HP DeskJet 4530, 4670 Printers - Paper Jam Error

This document is for HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 4535, 4536, 4538, 4675, 4676, and 4678 All-in-One printers.

During a print job, the printer stops feeding pages, and a paper jam error message displays on the printer control panel.

note:
Paper jams can be real or false. The printer might report a paper jam even when there is no jammed paper. The following steps apply to both real and false paper jams.

If your printer has an automatic document feeder (ADF), your printer might not look exactly like the printer in the imagesor video , but the steps are the same.

Video overview

This video shows how to automatically and manually clear real and false paper jams on the HP OfficeJet 4650 printer.

Fixing a Paper Jam on the HP OfficeJet 4650 Printer

Learn how to automatically and manually clear real and false paper jams on the HP OfficeJet 4650 printer.

View this video on YouTube

Step 1: Look for jammed paper

There are different areas where jammed paper might become blocked. Clear any jammed paper from one area, and then try to print again. If the error persists, check the next area for any jammed paper.

Clear jammed paper from the input tray

Remove any jammed paper that is accessible from the input tray area.

Press the OK button to try to automatically clear the paper jam.

If the paper jam error persists, continue these steps to manually clear the jam.
Push in the output tray extender, if necessary.
Open the input tray door, and then pull it toward you to extend the input tray.
Gently remove any jammed paper and bits of torn paper from the input tray. To avoid tearing any whole sheets of paper, pull the paper with both hands.
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check for torn pieces of paper or foreign objects in the back of the input tray.

If any torn pieces of paper or foreign objects remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.

Try to print. If the error persists, check for jammed paper in another area of the printer.

Clear jammed paper from the output tray

Remove any jammed paper that is accessible from the output tray area.

Press the OK button to try to automatically clear the paper jam.

If the paper jam error persists, continue these steps to manually clear the jam.
Locate the output tray in the front of the printer.
Gently remove any jammed paper and bits of torn paper from the output tray. To avoid tearing any whole sheets of paper, pull the paper with both hands.
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check the rollers for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the output tray.

If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.

Try to print. If the error persists, check for jammed paper in another area of the printer.

Clear jammed paper from the ink cartridge access area

Remove any jammed paper from the paper path and ink cartridge access area from inside the printer.

Press the OK button to try to automatically clear the paper jam.

If the paper jam error persists, continue these steps to manually clear the jam.
Push in the output tray extender, if necessary.
Gently grasp the handles on either side of the printer, and then raise the ink cartridge access door until it locks into place.

The carriage moves to the center of the printer.
Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you continue.
With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.

warning:
You must disconnect the power cord before reaching inside the HP printer to avoid risk of injuries or electric shock.
If the carriage is in the center of the printer, gently slide it to the right.
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the ink cartridge access area.

If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.
Gently remove any jammed paper from inside the printer.
Locate the paper path cover in the area behind the ink cartridge access area.
To remove the paper path cover, pinch the tabs together, and then lift up.
Pinch the tabs together

Lift up
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check the rollers for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the paper path.
Replace the paper path cover with the spring-loaded tabs facing toward the front of the printer. Gently press the cover down at the left and right edges. The cover clicks into place.

note:
Make sure both edges of the paper path cover are in place.
Close the ink cartridge access door.
Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer, and then turn on the printer.

Try to print. If the error persists, check for jammed paper in another area of the printer.

Clear any jammed paper from the ADF

Check the automatic document feeder (ADF) for any jammed or torn paper.

If your printer does not have an ADF, skip these steps and check for jammed paper in another area of the printer.

Press the OK button to try to automatically clear the paper jam.

If the paper jam error persists, continue these steps to manually clear the jam.
Press the Power button to turn off the printer, if it is not already off.
Lift the ADF cover.
Gently pull out any jammed paper from the ADF. To avoid tearing any whole sheets of paper, pull out the paper with both hands.

caution:
If the paper tears while you remove it, check the rollers and wheels for any torn pieces of paper thatmight remain inside the ADF. Use a flashlight to thoroughly check the rollers for torn pieces of paper. If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more paper jams are likely to occur.
Close the ADF cover.

Try to print. If the error persists, check for jammed paper in another area of the printer.

Clear jammed paper from underneath the printer

Remove any jammed paper from underneath the printer.

Press the OK button to try to automatically clear the paper jam.

If the paper jam error persists, continue these steps to manually clear the jam.
Press the Power button to turn off the printer.
Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
Disconnect the USB cable, if it is connected.
Push in the output tray extender, if necessary.
Turn the printer on its right side so that you can access its underside (base).

caution:
Before turning the printer, use your hands to secure the scanner lid.
Open the input tray door, and then pull it toward you to extend the input tray.
Gently remove any jammed paper underneath the printer.
Use a flashlight to thoroughly check the rollers for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the cleanout area.

If any torn pieces of paper remain inside the printer, more jams are likely to occur.
Close the input tray.
Return the printer to its normal position.
Open the ink cartridge access door, and then look inside the printer for any loose objects that might have shifted when the printer was turned over.
Remove any loose objects found.
Close the ink cartridge access door.
Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.
Reconnect the USB cable, if necessary.
Turn on the printer.

If you have checked and removed any jammed paper from each printer area and the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 2: Make sure the carriage can move freely

Make sure the carriage moves freely across the width of the printer.

Turn on the printer, if it is not already on.
Gently grasp the handles on either side of the printer, and then raise the ink cartridge access door until it locks into place.

The carriage moves to the center of the printer.
Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you continue.
With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
Use a flashlight to check for any paper or objects that might be restricting the carriage, and then remove any paper or objects that you find.

caution:
If the paper tears when you remove it from the rollers, check the rollers and wheels for torn pieces of paper that might remain inside the printer. If pieces of paper remain in the printer, more paper jams can occur.
Reach inside the printer through the ink cartridge access door, and then manually move the carriage.
- If the carriage is stuck on the right side of the printer, move the carriage to the left side of the printer.
- If the carriage is stuck on the left side of the printer, move the carriage to the right side of the printer.
- If the carriage is stuck in the middle of the printer, move the carriage to the right side of the printer.
Remove any paper or obstructions found.
Make sure the carriage can move freely across the width of the printer. Firmly push the carriage to the left side of the printer, and then push it to the right side.
Close the ink cartridge access door.
Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer, and then turn on the printer.

Try to print. If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 3: Use an automated tool to clean page smears

Cleaning the page smears with an automated utility can help clear paper jams.

Make sure the printer is loaded with plain white paper.
On the printer control panel, swipe the display to the left, and then touch Setup.
Touch Tools.
Swipe up on the display, and then touch Clean Page Smears.

The printer slowly feeds a blank page.
Wait for the printer to eject the blank page.

Try to print. If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 4: Manually clean the paper feed rollers

Dust, paper fiber, and other debris might accumulate on the paper feed rollers and cause paper jams and paper feed issues. Clean the rollers inside the printer, and then try to print again.

Gently grasp the handles on either side of the printer, and then raise the ink cartridge access door until it locks into place.

The carriage moves to the center of the printer.
Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before you proceed.
Turn off the printer.
Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
Disconnect the USB cable, if it is not already disconnected.
Locate the paper path cover in the area behind the ink cartridge access area.
To remove the paper path cover, pinch the tabs together, and then lift up.
Pinch the tabs together

Lift up
Lightly dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled water, and then squeeze any excess liquid from the cloth.
Press the cloth against the rollers inside the printer, and then rotate them upward with your fingers.

Apply a moderate amount of pressure to remove dust or dirt buildup.
Allow the rollers to dry completely (approximately 10 minutes).
Replace the paper path cover.
Close the ink cartridge access door.
Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer, and then turn on the printer.
Reconnect the USB cable to the printer if necessary.

Try to print. If the error persists, continue to the next step.

Step 5: Reset the printer

Sometimes a paper jam error persists even though there is no jammed paper (false paper jam). Reset the printer to try to clear a false paper jam error, and then try to print again.

With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the printer.
Unplug the power cord from the power source.
Wait 60 seconds.
Reconnect the power cord to a wall outlet and to the printer.

note:
HP recommends plugging the printer directly into a wall outlet.

Try to print. If the error persists, continue to the next step to service the printer.

Step 6: Service the printer

Service or replace your HP product if the issue persists after completing all the preceding steps.

Go to Contact HP Customer Support to schedule a product repair or replacement. If you are in Asia Pacific, you will be directed to a local service center in your area.

To confirm your warranty status, go to HP Product Warranty Check. Repair fees might apply for out-of-warranty products.

HP DeskJet 4530, 4670 Printers - Paper Jam Error

Video overview

Step 1: Look for jammed paper

Clear jammed paper from the input tray

Clear jammed paper from the output tray

Clear jammed paper from the ink cartridge access area

Clear any jammed paper from the ADF

Clear jammed paper from underneath the printer

Step 2: Make sure the carriage can move freely

Step 3: Use an automated tool to clean page smears

Step 4: Manually clean the paper feed rollers

Step 5: Reset the printer

Step 6: Service the printer

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