If your printer won't pull paper in at all, worn rollers or a tray sensor issue are the most common causes.
Clean the feed rollers, confirm the paper guides are snug against the stack, and check that the tray is inserted fully.
Common Reasons my printer not feeding paper
Worn feed rollers
Over time, rollers lose the grip needed to pull paper into the printer.
Loose paper guides
If the side guides aren't snug against the paper, sheets can shift and fail to feed.
A tray not fully seated
A partially inserted tray can prevent the printer from detecting paper at all.
Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting
- Confirm the tray is pushed in completely.
- Check that paper guides are touching the edges of the stack, not loose.
1. Reseat the Paper Tray
Remove the tray completely and slide it back in until it clicks into place.
2. Adjust the Paper Guides
Slide the side and length guides snugly against the paper stack without pinching it.
3. Clean the Feed Rollers
Use a lightly dampened cloth to remove dust buildup that reduces roller grip.
4. Reduce the Paper Stack Height
Fewer sheets can improve feeding on printers with weaker rollers.
What If It's Still Not Fixed?
If you've worked through every step above and the problem continues, it's worth checking a nearby cause rather than repeating the same steps. The guides below cover the most common related issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
People Also Ask
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Remove the printer from System Settings > Printers & Scanners and add it again to refresh its connection status. Read the full guide →
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Confirm the printer's current IP address from its own menu, then add it manually if automatic network search fails. Read the full guide →
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Restart the printer and router, remove and re-add the printer in your system settings, and make sure "Use Printer Offline" is switched off. Read the full guide →
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Enable network discovery, confirm the print spooler service is running, and add the printer manually by IP address if automatic search fails. Read the full guide →