  1. 1

    Press the power button to shut down the printer, then unplug the AC power cord for safety.

  2. 2

    Lift the cartridge access cover and shine a flashlight along the carriage rail to spot any jammed paper.

  3. 3

    Gently nudge the printhead carriage left and right to confirm it glides across the rail without resistance.

  4. 4

    Inspect the input tray, output bin, and rear duplex cleanout door, pulling any stuck sheets out slowly with both hands.

  5. 5

    Close all access doors securely, reconnect the power cable, and print a test sheet to verify normal operation.